Portions of the Following Program Have Been Pre-Recorded
February 24, 2017 8:54 AM Subscribe
Live from 1981, it's the 53rd Academy Awards—complete with original commercials!
(and part 2)
Host: Johnny Carson
Best Supporting Actress: Mary Steenburgen (Melvin and Howard)
Best Supporting Actor: Timothy Hutton (Ordinary People)
Best Actor: Robert De Niro (Raging Bull)
Best Actress: Sissy Spacek (Coal Miner's Daughter)
Best Director: Robert Redford (Ordinary People)
Best Picture: Ordinary People [somewhat infamously]
(and part 2)
Host: Johnny Carson
Best Supporting Actress: Mary Steenburgen (Melvin and Howard)
Best Supporting Actor: Timothy Hutton (Ordinary People)
Best Actor: Robert De Niro (Raging Bull)
Best Actress: Sissy Spacek (Coal Miner's Daughter)
Best Director: Robert Redford (Ordinary People)
Best Picture: Ordinary People [somewhat infamously]
Oh yeah. Reagan got shot.
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 9:09 AM on February 24, 2017
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 9:09 AM on February 24, 2017
I'd like to re-watch the 1995 Oscar show in its entirety. Letterman KILLED.
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 9:21 AM on February 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 9:21 AM on February 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
Best Picture: Ordinary People [somewhat infamously]
Fake Oscar, indeed. That wasn't the first or last time that they disastrously blew it.
posted by Beholder at 9:25 AM on February 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
Fake Oscar, indeed. That wasn't the first or last time that they disastrously blew it.
posted by Beholder at 9:25 AM on February 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
"The biggest moneymaker in Hollywood last year was Colombia. Not the studio, the country."
Man, Carson is great. Not just the jokes itself but his delivery of one liners is pitch-perfect.
posted by The Notorious SRD at 9:30 AM on February 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
Man, Carson is great. Not just the jokes itself but his delivery of one liners is pitch-perfect.
posted by The Notorious SRD at 9:30 AM on February 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
#oscarssowhite
Even though back in 1981, allowing Italians to win was probably progressive.
posted by Talez at 9:33 AM on February 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
Even though back in 1981, allowing Italians to win was probably progressive.
posted by Talez at 9:33 AM on February 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
Beholder: "Best Picture: Ordinary People [somewhat infamously]
Fake Oscar, indeed. That wasn't the first or last time that they disastrously blew it."
Welp given OP had MTM & Timothy Hutton & D. Sutherland and was in fact a helluva movie, I would think it's a TKO at best.
posted by chavenet at 9:34 AM on February 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
Fake Oscar, indeed. That wasn't the first or last time that they disastrously blew it."
Welp given OP had MTM & Timothy Hutton & D. Sutherland and was in fact a helluva movie, I would think it's a TKO at best.
posted by chavenet at 9:34 AM on February 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
Welp given OP had MTM & Timothy Hutton & D. Sutherland and was in fact a helluva movie, I would think it's a TKO at best.
OK movie, but nowhere near as good as Raging Bull. Obviously Scorsese got robbed as well.
posted by e1c at 9:41 AM on February 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
OK movie, but nowhere near as good as Raging Bull. Obviously Scorsese got robbed as well.
posted by e1c at 9:41 AM on February 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
That wasn't the first or last time that they disastrously blew it.
I'd think they blow it in the moment about a quarter of the time (the obviously wrong choice), blow it in hindsight about half the time (where at the time it's a coin toss but critical consensus forms after the fact), and get it right about a quarter of the time.
There's no accounting for personal taste, but I think they've gotten it wrong most of the last few years and that hurts the Oscars as the designation of Best Picture holds less relevance that it might have twenty years ago. There's no consistency as to what gets voted for: is it broad appeal? daring artistic vision? immediacy and relevance?
And YES I'm still salty that Mad Max didn't win last year.
posted by The Notorious SRD at 9:49 AM on February 24, 2017 [5 favorites]
I'd think they blow it in the moment about a quarter of the time (the obviously wrong choice), blow it in hindsight about half the time (where at the time it's a coin toss but critical consensus forms after the fact), and get it right about a quarter of the time.
There's no accounting for personal taste, but I think they've gotten it wrong most of the last few years and that hurts the Oscars as the designation of Best Picture holds less relevance that it might have twenty years ago. There's no consistency as to what gets voted for: is it broad appeal? daring artistic vision? immediacy and relevance?
