Academy Awards: The Festivities

The Show, The Red Carpet, The Parties

The big show is over and now we know who won and who lost in the Academy Awards race.

But what were people saying and doing behind the scenes, on the red carpet, at the post-Oscar parties? These are things that our man William Booth knows. He was there and regularly covers Hollywood and pop culture from Los Angeles for The Washington Post.

Complete Coverage: 'Lord' of the Oscars

'Lord' of the Oscars Message Boards

He was online Monday, March 1 at 3 p.m. ET to talk about all things Oscar. And Hank Steuver, also of The Post, will likely stop by to clue us in. He was behind-the-scenes too.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

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William Booth: Welcome Oscar fans! Well, are there, really, this year any Oscar fans? We'll see. So, for longtime chatistas, you might notice that Sharon Waxman, who toiled in these fields for many a year, is alas gone. She living on a truck farm in Oklahoma! And we wish her well.
With me today, is the incredible, edible Hank Stuever of the Washington Post, who did all the heavy lifting on last night's Red Carpet. So without further ado ...

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Anonymous: I'm hoping you have the answer to this -- who was the big, balding guy sitting next to Renee Zellweger whom she thanked so profusely? Are they dating? Is he some kind of life coach/guru?

William Booth: William: Large? Balding? Mildly threatening? That must have been Harvey Weinstein of Miramax, we think.

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Los Angeles, Calif.: Hank, loved loved loved your Red Carpet piece On the Carpet: Bare Shoulders, Naked Ambition (Post, March 1) -- did you get to actually touch any of the stars? And if so, what did they feel like?

William Booth: Hank: Thanks for finding my story, which I believe ran on page C421 in the final edition. I did touch a star or two and was shocked to find them almost translucent. They feel like makeup.b

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Falls Church, Va.: I don't know if you're the person to ask this too, but I didn't get this in early enough for Desson Thomson, and so it's down to either you or the fashion review chat ...

What is the ultimate difference between the Sound Mixing and Sound Editing Oscars? I'm at a loss, the official rules confuse me, and no one else seems to know.

William Booth: Hank: Mixing is where you try to make everything sound real. Editing is where you remove that which doesn't belong? I dunno. It means two sound companies get to brag about their Oscars. It's two statuettes residing in far less interesting living rooms.

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Charlotte, N.C.: Here's a Behind the Scenes I'd have loved to see: What winners who never got to do their thank-yous on stage said to their co-winners who took up the entire 30 seconds -- and then some -- with their own over-inflated egos. I'll never look at Annie Lennox the same way, after she talked on and on after winning best song and relegated who co-writers to flacks who never got to the mike. And the documentary guy -- I forget who -- who talked until they made him leave. The look his co-winner gave him was priceless AND deserved. So, do these things erupt into full-fledged fights backstage afterwards?

William Booth: William: Fights, no. Lingering bitterness, probably.

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Washington, D.C.: Did you catch the red carpet interview with Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller? Wilson was staring at the interviewers cleavage and, at the end, while continuing to stare, he pointed at her chest and said, "Are those real?" Her reaction was priceless -- she just turned to the camera and was speechless.

William Booth: William: We missed that, but thanks for sharing. Anyone else out there think that Stiller and Wilson were a tad shameless pimping their new Starsky and Hutch movies, which is getting critically panned?

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Kentucky: Poor, poor, poor Bill Murray. I think he may have missed his last boat.

William Booth: William: I don't know. "Lost in Translation" and "Rushmore" show Murray is on a pretty strong roll, as far as acting goes. He seems to get better.
Hank: He'll win when he's realllly old.

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Washington, D.C.: No no -- Renee's friend was her agent I think -- Carrabio something or other.

William Booth: William: Could be. Or we're now thinking it might have been her father, the Swiss immigrant.

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District of Columbia: Why oh why oh why can the Oscars not skip the turgid musical portion. It stinks!

William Booth: William: That is an opinion shared by many.

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Pacific Grove, Calif.: So it is the Director who appropriately wins the Oscar for Best Documentary, but what about when the subject is one person, in this case, Robert MacNamara?

Was he at the Oscars? Is he promoting the film right now? What kind of award or recognition is he getting?

William Booth: William: Robert McNamara was not at the Academy Awards ceremony. He has been doing some touring to discuss the movie. A few weeks ago he was up at UC-Berkeley defending/explaining/apologizing in front of a crowd of graying lefties. But awards? Nope.

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Washington, D.C.: Yes -- the Starsky and Hutch bits were a bit too much. And the "are those real" moment with Maria Manounos was staged as well. A lot of schtick for the Oscars, no?

William Booth: William: Yeah, Hank and I agree that Ben Stiller is wearing everyone out. He's not careful, people are going to start thinking ... Jerry Lewis.

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Rockville, Md.: Did anyone at the after-parties smack Elijah Wood for making sure he got in every single shot for a LOTR acceptance, even the sound awards?

