Oscar's Only Human: The 10 Biggest Academy Awards Blunders

Pajamas Media ^ | February 25, 2012 | Chris Queen

[OddLane]

Jack Haley, Jr. hit upon a brilliant idea. The producer of the 1979 Oscars telecast devised a special medley of hit songs the Academy never nominated. Steve Lawrence and Sammy Davis, Jr. would perform it at the ceremony. The Academy’s Music Branch protested, but when Haley and host Johnny Carson threatened to walk they relented.

A smash hit, the audience applauded “Oscar’s Only Human” throughout and treated the performers to a prolonged ovation.

****

Oscar is only human, and he’s made some terrible mistakes over the years. From controversial wins to unfortunate slights to sins of showmanship, the Academy Awards have failed time and time again.

In honor of this Sunday’s broadcast, here are my personal picks for Oscar’s ten most egregious screw-ups:

[Libloather]

Oscars? Really? We’re trying to save the free world here and you post film award ‘oddities’? I’m kinda offended.

[CaptainK]

They’ll do it again on Sunday when they give the Best Actor to that French guy instead of Gary Oldman.

[goat granny]

only muslims and liberals are allowed to be offended...you missed that memo

[Lazlo in PA]

The writer forgot this atrocity from 1992

and this outrage from 1996.

[Baynative]

Sure, it's meaningless and political. But, so is a Nobel Peace Prize!

[rfreedom4u]

I think I should be proud of myself in that I do not recognize either of these women.

[Cicero]

I don’t think I’ve watched an Oscar show for 20 years. Maybe 30 years. I’m not sure.

They used to be given to the most influential Hollywood insiders or their candidates. Now, they are almost purely political. Those few movies that are worth seeing almost never win anything.

[Lazlo in PA]

Judging by the trajectory of their careers, after winning the Oscar, it would appear that no one else can recognize them either.

[Krankor]

Nope, the worst mistake was Crash as best picture. That movie is so ludicrous, it's a comedy.

[citizencon]

Julia Roberts, Gwyneth Paltrow, Charlize Theron...

Brilliant stars, not great actors...

[Hot Tabasco]

We’re trying to save the free world here and you post film award ‘oddities’? I’m kinda offended.

Ha, welcome to the FR "I'm offended" club...Is this your first time here? Or have you been secretly offended before but never admitted it publicly?

[Bullish]

It’s painfully obvious that Forrest Gump was the least deserving Best Picture of all time.

I couldn't agree more. Everything about Forest Gump was wretched. It was so ridiculous I couldn't even sit through it, and left after the first hour.

[patriot08]

The atrocity of all atrocities, 'Hustle and Flow' won wide acclaim and an Oscar for best 'song' in 2005.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wN0xK6bgQkQ

Story:

With help from his friends, a Memphis pimp in a mid-life crisis attempts to become a successful hip-hop emcee.

That this disgusting filth won wide acclaim and an Oscar is proof that the Libs have turned America into a cesspool.

[patriot08]

Don't know what happened to poster from 'movie' in above post.

[patriot08]

Well that’s odd. I posted a picture of the poster from ‘Hustle and Flow’, and it disappeared.
I posted another and the first one came back.

[sportutegrl]

You forgot Whoopi.

[sportutegrl]

You forgot Whoopi.

[RckyRaCoCo]

Huck Follywood

[oh8eleven]

I don’t think I’ve watched an Oscar show for 20 years. Maybe 30 years.
The last time I watched either Bob Hope or Johnny Carson was the host. Huck Follywood.