Sunday’s Oscar-cast played it safe with a throwback production number, old-fashioned comedy shtick and retro-glamour.
The 82nd annual Academy Awards telecast succeeded by not trying to break new ground.
Eschewing cutting-edge, this year’s history-making show scored by sticking with time-tested Hollywood glam. No postmodern cynicism, it was politely old-school. The orchestra even played winners offstage with “Thanks for the Memories.”
Sequined Neil Patrick Harris launched the festivities with a euphemism-laced number, “No One Wants to Do It Alone.”
He introduced “the biggest pair since Dolly Parton,” (the sort of joke that could have come from Bob Hope): Hosts Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin descended from the Kodak Theatre’s heavens and launched into an old-fashioned roast of those in attendance. Among the targets: George Clooney’s popularity, Meryl Streep’s many nominations and James Cameron’s money-making power.
The glittering, crystal-draped set was regally if simply appointed. The incidental music was Mel Torme-ish. The pace was slow, holding most major awards until well into the second hour.
Finally, best supporting actress winner Mo’Nique took the stage and thanked the Academy for showing “it can be about the performance and not the politics,” with a nod to Hattie McDaniel, who in 1940 became the first African-American to win an Oscar (for playing Mammy in “Gone With the Wind”).
Baldwin and Martin made fun of their, um, staying power. “The next two presenters are young actresses who have no idea who we are,” they said, introducing Miley Cyrus and Amanda Seyfried.
The biggest night of the year for movies has been a losing proposition for television lately, with ratings falling off like so many “Idol” semifinalists. This year, a combination of circumstances may have stopped the slide.
First, the lousy economy has been keeping more people on the couch for live events (both the Super Bowl and the Olympics did remarkably well this year); second, boosting the number of nominees to 10 allowed more popular titles into the mix, the better to lure a prime-time crowd; third, the presence of an easy and tremendously profitable movie among the nominees could do a great deal to make this a widely watched Oscar night.
Thank “Avatar,” winner at the box office if not at the ceremonies. But also thank the young presenters, calculated to lure a younger audience.
The hosts may be grumpy old men, but producers Adam Shankman and Bill Mechanic stressed youth, including Zac Efron and “Twilight” heartthrobs Anna Kendrick, Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner.
In 1998, Cameron’s “Titanic” won the best picture statue and the broadcast was watched by a record 55 million people. Last year’s Oscar broadcast, a mishmash in the round with Hugh Jackman as host, delivered 36.3 million viewers.
We’ll know by midday today whether the 2010 telecast breaks 40 million.
Joanne Ostrow: 303-954-1830 or jostrow@denverpost.com
