Monday, February 25, 2019

Plenty of Chaos Led to a Pretty Well-Received Oscars

Was there a method to the Academy’s madness? Based on the early reviews—and perhaps some re-adjusted expectations—the 2019 Oscars seemed to be a success. As Nicole Sperling, who watched the proceedings from inside the Dolby Theatre, writes: “Many audience members were thrilled with a zippier show that wasn’t bogged down by a lengthy opening monologue. Afterwards, producer Donna Gigliotti sat in the back corner of the Governors Ball, digging into some truffle mac & cheese and receiving a stream of well-wishers. According to her, she was never a huge fan of the hosted Oscar show to begin with. ‘It struck me that there was a new way to do the show. As cornball as it sounds, I thought you go out and you celebrate the community of artists that are making the movies. That’s what happened tonight,’ she said. ‘You take the onus off the host—which, honestly, after Kevin Hart, no one wanted to do it anyways. You make it about the people in the room, making the movies. And it worked, I think.’

“There were, of course, some grumbles as well, with a few marketers complaining that the no-host format gave the show a rudderless feel. Largely, though, the critics were kind. ‘I thought the no-host route worked great,’ said Octavia Spencer, one of the producers of best-picture winner Green Book. Academy C.E.O. Dawn Hudson was also pleased; she loved Queen’s opening number, and was reveling in the good news after months of missteps. She wouldn’t go so far as to say the no-host solution is the wave of the future—but with such little upside to the gig, it’s not a bad option.

“So, would Gigliotti return for another go-around? She left that question unanswered, but did give a wholehearted endorsement of the endeavor: ‘I loved it,’ said Gigliotti. ‘It was probably the most exciting professional experience I’ve had in a very, very long time. No one believes me when I say that. But it was really terrific. It’s unusual to try and figure out how to do something, particularly when the odds are stacked against you. The entertainment press doesn’t believe in you. The Academy is changing its mind every five minutes. It’s like 100,000 things are going on and how do you go and do that? That’s why it was fun. I like a good challenge.’”

Below, find a complete guide to all the goings-on after the Oscars—courtesy of Vanity Fair’s intrepid correspondents and exclusive party.