Despite Kathryn Bigelow's breakthrough win, there was one subtle but historic change to the proceedings this year. For the last 22 years, when the presenter opened the envelope the standard line was "and the Oscar goes to....". Before that, it used to be the more honest statement "and the winner is...", a line that became a cultural catch-phrase. But back in the 80's the Academy, in all their stuffy Academy-ness, decided that all the nominees are winners blah blah blah. And the script was literally changed and that change has held. Until last night....
Suddenly, the presenters were uttering the formerly dreaded winner line. It was a top secret change in the script, noted on Friday by the Wrap after rehearsal. The only one who didn't toe the new company line was Kate Winslet who either didn't get the memo or, having won once but lost a few times, decided to keep the "everyone's a winner" feel. Directors Adam Shankman and Bill Mechanic didn't have too much to say about the change, though they did hint at a big, "naughty" change in pre-show coverage. That was it...though I'd hardly call it naughty.
One other notable imprint of Shankman's direction was the fact that just about every major star from the movie HAIRSPRAY (which he also directed) was presenting: Zac Efron, Queen Latifh, John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer. As they say in Hollyrock, it's who you know....
