Oscars at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood

This year’s Oscars was hosted by Conan O’Brien. On Sunday, at 12:30PM, I watched the Red-Carpet interviews. Omar Raja talked about the nominated sport films as well as summarized past sport films. There were other hosts at the Red-Carpet event, working this event, as celebrities and media personalities arrived for the show in their personal limousines. The hosts discussed their favorite sport films.

Some of these films appeared to be about racism, while others had cute animals. Meanwhile, the LA Marathon jogged by the Dolby Theater. It was noted that the Red-Carpet length is 900 feet long, which is equivalent to the length of three football stadiums. Host George Pennacchio, as well as the Fashion Team—Roshumba Williams and Joe Zee, got ready to interview more celebrities. The Fashion Team summarized this year’s Red-Carpet formal fashions as simply elegant, with jewelry and diamonds added to the formal outfit for a glamorous and sparkling Hollywood extravaganza.

The host Lara Spencer claimed that this year’s movies have higher quality than usual. It makes sense because the networks are fighting to stay alive on the air. Not many people are watching television, and the networks have lost viewership. The networks are trying to improve and increase their viewership. George Pennacchio and Joelle Garguilo interviewed a Sinners nominee, while Lara Spencer interviewed this year’s host, Conan O’Brien.

George and Joelle interviewed KPOP Demon Hunters Band. Diane Warren is nominated for her song. She was nominated seventeen times, and she showed her necklace with the number 17. Josh Groban talked about his new album. Filmmakers of Zootopia 3 are interviewed. Buddy Guy is interviewed about his music in Sinners. Malgosia Turzanska designed a black dress that is covered with safety pins. It looks edgy and artsy, similar to the 80s grunge street fashions. Whit Johnson and Linsey Davis interviewed Shaboosey for his nominated song.

Wolfgang Puck and his crew are interviewed. He explains his Japanese-themed menu. But some celebrities have ordered other dishes, such as fish and chips. It is his 32^nd year to cater the Oscars dinner menu.

Alicia Silverstone posed on the Red Carpet, while Felicity Jones was being interviewed about the movie, Train Dreams. Rose Byrne looked modelesque in a tight gown and hair pulled back, almost like the models in the Robert Palmer music video, Simply Irresistible.

Her makeup also looked good. Li Jun Li looked good in a fancy red gown by Gupta because her overall appearance looked minimalistic. Jacob Elordi, Rose Byrne, Teyana Taylor, Ethan Hawke, Kate Hudson, Jessie Buckley and many others celebrated Hollywood and filmmaking. Other celebrities whom I noticed on the Red Carpet included Amy Madigan, Ken Jeong, KPOP Demon Hunters, Kumail Nanjiani, Brandi Carlile, Joel Edgerton, and Chase Infiniti from the movie—One Battle After Another.

While Brittany Howard was being interviewed, Heidi Klum and Misty Copeland posed on the Red Carpet. Harry Mason Jr stated that the Grammy’s new home is now on ABC. He adds that the arts can bring people together to counteract what’s going on worldwide. Kieran Culkin walked by, while Amy Madigan talked about her nomination for Aunt Gladys role in the movie Weapons. Her character looks creepy, a cross between The Joker and an evil clown, if they can have a kid together. Jayme Lawson and “Cornbread,” or Omar Benson Miller in the movie, Sinners, are interviewed.

Conan O’Brien performed skits from the movie, If I had Legs I’d Kick You, with Rose Bryne. Ruth E. Carter and Miles Caton are interviewed. Many gowns looked sparkly, whether from the embroidered gems or beads, or the diamond jewelry. Brazilian actor Wagner Moura is interviewed, while actor Lou Diamond Phillips poses with his wife on the Red Carpet. Miles Caton brought his mother to the Oscars. He will perform his nominated song, which is in the movie, Sinners.

Heidi Klum talks about Season 22 of Project Runway on HULU. KPOP Demon Hunters singers will perform their song, Golden, which is also nominated. All three women were dressed in a gold and black gown. One of the women had gold round balls on her nails as nail décor.

The producers and directors of Elio, nominated for best animated film, are interviewed. Jessie Buckley talked about her role as Agnes in Hamnet. Demi Moore posed in a feathery gown with her long dark hair. She kind of looked goth, or the Edgar Allen Poe character in The Raven. I recently saw her in a short bob and very thin body on the internet. I wonder if she is now wearing extensions or the short bob hair and very thin body was an AI transformation.

Keiran Culkin was interviewed, while Heidi Klum posed in a nude beaded gown on the Red Carpet. Wunmi Mosaku was interviewed about her role in Sinners. Elle Fanning was interviewed, before Kelly Ripa and her husband Mark Consuelos were interviewed. Norwegian actress Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas was interviewed about how she became an actress in Norway. Her siblings are at the Oscars for support. Actor Bill Pullman talked about his shy son getting into acting. Swedish actor Stellan Skarsgård talked about his role in the movie, Sentimental Value.

