In the interest of celebrating gambling in the workplace, let’s take a closer look at that time-honored tradition, the Oscar pool. I’ve been invited to compete against my EW colleagues in the annual office pool, and while I have a pesky little wagering streak I try to manage (medicate?) with harmless Scrabulous binges and not-so-harmless snacking in front of the TV, you bet I’m placing my bets. However, today I’m wondering, why don’t we get a PopWatch "pool" underway, to enhance the standard ritual of merely picking trophy winners when we watch on Sunday night?
Now this "pool" is entirely hypothetical; EW.com is not accepting any wagers or giving away any prizes or money. Still, even knowing I can’t mail the winner a fabulous prize, how would you lay odds on the following questions:
1. Which star will make the most wardrobe-malfunction-courting fashion choice?
2. Whose hair will be messier: Tim Burton’s or Helena Bonham Carter’s (pictured)?
3. How many celebrities will bring their mother as their date?
4. Who will get the biggest applause during the "In Memoriam" montage?
5. How many acceptance speeches will include some kind of political statement? (Strike mentions count.)
6. How many winners will make a false start leaving the podium before they realize which way to exit the stage?
By all means, throw down your best guesses in the comments section (yes, number 4 is probably too easy to make for interesting odds), and let’s share ideas for what else we can bet on! Thank you, PopWatchers, for thinking outside the Academy ballot box with me!
Comments (1-26) of 26 Add your comment
In response to Tim and Helena Bohnam-Carter-Burtons hair: I am almost certian that Robert Smith wears a wig or just gels his hair messy when he performs on stage. I doubt that would go out for walk looking like that.
How about who will have the most hideous dress this year, and who needs to fill in their dress?
In response to Tim and Helena Bohnam-Carter-Burtons hair: I am almost certian that Robert Smith wears a wig or just gels his hair messy when he performs on stage. I doubt that would go out for a walk looking like that.
How about who will have the most hideous dress this year, and who needs to fill in their dress?
I think the obvious answer to #4 is Heath.
Heath??
Duh, ya think?
1. Beyonce – but only if her mother designed it.
2. That’s a tough one – Tim?
3. Only the ones that can’t bring a real date for obvious reasons.
4. Too easy.
5. 90% of them
6. Depends how many of them have been drinking or taking frequent trips to the bathroom (if you know what I mean and I think that you do)
Judging by the photo, I think we can also predict who will show the most cleavage.
Will Heath be in the “In Memorium” montage this time around? He did technically die in 2008, so he shouldn’t be in until next year. Unless they count one Oscar broadcast to the next instead of actual calendar years.
Tim and Helena are AWESOMESAUCE. I only wish I could have unruly yet cool-looking hair. Though, Helena usually tidies her hair up for award shows. Usually.
The Oscars snubbed them and dozens others. I don’t even care about the Oscars this year. Well, I never really care, but this year is just disgusting. Norbit gets recognized while other films like Control and Zodiac don’t? Please.
Given the snug little opening segment they shared in bed (and the general love toward the guy), how many time will the camera cut to Clooney during the ceremony? (not counting when he’s shown as a nominee)
I’m putting the over/under at 11.
ya I’m with Jane on this in that I don’t think Heath will be in the In Memoriam montage this time around because he died this calendar year. I remember a year or two back when Don Knotts died pretty close to the Oscars, in January or February, I was expecting him to be in the montage but he wasn’t. Maybe that was because the video had already been made but I’m not sure, and if it was I wonder if Heath died early enough to make it in
1. Courtney Love, if they invite her.
2. I think Burton and Carter tie. Ugh! (Maybe Depp sweeps in with the upset!)
3. I don’t know about mothers, but I hope Gosling brings his hot sister again- Meow!
4. Don’t be surprised to hear a large applause for Roy Schieder in memoriam- if it isn’t too late.
5. Four. Exactly four.
6. The guys who win for best Original Score. They never know what’s up. Oh, and Ellen Page when she wins for Best Actress (Zing!)
Some of the stuff I’m wondering:
1. How many presenters will have trouble reading the teleprompter?
2. How many times will the show cut to Javier Bardem (apparently the word on the street is he’s actually a good looking guy)
3.How long will the Best Actress’ acceptance speech be?
4. Which male winners will cry on oscar night?
7. Will John Stuart do an impersonation of “I drink your milkshake”?
1-Helena Bonham Carter
2-Helena Bonham Carter
3-2
4-Heath Ledger.Without a doubt. Sorry everybody else.
5-Georges Clooney if he wins. He’s been doing it fro a few years, so now more than ever!
