Laura and Ellen

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In an interview with USA Today's Anthony Breznican, the reigning Oscar Night ladies -- producer Laura Ziskin and host Ellen DeGeneres -- are a study in opposite attitudes and sensibilities. DeGeneres is a brainy, free-associative, improvisational wit. Ziskin wants to be hip and alpha-like, but she sounds like an affluent ooh-lah-lah control freak who's terrified (or at the very least alarmed) by spontaneity.

The Oscar show, I've just realized, is going to be a kind of war between the two. Ziskin will dominate, of course, being the big-shot producer in the control room, but many of us are going to be pulling for DeGeneres to somehow make things a little more loosey-goosey than Ziskin might prefer.

Freewheeling DeGeneres: "I came up with a really fun idea for the end of my monologue that I think is going to set this room off."

Humorless control-freak Ziskin: "This is the first I'm hearing about it."

Freewheeling DeGeneres: "I want somebody to do a one-armed pushup. I want somebody to streak."

Humorless control-freak Ziskin: "Those days are gone."

Freewheeling DeGeneres: "It's just that everybody is so body conscious: I would streak, but I'm bloated.' "

Humorless control-freak Ziskin: "People are so nervous, so terrified, not just the nominees, but the presenters. She releases us, makes us happy and forget about ourselves."

Freewheeling DeGeneres: "I didn't realize that was my job. I'm going to have to change my entire monologue."

And yet Ziskin says to prepare for a 210-minute running time, minimum. "You get your popcorn and invite your friends over. Or get in bed by yourself or with someone you like, and you wait to see what's going to happen."

Freewheeling DeGeneres: "We're taking all the seats out of the theater, and we're bringing in beds, popcorn and pajamas. We'll pair everyone up, real nice."

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on February 22, 2007 at 1:53 PM

comment #1

L.B. says ...

This is nothing new. Every year they claim to want to stir things up and the next thing you know it's "(gasp) He just said Jude Law doesn't sell tickets!"

Let's hope for the best. Predict the worst. Expect the dull middle.

Posted by L.B. at February 22, 2007 2:24 PM

comment #2

Craig Kennedy says ...

Deep down I don't think the Academy wants to be edgy, and it shouldn't be. It's above that. I think Ellen will bring a perfect blend of self effacing, easy going humor and small ego that will compliment the show in a way that hasn't been done since Carson.

Posted by Craig Kennedy at February 22, 2007 2:50 PM

comment #3

Craig Kennedy says ...

I've just now realized how much consideration I'm giving things like "Will Ellen DeGeneres be any good as an Oscar host this year?" and I'm starting to wonder if I haven't been kidnapped and replaced by some kind of creepy, much less cynical, alien pod person.

What if the energy is being drained from my real body to power alien civilizations?

Shrug. Hey, I wonder what's on Lifetime right now...

Posted by Craig Kennedy at February 22, 2007 3:08 PM

comment #4

Terry McCarty says ...

Assuming Ziskin's been told that "spontaneous" can lead to FCC difficulties.

Also assuming that 210-minute running time means that all the usual moments the Academy can't do without (meaning Chuck Workman montages, for one example) will be present.

Posted by Terry McCarty at February 22, 2007 4:01 PM

comment #5

bellepoitrine says ...

Degeneres=comic
Ziskin=producer

Cut her some slack. The streaking days are over because security is 9/11 Ridiculous. Everybody is terrified because they're on The Oscars. It ain't the SAG Awards or The People's Choice. The show is long because the Academy insists on presenting every award, including two special ones this year that will automatically add 20 minutes to the show, and the network insists there be some sort of entertainment in between the tekkies making speeches. There are always montages because it's a show about movies. There are no production #S this year except the songs from Dreamgirls. And the Oscars never will be edgy, whatever that means anymore.

Posted by bellepoitrine at February 22, 2007 4:16 PM

comment #6

Movie fan09 says ...

she usted to be funny.
but everything she does now is cute-sy observations
like in this spoof.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze_gVHs_9zo

Posted by Movie fan09 at February 22, 2007 5:07 PM

comment #7

D.Z. says ...

Degeneres was always boring. The only reason people watched her sitcom was because of the "controversy" over her coming out, not because of her one-liners.

Posted by D.Z. at February 22, 2007 8:47 PM

comment #8

Terry McCarty says ...

bellepoitrine said:
There are always montages because it's a show about movies.

True, but can't the Academy choose a different filmmaker/editor to assemble them? Workman's stuff is a bit cliched by now.

Posted by Terry McCarty at February 23, 2007 12:01 AM

comment #9

Jesse Perry says ...

I enjoy Ellen Degeneres' stand-up comedy. Don't tell D.Z., as it would ruin one of his classic "everyone thinks exactly like me" generalizations.

Posted by Jesse Perry at February 23, 2007 8:49 AM

comment #10

Craig Kennedy says ...

If everyone thought like DZ, he'd have no one to disagree with and his only reason for existence would disappear. Either he'd shrivel up and die or he'd come up with a whole new set of contrarian assertions to argue about. I'm guessing it would be the latter.

"Infernal Affairs is just a PRE-make of The Departed. Andrew Lau just asked himself: 'What would Scorsese do if he was me?'"

Posted by Craig Kennedy at February 23, 2007 10:39 AM

comment #11