And YES I'm still salty that Mad Max didn't win last year.
posted by The Notorious SRD at 9:49 AM on February 24, 2017 [5 favorites]
What the hell is going on with Peter O'Toole (around the 1 hour, 1 minute mark)?
posted by bibliowench at 9:50 AM on February 24, 2017
posted by bibliowench at 9:50 AM on February 24, 2017
I've not watched yet, but I'm guessing: inebriation?
posted by Atom Eyes at 9:56 AM on February 24, 2017 [11 favorites]
posted by Atom Eyes at 9:56 AM on February 24, 2017 [11 favorites]
Only one dismissive mention of 'Heaven's Gate' so far...
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 10:23 AM on February 24, 2017
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 10:23 AM on February 24, 2017
Related: There's a great weekly podcast called '80s All Over hosted by film critics Drew McWeeny and Scott Weinberg wherein each episode they discuss in minute detail every major studio movie released during a particular month of the 1980s (so episode one was January of 1980, episode two was February of 1980, and so forth).
They've just wrapped up December of 1980 and are about to move on to 1981, and having listened to all the episodes so far, I feel almost intimately acquainted with all of the films represented in that list of winners—the backstory behind their productions, as well as the cultural and sociopolitical contexts from which they sprung. Highly recommended, if that kind of thing floats your boat.
posted by Atom Eyes at 10:24 AM on February 24, 2017 [4 favorites]
They've just wrapped up December of 1980 and are about to move on to 1981, and having listened to all the episodes so far, I feel almost intimately acquainted with all of the films represented in that list of winners—the backstory behind their productions, as well as the cultural and sociopolitical contexts from which they sprung. Highly recommended, if that kind of thing floats your boat.
posted by Atom Eyes at 10:24 AM on February 24, 2017 [4 favorites]
The real controversy was how Airplane! didn't win best picture.
posted by Lyme Drop at 10:33 AM on February 24, 2017 [9 favorites]
posted by Lyme Drop at 10:33 AM on February 24, 2017 [9 favorites]
Should have a SPOILERS tag.
posted by Chrysostom at 10:45 AM on February 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 10:45 AM on February 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
The commercials are the real gem.
posted by grumpybear69 at 10:56 AM on February 24, 2017
posted by grumpybear69 at 10:56 AM on February 24, 2017
A few glimpses of Ally Sheedy in the Coke ad at 29:30.
posted by schoolgirl report at 10:57 AM on February 24, 2017
posted by schoolgirl report at 10:57 AM on February 24, 2017
What the hell is going on with Peter O'Toole (around the 1 hour, 1 minute mark)?
O'Toole was a legendary drinker for an Irish actor, and I think by 1980 he was like a 0.14 BAC at rest (he was a few years past stomach cancer that nearly killed him because doctors misdiagnosed it as "too much booze" for years). Also, this time was his sixth Best Actor nomination (he would eventually get eight noms, and win none of them), so I think he was over the solemnity of the occasion to a greater extent than possibly anyone in history.
posted by Etrigan at 11:18 AM on February 24, 2017 [15 favorites]
O'Toole was a legendary drinker for an Irish actor, and I think by 1980 he was like a 0.14 BAC at rest (he was a few years past stomach cancer that nearly killed him because doctors misdiagnosed it as "too much booze" for years). Also, this time was his sixth Best Actor nomination (he would eventually get eight noms, and win none of them), so I think he was over the solemnity of the occasion to a greater extent than possibly anyone in history.
posted by Etrigan at 11:18 AM on February 24, 2017 [15 favorites]
So 1980s, and yet it doesn't seem like we were quite at peak Spaniard hair.
posted by SteveInMaine at 11:22 AM on February 24, 2017
posted by SteveInMaine at 11:22 AM on February 24, 2017
A few glimpses of Ally Sheedy in the Coke
1981 was a little before Sheedy was truly "in the coke", no?
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 11:25 AM on February 24, 2017
1981 was a little before Sheedy was truly "in the coke", no?
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 11:25 AM on February 24, 2017
Yikes, Johnny's "gay Chinese from the Bronx" joke (at about 28:00), followed by a commercial for L'Oreal face cream that sounds as if the background music's been taken straight from the Exorcist soundtrack. Ladies and gentlemen, the '80s!
posted by the return of the thin white sock at 11:45 AM on February 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by the return of the thin white sock at 11:45 AM on February 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
So 1980s, and yet it doesn't seem like we were quite at peak Spaniard hair.