William Booth: Hank: I was at the New Line party and ONLY TWO HOBBITS SHOWED. we had an orc or two, and Howard Shore, and long into the night, a glimpse of the Big Bearded One (Peter Jackson) but no Elijah. And frankly, okay by me, since we'd seen enough.

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I have my Oscar acceptance speech all ready: now I just need to be nominated. "Thank you. You know who you are. And if you're not sure, I meant you. Thank you."

William Booth: Hank: I wish some enterprising Hollywood archivist would collect unused acceptance speeches from people's tux pockets, tiny Givenchy handbags, etc. and make a book out of them.

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K St NW: Why did Sean Penn not have an acceptance speech ready? Not like it wasn't a reasonable certainty he would win.

William Booth: Hank: Actors prefer, even at the Oscar moment, to use the Method. Go with their feelings. Appear overwhelmed and, literally, speechless. Unfortunately, no law in California requires them to write a speech beforehand.

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Hope and Hepburn: The memoriams to Kate Hepburn and Bob Hope went over like lead balloons. Your opinion?

William Booth: Hank: They did seem perfunctory. Homework always seems boring. Man, you guys are cynical today and WE LOVE YOU FOR THAT. On Hepburn and Hope -- I dunno. My theory is they lived too long and we'd already honored them, feted them and memorialized plenty. This was just Oscar paying the required minimum

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Washington, D.C.: Could the director of Master and Commander have looked any less thrilled to be there? Maybe he was nervous or something, but I never saw him smile once. Granted, Lord of the Rings won everything M and C was up for too, but jeez!

William Booth: William: Good observation. I was at the Director Guild panel discussion a few weeks ago and all five nominated directors were asked, what's the worst part of movie-making, and Peter Weir shot back: publicity!
He doth protest too much.

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Re: skipping the musical performances: We can't skip them because yeah, we'd lose performances of the generic love songs, but we'd then also miss performances like Mitch and Mickey and the performance of Belleville Rendez-vous. Putting up with the other three was worth getting to see those two.

William Booth: William: Well, umm, Mitch and Mickey are an acquired taste.
Hank: I would have watched a two-hour "Mighty Wind" tribute. So William is incorrect.

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Santa Fe, N.M.: Was Bill Murry really upset at his loss of an Oscar? I saw the camera cut away from him when Sean Penn's name was called.

William Booth: William: You know, I suspect he was disappointed. Here's why: Murray did RELENTLESS press junketeering for "Lost," including tons 'o pre-Oscar interviews. For the Oscar, I think he would have gotten on the couch with Baba Walters for a three-hanky session.

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Nicole and Tom: I am grateful that when Tom came out on stage the camera didn't pan to Nicole. Anyone notice any other awkward moments?

William Booth: William: Tom and Nicole is a kind of an embarrassing moment.

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Philadelphia, Pa.: Russell Crowe? Did he look older last night or did I mistake him for Harvey Weinstein?

William Booth: William: I think Toni G., who did Charlize's makeup in "Monster" might have had a go at him.

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Washington, D.C.: Did you notice that when Tim Robbins won best supporting actor he had a peace pin on his lapel, but when he was presenting later in the evening, he didn't?

My theory is that Cheney was backstage and confiscated it. Either that, or Bush called Robbins on the phone and accused him of being a turrrorist.

William Booth: William: Umm, could you please submit your Social Security or Passport number for processing.

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No Social Commentary: I have to say that with all the events, the war, the Governator, gay marriage, the show was pretty tame. Robin Williams added the most excitement, and even he was toned down. Did the producers read everyone the riot act?

William Booth: Hank: Excellent observation. I was let down that we didn't hear more backstage, in the press room. Charlize, meeting the press, treated a question about lesbian kissing scenes (vs. gay men kissing, which has yet to hit mainstream movies in the same way) and she acted like the reporter had assaulted her. "I'm holding an Oscar!" she said, (implying that she is now immune from difficult questions.) And the press was sadly with her. I thought it was a good question. She didn't answer it. And on, and on. The red carpet was the same way -- lite and fluffy, please. Nothing serious.

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Washington, D.C.: Is it just me? I just don't get the magic of Rene Z. I've seen her in several films and I just don't see what everyone else does. And she never makes sense whenever she is out of character. Is she like that behind the scenes?

William Booth: Hank: Not every role she plays has benefitted from her scrunchy faced sweetness. However, I tend to buy her humility persona. She really does seem perpetually baffled and genuinely astonished to be famous and successful. And she's been acting that way for, what, seven or eight years. That's a good performance. Give her an ... Oscar!

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Washington, D.C.: For once I don't think I heard the requisite "Claire and Jack, you can go to bed now" drivel we hear from award winners to their kids who are supposedly watching from home. But maybe that's because everyone who won was from New Zealand it's like noon there or something.

