[TexasGreg]

The troops didn’t know, and neither did we. But the scheduler and the Academy directors KNEW which documentaries were nominated and which ones won. They KNEW it, and that was precisely why they chose that category to have the troop introduce. It was absolutely intentional.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Ditto. Even though the final tabulations are a secret the Oscar production people can still “exit poll” and have other tools to keep the surprises ( to them ) at a minimum during the broadcast. Keeping their votes in the minor categories secret are probably not a main concern to the academy voters.

How could a film about same sex marriage lose in Hollywood?

[flaglady47]

“The troops didn’t know, and neither did we. But the scheduler and the Academy directors KNEW which documentaries were nominated and which ones won. They KNEW it, and that was precisely why they chose that category to have the troop introduce. It was absolutely intentional.”

Not true. The ballots are guarded and no one knows, including the Academy officials, until the envelopes are opened, who has won what. Price Waterhouse guards those ballots. It sounds like you want this to fit into your preconceived viewpoint regardless of what the truth of the matter is. And our armed forces didn’t have to allow those troops to announce the results of that particular category, as they knew what the nominations were, just like everyone else did. What none of them knew is which film would win.