This is 1981, so technically still the 1970s.
I'm not qualified to pinpoint the exact cultural moment that marked the true start of the 1980s, but I figure it occurred somewhere around '83, maybe even '84.
posted by Atom Eyes at 11:47 AM on February 24, 2017 [5 favorites]
This is 1981, so technically still the 1970s.
I'm not qualified to pinpoint the exact cultural moment that marked the true start of the 1980s, but I figure it occurred somewhere around '83, maybe even '84.
posted by Atom Eyes at 11:47 AM on February 24, 2017 [5 favorites]
The 70's ended the day Frank Zappa got a short haircut
posted by thelonius at 11:50 AM on February 24, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by thelonius at 11:50 AM on February 24, 2017 [6 favorites]
I'm not qualified to pinpoint the exact cultural moment that marked the true start of the 1980s, but I figure it occurred somewhere around '83, maybe even '84.
September 16, 1984
Miami Vice premiered.
posted by lmfsilva at 12:00 PM on February 24, 2017 [6 favorites]
September 16, 1984
Miami Vice premiered.
posted by lmfsilva at 12:00 PM on February 24, 2017 [6 favorites]
Miami Vice premiered.
Then, on August 1, 1985, the '80s officially jumped the shark with the release of We Built This City.
posted by Talez at 12:06 PM on February 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
Then, on August 1, 1985, the '80s officially jumped the shark with the release of We Built This City.
posted by Talez at 12:06 PM on February 24, 2017 [2 favorites]
The '80s officially began in 1978-ish, with the popularity of Izod shirts from Lacoste with the crocodiles on them and new wave music.
posted by raysmj at 12:11 PM on February 24, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by raysmj at 12:11 PM on February 24, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'm not qualified to pinpoint the exact cultural moment that marked the true start of the 1980s, but I figure it occurred somewhere around '83, maybe even '84.
I always thought it was Reagan getting shot.
posted by Etrigan at 12:12 PM on February 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
I always thought it was Reagan getting shot.
posted by Etrigan at 12:12 PM on February 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
Love the TWA commercial with the literally oddly numbered $149-or-less "anywhere fare." That would be about $400 today. Or less!
posted by raysmj at 12:18 PM on February 24, 2017
posted by raysmj at 12:18 PM on February 24, 2017
80s Mirabilis
The innocent decade began
In nineteen eighty-three
(which was rather late for me) -
Between the start of the Reagan years
And REM's first EP.
posted by chavenet at 12:21 PM on February 24, 2017 [8 favorites]
The innocent decade began
In nineteen eighty-three
(which was rather late for me) -
Between the start of the Reagan years
And REM's first EP.
posted by chavenet at 12:21 PM on February 24, 2017 [8 favorites]
Chronic Town came out in 1982.
posted by raysmj at 12:37 PM on February 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by raysmj at 12:37 PM on February 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
I thought that the '80s started in '81 when MTV went on the air?
posted by octothorpe at 12:50 PM on February 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by octothorpe at 12:50 PM on February 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm with Etrigan -- the Reagan shooting seems about right to me, although the debut of MTV was only a few months later (March 30, August 1), so definitely somewhere in that time period.
posted by briank at 1:10 PM on February 24, 2017
posted by briank at 1:10 PM on February 24, 2017
I'm not qualified to pinpoint the exact cultural moment that marked the true start of the 1980s, but I figure it occurred somewhere around '83, maybe even '84.
When My Sharona camped out at number one for several weeks dethroning Disco.
When MTV debuted.
posted by Beholder at 2:07 PM on February 24, 2017
When My Sharona camped out at number one for several weeks dethroning Disco.
When MTV debuted.
posted by Beholder at 2:07 PM on February 24, 2017
Tom Hanks in a "Bosom Buddies" promo at 1h 27m.
I miss the old wacky Tom.
posted by JoeZydeco at 2:12 PM on February 24, 2017
I miss the old wacky Tom.
posted by JoeZydeco at 2:12 PM on February 24, 2017
First glimmers of what would become the 80s came with the advent of punk: the cynicism, hatred of both disco and hippies, and reactionary in many ways. Or maybe an argument could made that Bowie made the first 80's record when he assumed the thin white duke persona. I can see the reasons for 1978 and the start of new wave.