Host Jesse Palmer interviewed Aussie Rose Byrne, while host Tamron Hall interviewed Zoe Saldana. Damson Idris talked about his role in F1 with host Jesse Palmer. Tamron interviewed Elle Fanning about her first Oscar nomination. Elle’s mother and boyfriend are at the Oscars for support. Her white gown looks like a wedding gown for a fairytale wedding, which she paired with a diamond-studded Cartier necklace.

Jesse Palmer mentioned that his wife is Brazilian, while interviewing Brazilian actor Wagner Moura. Tamron Hall interviewed Amy Madigan about her role, Aunt Gladys, while Jesse interviewed Wunmi Mosaku. Wunmi talked about preparing for her role, which included doing research about hoodoo and spiritual connections with ancestors. Tamron interviewed Ethan Hawke about his nominated role and transformation in Blue Moon. It is his 5^th Oscars nomination.

Jesse interviewed Nicole Kidman, who wore a soft pink feathery gown. She looked like a pink ostrich. She talked about her new film, Practical Magical 2, with Sandra Bullock, which will be released sometime in September. It appears that Nicole is doing more witchcraft films, which I guess seems natural since her father was a warlock and child hunter. Tamron interviewed KPOP Demon Hunters band. They talked about promoting the Asian community, mostly Koreans. Jesse interviewed Kate Hudson. She talked about being a singer and songwriter, which are her first love.

Live from Hollywood, California

A View of the Hollywood sign and Hollywood Hills

Fifi Leigh snapshot from August 2024

The opening skit of the 98^th Oscars was entertaining. Host Conan O’Brien was dressed as Aunt Gladys, while arguing with a black actress that he looks like Bette Davis. He ran towards the Dolby Theater, into the building, and on stage, with many children chasing him, before the children disappeared backstage. He stated that he is the last human host at the Oscars. There were also snippet scenes and skits from other nominated films and actors. Conan spoke some sentences in Spanish and Norwegian.

1. Supporting Actress: Amy Madigan in Weapons
2. Animated Feature Film: KPOP Demon Hunters; they stated that this film was created for Koreans everywhere.
3. Animated Short Film: The Girl Who Cried Pearls; they thanked Montreal, Canada.
4. Costume Design: Frankenstein; New Zealand-born Kate Hawley received her Oscar on stage.
5. Makeup & Hairstyling: Frankenstein
6. Casting: Cassandra Kulukundis for One Battle After Another
7. Live Action Short Film: it was a tie between two movies, and both movies received an Oscar. The Singers and Two People Exchanging Saliva.
8. Supporting Actor: Sean Penn in One Battle After Another
9. Adapted Screenplay: One Battle After Another by Paul Thomas Anderson
10. Original Screenplay: Sinners by Ryan Coogler
11. Production Design: Frankenstein
12. Visual Effects: Avatar 3, Fire and Ash
13. Documentary Short Film: All The Empty Rooms
14. Documentary Feature Film: Mr. Nobody Against Putin
15. Original Score: by Ludwig Goransson for the film, Sinners.
16. Sound: F1
17. Film Editing: One Battle After Another
18. Cinematography: Sinners
19. Original Song: Golden by KPOP Demon Hunters
20. International Feature Film: Sentimental Value (Norway)
21. Directing: One Battle After Another by Paul Thomas Anderson
22. Lead Actor: Michael B. Jordan in Sinners
23. Lead Actress: Jessie Buckley in Hamnet
24. Motion Picture: One Battle After Another

Ventura Software created AI Software for iPhones. There was a live from London skit with Matt Berry. Then, Conan O’Brien performed in a black and white vintage skit from the old classic movie, Casablanca.

Bill Crystal talked about his late friend, Rob Reiner, who was murdered with his wife, Michelle Singer Reiner. He receives a standing ovation. There is a memoriam of celebrities as well as others who had worked in the movie industry and had died this year. Barbra Streisand talked about Robert Redford, before she sang The Way We Were. Canadian Rachel McAdams talked about Canadian Catherine O’Hara and American Diane Keaton.

Photographs of the people who have died are displayed on the back screen. I remember from videos that Conan O’Brien, Billy Crystal, and Rob Reiner lived in the same neighborhood. Rob Reiner and his wife Michelle were at Conan O’Brien’s Christmas Party, the night before they were both murdered.

When Javier Bardem goes on stage to announce the winner for International Feature Film, he states “NO TO WAR” and “FREE PALESTINE.” He was wearing two pins. He explained his two pins on the Red Carpet interviews. Before Jimmy Kimmel announced the winner for Documentary Short Films, he hinted at censorship issues in the countries North Korea and CBS, with CBS substituded for the country that he isn’t allowed to mention on the networks because of censorship issues. Hint: CBS = Israel.

Out of the list of these winners, I have only seen Avatar 3, Fire and Ash, in the theater. I mostly watch independent and foreign films. Weapons and Frankenstein look interesting.