Backstage Oscar Scoop
Ever wonder where Oscar winners go after being led — or, in some cases, dragged — off the Kodak Theater's stage? No, they don't just toddle on back to their seats. First, they've gotta come backstage to meet the press. That's where the stars tell a roomful of reporters whatever they lacked time — or the presence of mind — to say to the billion viewers watching at home. Bear in mind, these Tinseltown luminaries are often still shell-shocked when they reach us, which means lotsa memorable moments. Here's a handy-dandy timeline of Sunday night's backstage highlights:
6:03 pm/PST
If you thought Mystic River's Tim Robbins had a case of award-show anxiety onstage, he was even loopier backstage. How did the best supporting actor feel, now that he and longtime companion Susan Sarandon have matching Oscar trophies? "We're going to get 'em together in a little room, turn out the lights, light some candles and see what happens," he chuckled. "Wouldn't that be scary [if] my Oscar was pregnant?!" Conjuring an even scarier mental image for me, Robbins went on to say: "I'm hoping for a little streaking tonight. Will Ferrell's in the house!"
FYI, some reporters were bummed that Robbins hadn't used his acceptance speech to pontificate on politics. When baited to bash Bush — he's hardly a Dubya fan, after all — Robbins looked mighty tempted, but kept his tone diplomatic. "All I can say is, register to vote. Get involved in the process, make sure other people vote — and I do think someone has to ensure the elections are fair." True that. Movin' on...
6:38 pm
Renee Zellweger looked luminous and confident in vintage Cartier diamonds. When they called her name, did she feel like she'd finally "arrived" in Hollywood? "No, no, I didn't think finally," she said with a smile. "I still don't know what I thought. I'm a little overwhelmed. The invitation alone is humbling. As soon as I remember the moment, I'll let you know."
7:15 pm
Hey, did you catch Geoffrey Rush's nephew, Adam Elliot — whose Harvie Krumpet won best animated short — thanking his "beautiful boyfriend Dan" on stage? He wasn't trying to make Oscar history or a political statement, though he may have accomplished both. Nah, the guy's just plain smitten. "Actually, it just popped into my head," Elliot said, grinning. "It was not something I planned to do. I've only been going out with him two months, so there was no problem, as far as I was concerned!"
7:36 pm
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King swept the technical awards, which was neat. But that meant lots of LOTR's behind-the-scenes folks coming backstage, where only journalists from New Zealand cared about them. (Their burning questions included: "Will you celebrate with a Guinness down the pub, mate?" Crikey.) But, seriously, wasn't it odd to see the fantasy epic's costumes nominated, but not the actors who wore them? "I find that incredibly sad," admitted LOTR costume design winner Richard Taylor, "because the performances are extraordinary. What it really shows is, it's an ensemble cast. They're working on the same [high] note, and that makes it very hard for one performer to stand out." Well, that's one theory...
7:53 pm
Honorary Oscar winner Blake Edwards — whose wife bared her breasts in 1981's S.O.B. — was asked what he thinks of Janet Jackson's Boobygate scandal. "I think it's such hypocrisy," he griped. "I don't know how you can run Sex and the City and get such great approval — I love the show — and then turn around, because Janet may not have been great taste, and raise this kind of thing. It's all money, and I think that it's bound to change. As a result, she may have really done something wonderful for things down the road." Ummm... I think here's a lucid argument in there somewhere, folks.
8:30 pm
It's turning into a very loooooong Evian break, whilst we wait for the big winners to come backstage. Fortunately, if reporters aren't interested in what's happening in the press room, we've got monitors and headphones that allow us to listen in on the Oscar telecast. See, that's what I love about working for TV Guide. There's always a good excuse to watch television at work.
9:17 pm
The four-hour telecast has ended at last! And Sofia Coppola finally makes her way backstage. We know she's been praised at plenty of awards shows by now, but you'd think Ms. Coppola could've mustered up a little more enthusiasm for an Oscar win. She's always so blasé. Is girlfriend on Xanax or what? "My heart was pounding," she assured us. "I just don't jump up and down."
9:28 pm
Wow! Sean Penn — who's never deigned to attend the Oscars before — not only showed up for the awards show, he actually came back to chat up the press. He must've felt really optimistic about his chances this year. But what kept the newly minted Academy Award winner away the past three times he had been nominated? "It really came down to social discomfort," he said. "Too many people you know only a little bit in one room. But that's what this is for." Here, Penn held up the glass of gin and tonic in his right hand. (The Oscar statuette was in his left.) Penn's answers to subsequent questions weren't as intelligible, since he was busy crunching ice from his drink! Still, to see Madonna's ex-husband in a good mood and even attempting to charm the press felt like an historic moment in itself.
9:40 pm
Charlize Theron appreciated Adrien Brody's Binaca-spritzing joke. "That relieved the pressure," the best actress chuckled, adding that she'd endured a sudden attack of "adrenaline-pumping" stress about half an hour before arriving at the Kodak. But speaking of kissing, did she enjoy her same-sex smooches with Christina Ricci in Monster? "I don't think we had a lot of tongue action," she mused, then screamed, "I can't believe I'm talking about this while I'm holding an Oscar!"
9:49 pm
The Canadian best foreign language film winners for The Barbarian Invasions are answering questions almost exclusively in French. Even though they do speak Anglais. A fellow journalist and I roll our eyes in unison. Whatever.
10:00 pm
Peter Jackson yaks about his gratitude for LOTR's best picture win. Yes, it's great Return of the King won, but the victory was totally predictable — and anyway, it was hard paying attention to Jackson with Annie Lennox, the best song winner, standing right next to him. The press barely asked her anything, so she just stood there silently most of the time, looking like an absolute goddess in her Stella McCartney gown and cradling Oscar in her arms. She looked a little annoyed, but then I stopped her as she was stepping off stage to tell her, "You're my queen." After that, she brightened right up! Hey, this reporter does what he can.