6-4 and it never gets old, year after year!
1 – Bad fashion will be someone heretofore overlooked – one of the presenters.
2 – Tim burton
3 – Saorsie will bring her mom and dad, does that count?
4 – Heath Ledger will win, hands down
5 – Perhaps about 5
6 – 5
1. Jodie Foster. Remember her pantsuit with no shirt a few years back?
2. Carter’s hair will be worse, because it will include extensions.
3. The girl from Atonement will have her mom. I’d say Casey Affleck, but he’s married.
4. Obviously Heath Ledger. What a sad contest to win.
5. If strike mentions count, then nearly every speech will be political. Otherwise, maybe Ruby Dee.
6. Anyone who’s not also a presenter will mess up the exit in some way.
1. After seeing what Tilda Swinton wore to the Baftas, I’m going with her.
2. HBC’s hair will be higher than Burton’s, but both will be a disaster.
3. The kid from Atonement will have Mom in tow, of course, but wouldn’t it be priceless for her to bring a date? Some little pre-teen in a tux?
4. Heath Ledger, followed closely by Roy Scheider.
5. I think the only way we’ll hear politics enter into it is if Clooney wins. Please…don’t let Clooney win!
6. I’m going to say 60% of winners will go the wrong way.
4 would be a much more interesting question if it were “other than Heath Ledger, who will get the most applause?”
My dark horse is Ingmar Bergman.
I propose another question. When there is a presenter/winner of a certain race/color/creed, how many times does the camera pan to someone in the audience who matches them? So, if Halle Berry is onstage, how many black actors can the camera find? Or if someone elderly is up there, how many old folks can the camera pan to?
I’m almost positive they’ve featured people who have died the same calendar year as the awards. Didn’t Gene Siskel die a few weeks before the ceremony,and Whoopi mentioned him before presenting an award?
As far as pools, how about how many shots of tepid reactions to Jon Stewart’s jokes. I love the guy, but a lot of people didn’t get him last time he hosted.
If you expand crazy hair to general slovenliness – I’ll say Michael Moore, especially since he has no Peter Jackson to compete with him this year.
And, even better than who will bring Mom along is who will bring one of the kids along as their date? Jamie Foxx did a few years ago (it may have been his niece, but essentially the same thing, date-wise). And while it would be super cute is Siorse Ronan brought a pre-teen date along with her, who ever she brings, they should not do the same “let’s make her seem sexy” shot that pans up her legs that they did to Abigail Breslin last year. That was disturbing because she’s a minor and the cameraman is not.
Also, don’t forget that speeches, in addition to making a political statement, have to thank someone watching down on them from heaven or in their native country where the whole country is apparently rooting for that nation’s lone nominee this year.
I also think that while the people sitting in the Kodak Theatre can’t do it, there will be quite a bit of booing by home viewers when Jack Valenti comes up on the montage o’ death.
Heath was included in the montage at the SAG Awars so he definitely should be included at the Oscars.
I am amazed that so many think Ledger winning the applause-o-meter for the In Memoriam is no contest. Sure the guy had a few talented performances, but did he really make a substantial contribution to film? If you disagree, I would contend that you are letting the recency and the shock of his death bias you.
Deborrah Kerr, Norman Mailer and Ingmar Bergman all have contributed much more. I would even say that Marcel Marceau, Lois Maxwell and even Evil Knievel have had a greater impact.
Maybe I’ve perceived wrongly, but I’ve always seen In Memoriam at the Oscars as a time to truly honor the colleagues that went before them and thank them one last time. If Heath Ledger gets the most applause, I don’t see how the Oscars are any different than a high school popularity contest, everyone clapping just to say “I knew that guy!” If I were there, I would save my most enthusiastic applause for Deborrah Kerr and her years of quality work.
1. One of those “Extra” or “Entertainment Tonight” ladies – do they count as stars?
2. Tim and HBC’s hair will start to intertwine during the ceremony, like vines. So it will be a draw.
3. 4 (why not?)
4. Everyone’s already answered this one…
5. 3, if you count Daniel Day-Lewis’ impassioned plea to free captive milkshakes everywhere.
6. Just about every dang one. For some reason the producers never put the winners out of their misery and tell them all to walk in one direction.
While Heath Ledger may get the most applause at the actual awards, my personal applause will be for Bergman. He’s one of the reasons why film can be more than ephemera.
LOL, Oscars 2008 Spoof:
http://digitalfuntown.squarespace.com/dft-blog/2008/2/19/offbeat-oscars-mash-up.html