But I'd personally set it to election day in November of 1980. A substantial majority of the country voted to end what was left of the 60s. Voted for public religiosity, militarism, greed and a renewal of the Cold War. Disco (as a mainstream phenomenon) was dying and mocked. Youth culture is turning more inwards and much less about protest or any (leftist) political involvement. Earnestness was being replaced by cynicism. Liberalism was about to hit its nadir. Nixon forgotten and forgiven. A massive cultural sea change reflected in this one election.
I can't imagine the 80s beginning any later because everything that was the 80s emerged from the cultural shifts fully in place by November 1980.
posted by honestcoyote at 2:15 PM on February 24, 2017 [6 favorites]
But I'd personally set it to election day in November of 1980. A substantial majority of the country voted to end what was left of the 60s. Voted for public religiosity, militarism, greed and a renewal of the Cold War. Disco (as a mainstream phenomenon) was dying and mocked. Youth culture is turning more inwards and much less about protest or any (leftist) political involvement. Earnestness was being replaced by cynicism. Liberalism was about to hit its nadir. Nixon forgotten and forgiven. A massive cultural sea change reflected in this one election.
I can't imagine the 80s beginning any later because everything that was the 80s emerged from the cultural shifts fully in place by November 1980.
posted by honestcoyote at 2:15 PM on February 24, 2017 [6 favorites]
I miss the old wacky Tom.
He's still around, just working under a different name.
posted by nubs at 2:16 PM on February 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
He's still around, just working under a different name.
posted by nubs at 2:16 PM on February 24, 2017 [3 favorites]
First glimmers of what would become the 80s... hatred of both disco
considering two of the biggest acts of the 80s (MJ and Madonna) are post-disco, I think it's fairer to say there was a schism in the late 70s between pop music and what became alt/indie, that grew with and from labels like Factory, Postcard, 4AD, Stiff, Rough Trade etc.
posted by lmfsilva at 2:36 PM on February 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
considering two of the biggest acts of the 80s (MJ and Madonna) are post-disco, I think it's fairer to say there was a schism in the late 70s between pop music and what became alt/indie, that grew with and from labels like Factory, Postcard, 4AD, Stiff, Rough Trade etc.
posted by lmfsilva at 2:36 PM on February 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm not qualified to pinpoint the exact cultural moment that marked the true start of the 1980s,
election of Ronald Reagan, murder of John Lennon ... Nov-Dec-1980
alternately, the release of Peter Gabriel's Third Album
posted by philip-random at 4:18 PM on February 24, 2017
There's no way Raging Bull would have won Best Picture; they'd just given it to Rocky five years earlier.
posted by Sys Rq at 7:10 PM on February 24, 2017
posted by Sys Rq at 7:10 PM on February 24, 2017
Ah, "Raging Bull", the most notable movie credit for Dick Whittington, the "wacky L.A. DJ" I worked as a sidekick for when I first got out of college (32nd on the cast list as "Ring Announcer - Fox Fight"). He had over 20 bit roles as an Announcer or Interviewer, including the voice on Dennis Weaver's car radio in Stephen Spielberg's first Directing gig "Duel" (which even without Whittington would be one of my all time favorite Movies For TV). But if my association with him (and Gary Owens and a few other L.A. radio notables) provided me with a bunch of "two degrees of separations" with real stars I never met, I'm not gonna top DeNiro and Scorsese (plus Nicholas Colasanto, who put me "three degrees" from the cast of Cheers)... no, wait, on one later radio gig, I co-wrote disc jockey 'bits' with a guy who had been a personal assistant to Groucho Marx during his later years. Hello, I must be...
Also related to my short, minimally glorious, radio career, I did some things for L.A.'s KROQ, one of the first "New Rock/Alt Rock/New Wave" formatted stations, and while they started using "ROQ (Rock) of the '80s" as a slogan as early as '77 (to brand themselves as The Future), even at that place, the 1980s were just barely coming into being when Reagan was elected, and not really fulfilled until 1984 became "not 1984 (to quote the Apple commercial)".
posted by oneswellfoop at 10:15 PM on February 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
Also related to my short, minimally glorious, radio career, I did some things for L.A.'s KROQ, one of the first "New Rock/Alt Rock/New Wave" formatted stations, and while they started using "ROQ (Rock) of the '80s" as a slogan as early as '77 (to brand themselves as The Future), even at that place, the 1980s were just barely coming into being when Reagan was elected, and not really fulfilled until 1984 became "not 1984 (to quote the Apple commercial)".
posted by oneswellfoop at 10:15 PM on February 24, 2017 [1 favorite]
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posted by briank at 9:08 AM on February 24, 2017