William Booth: Hank: A lot of people, it seems, just brought Clare and Jack along. Lots of star kids accompanying the folks ... Like Alec Baldwin's daughter, Ireland. I think that was her coming out event. (And I wonder how that affects the Basinger/Baldwin custody battle -- was this a negotiated visit?)

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NYC: Were the men wearing as much makeup as the women? Looked that way on TV -- what about from your vantage point?

William Booth: Hank: Johnny Depp was wearing so much makeup I actually started giggling while he was standing in front of me. And it was yellow!! Jaundice O' the Caribbean.

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Bethesda, Md.: Typically the song/musical portion of the Academy Awards is painful. But I wouldn't have missed the song from "A Mighty Wind" for anything. Eugene Levy is an absolute riot. I loved his question, "Where's the drummer?"

William Booth: William: Okay.

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Sharon Stone?: Where was Sharon Stone? She usually shows up for the opening of an envelope. What gives?

William Booth: William: Sharon Stone has been exiled to that faraway galaxy of stars who expiration date has come due. A shame, we think she's still saucey!

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UW Madison. Washington, D.C.: Where were all the other stars? Brad, Jen, Ben, J. Lo, Matt, P-Diddy, PARIS AND NICKY! The shots really seemed to be limited to those up for awards and the presenters. Man was it a boring night

William Booth: William: We spotted (and more, see tomorrow's party poop story) Paris Hilton at the Vanity Fair fete last night. J.Lo and Ben -- they swept the Razzies, the annual anti-Oscar award show for the most embarrassing movies of the past year. Remember Gigli? Would you go out in public?

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William Booth: Hank: I think Jennifer Lopez had to skip this year, because Charlize Theron used up all the available spray-on J-Glo tanning products on Rodeo Drive.

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Washington, D.C.: Behind the scenes, who was the biggest diva this year? (male or female)

William Booth: William: Charlize, clutching her Oscar backstage, would get my vote.
Hank: Fran Walsh? But she's camera shy.

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Washington, D.C.: The women all looked nice, but BORING. Is there some rule that all the women have to use the same stylist from Vanity Fair or something? Where is the character, uniqueness? I miss Cher.

William Booth: William: We miss Bjork.

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Washington, D.C.: Maybe Sharon Stone was sitting with Kevin Costner trying to come up with a project to revive both of their careers.

I hope you are typing on a keyboard sticky with spilled champagne from last night's parties. Did you crash many of them?

William Booth: William: Sticky doesn't begin to describe it.

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A Displaced Illinoisian: Johnny Depp could have been wearing BLUE makeup and he still would have looked hot.

William Booth: Hank: To each her (or his) own. You know what about movie stars, when you're up close to them: Fragility. I'm afraid the breeze is going to break their bones, sometimes.

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Anonymous: It's hard for me to be happy for Sean Penn, when he apparently can't be bothered to show up to awards ceremonies unless his win is a sure thing. It would have been funny to see his face if he'd had to sit through the entire show for nothing -- every time the camera went to him he looked so peeved at having to put up with all the other Oscar (TM)nonsense.

William Booth: Hank: He struck me as deeply nervous and uncomfortable about the whole thing, and I sort of ached for him having to do all this. I think he skips awards shows because they scare him. I liked what he said about all the falderal and why he doesn't like it: Too many people you know a little bit, all in one room. I wonder if maybe some Paxil .....

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Washington, D.C.: Speaking of tributes to dead stars, it really seemed like Gregory Peck got shortchanged. Who decides who gets eulogized, and how much attention each person gets?

William Booth: Hank: Right now, he's just about the only name-brand in the mausoleum at the new Los Angeles cathedral. He steals the show there. But you're right -- get a load of how many people died in 2003. There could be a three hour show about many of them. Hepburn and Hope are bigger. The stars always align, the universe has order.

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Great Chat: You guys are good together! Tell TPTB that we want you both back together soon to dish about the next Hollywood shindig.

William Booth: William: Thanks mom!

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Just Curious: How are your hangovers?

William Booth: William: We are professionals. We are not hung-over. We are still mildly intoxicated.
Hank: Huevos rancheros, a diet Pepsi and I'm good.

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Sharon Stone Follow-up: I think Kim Cattrall and Sharon Stone would make a heck of a movie duo. Perhaps that's I why I am not in the movies!?

William Booth: William: We'll get that idea to the right people.

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Georgetown, D.C.: Did you see anything of note that we didn't see on the air, i.e., did the 5-second delay get any use?

William Booth: William: Nope. Though there were some moments we wish could have had a five-second fast-forward.

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Winners and Losers: So do the losers go to the parties or go home and drink?

P.S. How does one get invited to one of the big parties?

William Booth: William: Hellllo? Didn't you listen? There are no losers in Hollywood. Only winners. Honored. Just humbled to be amongst such august company.

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