Acrobats and Ponies

The Academy Awards are primarily to honor the top talents in Hollywood, a time when the rich get dressed up to give each other golden statues. But in order earn ratings they must be able to entertain viewers throughout the multi-hour broadcast. It takes a collaboration of many wits to pull together a cohesive show. 

These are some of the greater moments of the show, regarding different level of entertainment:

1. Robert Downey Jr....that's all

Before presenting the documentary award he Tebowed. Then walked out on stage with personal steadi-cam and boom mic guys..aka camera and sound. For my film friend and I it was a good laugh seeing the camera come before the camera, and just Robert Downey Jr's constant character is a refreshing change from seriousness. 

2. Ryan Seacrest Gets Ashed by "The Dictator"
Leading up to Oscar night there was question and controversy if Sacha Baron Cohen was banned from walking the red carpet. Turns out he wasn't, but the debate of whether or not he would pull a stunt in his "Dictator" costume should have remained. Carrying an urn containing the "ashes" of former friend Kim John Il, The Dictator spilled the contents all over the E! TV personality. 



3. Cirque du Soleil Performance
Riding on the wind of announcing a movie based on the famous show, producers filled the Kodak Theater with the captivating acrobats. We know the show was done live when one of the acrobats fell out of his pose, although the rest of the group waited and the performance went on without a slight hiccup. Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away is set to hit theaters ironically on the day the world is "going to end"- December 21, 2012. At least those in the audience of the premiere will get to indulge in one last visual feast. 

4. Will and Zach

The sound of marching band cymbals coming through the audience could only mean Will Ferrel and Zach Galifianakis were near. The goofy pair dressed in full, white band geek uniforms presented the award for best original song. The song was awarded to a comic himself when "Man or Muppet" won. They continued on stage with serious faces as their cymbals kept crashing on the ground, but some kind of stunt can always be expected from those two. 

5. Bieber Cameo
I have never and will never jump on the Bieber-Band-Wagon but I will admit that his cameo in Billy Crystal's opening video montage was clever and appropriate. He did nothing but sit there (pretty much all he ever needs to do to get attention) telling Crystal, he's "here to get you the 18-24 demographic." I can appreciate when celebrities poke fun at themselves.