David Niven’s reaction to a streaker’s “shortcomings.” Snow White dancing with prince not-so-charming Rob Lowe. Those Oscar moments are so last century.
Academy Awards telecasts of the new millennium have kept up the tradition of producing those water cooler moments — from the marvelous to the mortifying
— that keep viewers coming back each year.
To see what will be this year’s memorable moments, tune in to the 87th Academy Awards, airing at 7 p.m. Sunday on ABC.
A BERRY GOOD YEAR
Diversity was alive and well at the 2002 awards when Monster’s Ball star Halle Berry became the first black actress to win an Oscar for a leading role. And with Denzel Washington’s win for Training Day, it marked the only time black performers took both of the top acting prizes.
HOLLYWOODY ALLEN
In 2002, eccentric director Woody Allen received a standing ovation when he made his sole appearance at the Oscars. The occasion: He introduced a clipfest called A Love Letter to New York in the Movies just months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
STEALING A KISS
The Pianist star Adrien Brody was a little too keyed up when he accepted his best actor Oscar in 2003. He planted a big, fat smooch square on the lips of presenter Halle Berry, then said to her, “I bet they didn’t tell you that was in the gift bag.”
KATHRYN THE GREAT
In 2009, Kathryn Bigelow became the first woman to win the best director award. Adding to the historic moment: The award was presented to her by Barbra Streisand, who has never been nominated for her directorial efforts.
DIAMONDS AREN’T A BOY’S
BEST FRIEND
For the 2011 Oscars, producers thought hosts Anne Hathaway and James Franco would draw a younger audience.
But a gag with Franco dressed in a blond wig and hot pink gown a la Marilyn Monroe in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes was more bomb than bombshell.
CURSE YOU, MELISSA LEO
The actress, who won a supporting actress award for The Fighter in 2011, delivered a speech that was hardly a knockout.
After thanking several people, she let the heavyweight champion of expletives slip out.
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
John Travolta created quite a stir at last year’s Oscars when he introduced Idina Menzel as Adele Dazeem before she performed “Let It Go” from Frozen.
Twitter followers had a field day, and even a year later, Dazeem, er, Menzel may be the only person to have let it go.