The opening act of the Academy Awards is a big deal. It sets the stage for the entire show. Most viewers are judging the show right out of the gates by the way the host captures the attention of the crowd. Which is why over the history of the Oscars we’ve seen a number of opening acts that went completely over the top. Some failed miserably and some were successful. It’s hard to tell what’s going to happen this year with Jimmy Kimmel but I’m confident he’ll come out swinging with some kind of funny skit.
I decided to go back in time to look at opening acts and monologues of the Oscars that were quite memorable. It’s hard to only pick five but opening acts didn’t really get crazy or long until the 80s. Anyway, of the 30 or so to choose from, narrowing it down wasn’t too bad.
Here are the top five Oscars opening acts of all-time:
Billy Crystal’s Silence of the Lambs – 1992
Billy Crystal will always go down as one of the best Oscars hosts of all-time but nothing topped his entrance as Hannibal Lecter. By far the biggest and most talked about movie of the 1992 Oscars was Silence of the Lambs so it was only fitting that Crystal came out donned in the shackles that Anthony Hopkins wore in the movie. Nicely done!
Whoopie Goldberg Coming from the Top in 2002
Before Pink and Lady Gaga were coming down from the rafters in concerts and Super Bowls, people seem to forget that Whoopi Goldberg made a huge spectacle at the 2002 Oscars. She came down from the ceiling in a Broadway get up singing “Come get me boys!”
Chris Rock’s Opening Monologue in 2005
This was during the apex of Rock’s stand up career and the Oscar’s took a big risk and turn in letting Rock host. But the risk paid off as everyone was ready for his no nonsense, political incorrect humor. There were a lot of laughs here.
Jon Stewart in Bed with Halle Berry in 2006
I may be biased but I’m a fan of this one.
2010 Neil Patrick Harris Opening Number
It’s all about that jacket.
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