Peter Gabriel has opted out of singing his Oscar nominated song Down to Earth from Wall-E because they are only giving him 65 seconds to perform according to Nikki Finke.
Gabriel said in his letter that he was only being offered 65 seconds for his song. “I don’t feel that is sufficient time to do the song justice, and I have decided to withdraw from performing,” Gabriel informed AMPAS. “I fully respect and look forward to the producers’ right to revamp the show. Even though song writers are small players in the filmmmaking process, they are just as committed and work just as hard as the rest of the team, and I regret that this new version of the ceremony is being created in part at their expense.” I’m told that the medley is the brainchild of the producers in their attempt to get the Oscar show’s running time down to 3 hours — which, frankly, would be a miracle given that it usually runs more than 4 hours.
Out of all the things to cut time out of at the Oscars, Best Song is not the thing to cut. How about cutting out those stupid boring montages honoring movies from the past that seem out of place? Or don’t show the trailers for the nominated movies that most of the people watching have not and will not see? There only 3 things that should remain as is time wise are the Best Song, In Memorian and the Opening Monologue…if it is a funny one!
But back to Gabriel, I really hope the Oscars get Robin Williams to perform the song! He was great the last time he had to fill-in and sing a song!
ABC just announced that for the fourth year in the row, the hysterical Jimmy Kimmel will be hosting the post Oscar Show on the network! Last season Jimmy Kimmel and Ben Affleck came out in a big with declaring that they were f*cking each other! So I can’t wait to see how he tops that!!!
Picture
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire
Actor
Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
Actress
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Melissa Leo, Frozen River
Meryl Streep, Doubt
Kate Winslet, The Reader
Supporting actress
Amy Adams, Doubt
Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis, Doubt
Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler
Supporting actor
Josh Brolin, Milk
Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road
Director
David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Gus Van Sant, Milk
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Stephen Daldry, The Reader
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Animated Feature Film
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
WALL-E
Original Song
Down to Earth, WALL-E Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman
Jai Ho, from Slumdog Millionaire A.R. Rahman and Gulzar
O Saya – Slumdog Millionaire A.R. Rahman and Maya Arulpragasam.
The Oscars surprised me with the who wasn’t nominated from the previous Awards shows like Colin Farrell in In Bruges (he was robbed), Dustin Hoffman in Last Chance Harvey, Miley Cyrus for a song from Bolt or that kid from Slumdog Millionaire and thankfully so wasn’t Clint Eastwood’s Gran Torino. But forgetting all of that, I am really hoping that Robert Downey Jr finally gets the Oscar he so richly deserves! That award normally goes to a vet who has been in the industry who has never gotten an Oscar and they are finally making it up to them. I am kind of hoping that Marisa Tomei wins again, just so we can say twice she won, but it was the wrong name in the envelope!!! Since Kate Winslet was only nominated once, I think she will finally bring home Oscasr gold, but I am hoping for Anne Hathaway!!! When it comes to movies I could care less because if it is anything like the last few years we will forget which movie won within days! But I am kind of hoping that the remake of Forest Gump, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button wins, afterall it lead the Oscar nominations with 13!
Find out who wins on February 22nd on ABC with first-time host Hugh Jackman!
Australia’s Hugh Jackman will be adding Oscars Host to his resume according to ETonline. People’s current Sexiest Man Alive has hosted the Tony Awards three times and each time his performance was praised. So I have no Doubt he will do an amazing job as the Oscars host. I think he is enough reason for me to watch the telecast on ABC on Febraury 22nd because I have a psychic feeling the nominees will not be a reason for me to watch. Plus he is a much better choice than the last few hosts like Jon Stewart and Whoopi Goldberg. He can sing, dance and be charming and I can’t wait to see him do it on Hollywood’s biggest night!
How bad did the Oscars do in the ratings last night? Well they were 14% below the lowest-rated Oscars ever and 21% below last year's according to AP. I know I am one of those people who skipped out on the Oscars last night. Seriously I have not and do not plan on seeing any of the nominated films and I wasn't that impressed with Jon Stewart when he hosted before so he was not enough for me to tune in. And looks like I was not alone.
Some people say that there was not enough time after the WGA strike to put on a show while others are saying because ABC did not have any new episodes on this week they could not promote it. My theory is since the last Oscars to do well was when Lord of the Rings 3 won, maybe the Oscars would be better nominating movies the average American has seen and not a bunch of movies they have no intention of seeing? Strange concept no? So this year when they are choosing what movies to nominate think of movies like Indiana Jones, Mamma Mia and Sex and the City and bring back Billy Crystal as a host and then maybe you will find those viewers you lost like me!
