The Oscars did not disappoint, as viewers were treated to heartfelt and powerful speeches, electrifying performances and Oppenheimer Take home many important prizes. But some of the most exciting moments don’t happen on camera. I was reporting inside the Dolby Theater on Oscar night. Here are 10 things you didn’t see on TV.
Jimmy Kimmel’s Monologue Gets Mixed Reactions
You can’t win everyone or, in this case, win over everyone in the room. Kimmel made people laugh inside the theater during his longer-than-usual monologue, but some moments fell flat.
Kimmel, who hosted the show for the fourth time, began with a joke about its box office failure. Lady Teia. “This night is full of enormous talent and untold potential, but it was also Lady Teia,” he said. The line made few people laugh. (Maybe it’s because not many people have seen the film led by Dakota Johnson?)
On the other hand, when Kimmel shouted Barbie’Despite the Oscar criticism (director Greta Gerwig and star Margot Robbie received no nominations in the directing and acting categories, respectively), it elicited plenty of applause from the audience — which Kimmel also shouted.
“By the way, you’re the ones who didn’t vote for her! Don’t act like you had nothing to do with it. You did it!” he said. The participants continued to applaud.
However, the crowd — along with social media — was not amused when Kimmel criticized friend Robert Downey Jr. hours before he was about to win his first Oscar.
“This is the highest point of Robert Downey Jr.’s long and illustrious career — well, one of the highest points,” Kimmel said, referring to the actor’s public struggles with sobriety decades ago. “Is this too far-fetched or is this a drug move you’re pulling?” The part continued, causing many people in the theater to groan.
Nominees receive acceptance speech guidelines
Actor and comedian David Alan Grier was the announcer for the night, and before the show began, he had some good advice for the A-list audience.
“Relax. The hardest part is over! You are nominated,” he said as the crowd cheered. “Tonight we’re going to celebrate you and your work, but we’re here to have fun — not long. So let’s keep these speeches short, okay? Don’t sit here thanking your agents, your publicists, your tax preparer, the executives from the studio; they do all this after the show… Admittedly, this is an intimidating room, but it’s your room.
Grier advised that although people like to hear personal things, speakers should not be too personal, strange or long.
“In closing, remember these words: Don’t screw up,” he joked.
Zendaya Arrives Fashionably Late
O Dune: Part Two star is a fashion icon, so it’s no surprise that her entrance in an Armani Privé column dress captured the star-studded crowd. Zendaya, who presented the award at the end of the night, entered the theater during the first commercial break, after Kimmel’s monologue, and immediately had a moment with Ariana Grande, who stood up to greet the actress. As Zendaya headed to her seat, she was stopped by several celebrities who wanted to say hi.
Big makes a statement just sitting
Speaking of Ariana Grande, there was no shortage of Evil star. Her Glinda-inspired pink dress can be seen anywhere in the theater. How did she sit on that (beautiful) thing?
Everyone had to go to the bathroom, or breathe, at the same time
Celebrities are just like us. A host of stars (Slash! Martin Scorsese! Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons!) snaked through the lobby bar area near the show’s one-hour mark. This included the nominee who became the winner Emma Stonewhich unfortunately had bad timing.
Once someone leaves, they are not allowed back into the theater until the next commercial break, no matter who it is. Stone was talking to her husband Dave McCary and missed watching Poor things win three consecutive awards (Production Design, Makeup and Hairstyling and Costume Design). She couldn’t believe it. When she realized what was happening, she ran to watch it on a nearby TV.
Is John Cena naked?!
The wrestler-turned-Hollywood star caught the attention of even his peers with his costume design Oscar presentation. When Cena came out wearing just a pair of Birkenstocks, everyone inside and outside the theater laughed, gasped — and quickly turned around asking if he’d really figured it all out.
The answer? Almost. It had flesh-colored jockstraps in the front and little nude briefs in the back.
Kimmel supplies Oscar guests with hot pretzels and tamales
Other than the small appetizers and fancy trail mix, there’s really no food at the awards show. But Kimmel helped us by placing a box under everyone’s seats that contained a pretzel, condiments, candy, and water. A note was included that said:
No host = no snacks. PS To keep the karma flowing, we made donations in his name to the St. Joseph Center.
According to the organization’s website, the St. Joseph Center’s mission is “to provide working poor families, as well as homeless men, women, and children of all ages, with the built-in resources and tools to become productive members , stable and self-sustaining community.”
Kenergy shakes up the Dolby Theater
It was like being in the best one minute show ever. Gosling’s performance was announced in the second half of the show. It was the first (and only) time that the actor sang the Oscar-nominated song “I’m Just Ken” live.
The first time Grier hinted that this would happen, people ran from the bar area on every floor to their seats. There were rumors all night about the performance and no one wanted to miss out on seeing it in person. (If you did that, you’d watch it live outside the theater.)
Gosling had everyone, and I mean all, from their seats dancing and singing along with the Barbie song. The lyrics were shown on the theater’s TVs and everyone had fun. Actor Simu Liu (who played one of the Kens) told the audience during the commercial break to stand up, turn on their phone flashlights and sing the words – specifically calling out Cillian Murphy.
The only word to describe the performance is “electric”.
Oscar crowd has fun with Kimmel’s Trump bit
Kimmel read a post on Truth Social from former President Donald Trump criticizing his hosting skills:
There has EVER been a WORSE HOST than Jimmy Kimmel at the Oscars. His opening was that of a below average person trying hard to be something he is not and can never be. Get rid of Kimmel and maybe replace him with another ABC ‘talent’, George Slopanopoulos, sold out but cheap. He would make everyone on stage look bigger, stronger and more glamorous.
But it was Kimmel’s return that had the room roaring: “Thank you, President Trump. Thank you for watching… aren’t you past your prison sentence?”
Best Actress presenters among those who received the biggest applause of the night
Former winners Michelle Yeoh, Sally Field, Jennifer Lawrence, Charlize Theron and Jessica Lange brought the crowd to their feet when they were revealed to introduce the Best Actress nominees.
The personal touch, a format that the Oscars haven’t used since 2009, was done with different personalities at four awards shows throughout the night and was a huge success each time. These women received perhaps the warmest welcome.
