#1
Posted: 3/3/14 at 7:19am
All in all, I'd say it was a very good-to-great telecast. Ellen is a terrific host, and even though some of her audience shenanigans went on too long, she was funny and her pacing for the evening was good. I hope she hosts again.
I'll bet Travolta knows how to say "Idina Menzel" this morning.
The "dead reel" was much better this year. They did go faster and include more people this time. I didn't think we needed the song AFTER the reel, though. Bette could have sung while the images were going (although I liked her song and the Somewhere In Time music, it was just too long, back to back).
I was glad to see Sidney Poitier with Angelina Jolie, but he seemed so frail, and his "keep up the good work" almost sounded like he was bidding farewell to everyone. It caught me off guard. She was wonderful with him as she didn't rush him or seem nervous or impatient or confused. She walked at his pace and made him (and the audience) feel at ease as much as possible. She's a classy lady.
I thought Matthew McConaughey did the same with Kim Novak. He was great with her and made everyone comfortable. (Kim wasn't frail, but you could tell she was struggling a bit.)
The musical numbers were very good, all in all. I loved the staging and presentation of all of them, which is very unusual. There were no missteps. I was grateful.
I'm really glad they didn't cut off any of the speeches. It seemed like they did a few less tributes, cut the presenters' speeches down, and allowed the winners to "go on" a bit if they felt like it. It was much better!
Speaking of less tributes, I didn't much care for the thematic clip reels, like "Heroes" or whatever. Everyone sort of politely clapped afterward, but they all looked as confused as I was. What was the point of these? I don't need to see shots from E.T. (three times) next to Rick from Casablanca next to Captain America. Still, all in all, they were pretty harmless even if they were unnecessary.
Pink did a nice job with Over the Rainbow, but she had no breath support. Very strange phrasing. Maybe she was nervous. Or maybe she should cut down to a pack a day.
I began to realize that if they trimmed just a couple of things, they could easily get the telecast down to three hours, instead of three and a half, and it occurred to me that they have no intention of doing that or trying. They would lose thirty minutes of the highest-paying sponsorship on television. An attempt to whittle it down will never, ever happen. It's a 3 1/2-hour show. Period.
Adele Dazeem seemed really nervous, just like she did at the Tonys for Defying Gravity. She has performed so well so often in front of large crowds, but for some reason, she seems to choke up and rush tempos a bit (and crack a bit) at these major events. It seems odd for someone who is otherwise so poised.
As for the actual awards and winners, no big surprises at all. I'm glad for everybody.
Onward to next years Oscars!
I'll bet Travolta knows how to say "Idina Menzel" this morning.
The "dead reel" was much better this year. They did go faster and include more people this time. I didn't think we needed the song AFTER the reel, though. Bette could have sung while the images were going (although I liked her song and the Somewhere In Time music, it was just too long, back to back).
I was glad to see Sidney Poitier with Angelina Jolie, but he seemed so frail, and his "keep up the good work" almost sounded like he was bidding farewell to everyone. It caught me off guard. She was wonderful with him as she didn't rush him or seem nervous or impatient or confused. She walked at his pace and made him (and the audience) feel at ease as much as possible. She's a classy lady.
I thought Matthew McConaughey did the same with Kim Novak. He was great with her and made everyone comfortable. (Kim wasn't frail, but you could tell she was struggling a bit.)
The musical numbers were very good, all in all. I loved the staging and presentation of all of them, which is very unusual. There were no missteps. I was grateful.
I'm really glad they didn't cut off any of the speeches. It seemed like they did a few less tributes, cut the presenters' speeches down, and allowed the winners to "go on" a bit if they felt like it. It was much better!
Speaking of less tributes, I didn't much care for the thematic clip reels, like "Heroes" or whatever. Everyone sort of politely clapped afterward, but they all looked as confused as I was. What was the point of these? I don't need to see shots from E.T. (three times) next to Rick from Casablanca next to Captain America. Still, all in all, they were pretty harmless even if they were unnecessary.
Pink did a nice job with Over the Rainbow, but she had no breath support. Very strange phrasing. Maybe she was nervous. Or maybe she should cut down to a pack a day.
I began to realize that if they trimmed just a couple of things, they could easily get the telecast down to three hours, instead of three and a half, and it occurred to me that they have no intention of doing that or trying. They would lose thirty minutes of the highest-paying sponsorship on television. An attempt to whittle it down will never, ever happen. It's a 3 1/2-hour show. Period.
Adele Dazeem seemed really nervous, just like she did at the Tonys for Defying Gravity. She has performed so well so often in front of large crowds, but for some reason, she seems to choke up and rush tempos a bit (and crack a bit) at these major events. It seems odd for someone who is otherwise so poised.
As for the actual awards and winners, no big surprises at all. I'm glad for everybody.
Onward to next years Oscars!
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
Updated On: 3/3/14 at 07:19 AM
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