The Oscars are less than a week away so the hype is continuously growing. Will La La Land dominate or has all the hype finally caught up to this movie? Will Denzel pull in another Oscar for Fences? I think he’s a lock but you just never know. One of the best things about the Academy Awards is not only the surprises that take place with respect to the awards, but it’s also the authenticity with which people react.
It’s about as close to reality TV as you’re going to get. It’s safe to say it’s impossible to figure out just how someone is going to react when they win the most prestigious award of their career and then have to give a speech in front of millions of people.
It’s why over the 89 years the Oscars have taken place there have been more than a fair share of crazy moments. I’ve selected ten that I think it’s safe to say we’ll never forget.
Sally Field Wins Best Actress in 1985
The phrase “You like me, you really like me!” has been mocked by the likes of Madonna and Jim Carrey, and it’s right up there with famous film phrases including, “You talkin’ to me?” (Taxi Driver) and “Luke, I am your Father,” (Star Wars). But like the Star Wars line, Field never actually uttered those words at the Oscars. What she actually said when she won Best Actress for Places in the Heart was, “I can’t deny the fact that you like me, right now, you like me.”
Cuba Gooding Jr. Does a Backflip and Screams over the Orchestra
It started out like a predictable Best Supporting Actor acceptance speech, but then the orchestra started to play–a signal to wrap it up–and Gooding, who won for Jerry Maguire, began to shout. For nearly a minute, the actor yelled out the names of his colleagues including co-star Tom Cruise.
Marlon Brando Refuses his Oscar
Brando was the first to use Hollywood’s most prestigious awards show as a political platform. The actor, who won Best Actor for The Godfather, didn’t attend the ceremony. Instead he sent a female Native American activist, Sacheen Littlefeather, to the stage to speak on his behalf.
Jack Palance does Push Ups
At 73, the two-time nominee won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his work in City Slickers, and he showed his enthusiasm by doing three one-arm push-ups on stage. “That’s nothing, really,” he said of his impromptu workout.
The 1974 Streaker
It took a special person to steal the show from Elizabeth Taylor, but activist/artist/professional streaker Robert Opel managed to do just that. English actor David Niven was about to introduce Taylor, who would announce The Sting had won the award for Best Picture, when Opel ran across the stage wearing only his mustache.
Roberto Benigni gets excited
When Sophia Loren named Benigni winner of the foreign-language award, he promptly stood on the top of his chair and waved his hands in the air with glee. (Steven Spielberg helped him keep his balance.) Benigni then hopped (yes, hopped) up to the stage. “This is the moment of joy, and I want to kiss everybody…” he said.
Adrien Brody Kisses Halle Berry
To say Brody was excited about winning Best Actor for his role in The Pianist is an understatement. Just ask presenter Halle Berry. Brody impulsively took Berry in his arms, dipped her back and laid one on her. “I bet they didn’t tell you that was in the gift bag,” Brody quipped.
Jennifer Lawrence Falls Down
On her way to retrieve her Best Actress Oscar for her work in Silver Linings Playbook, Lawrence fell midway up the stairs. “I was horrified,” remembers four-time Academy Award production designer Derek McLane, who was sitting in the audience. “I thought someone had spilled something and then I realized it was her dress,”
The Ellen Degeneres Selfie
If only Bradley’s arm was longer. Best photo ever. #oscars pic.twitter.com/C9U5NOtGap
– Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) March 3, 2014
When Brad Pitt, Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Jared Leto and Angelina Jolie all pose for the same picture, it’s bound to cause a stir. Presumably that’s what host Ellen DeGeneres had in mind when she herded the A-listers into the same shot.
John Travolta flubs Idina Menzel’s Name
This will go down as probably the biggest mistake a presenter has ever made at the Oscars and it will never be forgotten.
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