Academy Awards, The


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

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From Wikipedia:

The Academy Awards®, popularly known as the Oscars®, are presented annually by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers. The formal ceremony at which the awards are presented is one of the most prominent award ceremonies in the world. It is also the oldest award ceremony in the media, and many other award ceremonies such as the Grammy Awards (for music), Golden Globe Awards (all forms of media), and Emmy Awards (for television) are often modeled from the Academy. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences itself was conceived by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio boss Louis B. Mayer.

The 1st Academy Awards ceremony was held Thursday, May 16, 1929, at the Hotel Roosevelt in Hollywood to honor outstanding film achievements of 1927 and 1928. It was hosted by actor Douglas Fairbanks and director William C. deMille. The 81st Academy Awards, honoring the best in film for 2008, was held on Sunday, February 22, 2009, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, with actor Hugh Jackman hosting the ceremony.

The first awards were presented on May 16, 1929, at a private dinner in Hollywood with an audience of fewer than 1,000 people.  Since the first year, the awards have been publicly broadcast, at first by radio then by TV after 1953.

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Highlights
Gilbert Cates on memorable moments from Academy Awards that he's produced
10:56
Charles Lisanby on his design work on the 60th Annual Academy Awards and his idea to helicopter a giant Oscar statue over the "Hollywood sign"
02:47
Hector Ramirez on preparing for shots for the Academy Awards
07:12
John Rich on working on the first Academy Awards in 1952; the 3-camera technique
02:45
Bruce Vilanch on staying topical with his writing for Academy Awards shows
01:45
Jerry Lewis on the infamous end of the April 6,1959 Academy Awards telecast for which he was co-host
01:57
Who talked about this show

Ray Aghayan

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Ray Aghayan on designing for the Academy Awards, starting in 1968
02:14
Ray Aghayan on costume design for the Academy Awards
02:28

Debbie Allen

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Debbie Allen on choreographing for the Academy Awards show ten times
05:52

Army Archerd

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Army Archerd on his dismay at Elia Kazan receiving an honorary Oscar
01:30
Army Archerd on covering the red carpet at the Academy Awards
05:42
Army Archerd on Ingrid Bergman being shunned then accepted by the Hollywood community
01:03
Army Archerd on Charlie Chaplin's return to Hollywood
00:56

Gilbert Cates

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Gilbert Cates on memorable moments from Academy Awards that he's produced
10:56
Gilbert Cates on producing the Academy Awards
30:17
Gilbert Cates on memorable moments from Academy Awards that he's produced
10:56

Tom Cherones

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Tom Cherones on directing the Academy Awards
01:19

Ed Christie

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Ed Christie on serving as Muppet wrangler for a trip to Los Angeles for the Academy Awards
03:37

Roy Christopher

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Roy Christopher on how he came to do production design for the Academy Awards, and on the first one he worked on, directed by Marty Pasetta
04:09
Roy Christopher on the process of designing the sets for the Academy Awards
04:26
Roy Christopher on the logistics of the stage and moving the pieces of the set at the Academy Awards
04:40
Roy Christopher on the challenge of keeping the Academy Awards fresh year after year
01:59
Roy Christopher on how the Academy Awards have changed over the years, and on how it compares with production designing the Emmy Awards
04:18

Bill Conti

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Bill Conti on being asked to conduct and be music director for the Academy Awards
07:33
Bill Conti on memorable collaborations during his time as music director for the Academy Awards
05:17
Bill Conti on the technical processes in place for conducting the orchestra at the Academy Awards
01:01
Bill Conti on his first time conducting the orchestra at the Academy Awards
01:34
Bill Conti on playing someone off when their acceptance speech goes long at the Academy Awards
02:48
Bill Conti on playing Cuba Gooding, Jr. off when his speech went long at the Academy Awards
00:51
Bill Conti on playing Julia Roberts off when her speech went long at the Academy Awards
02:52
Bill Conti on being music director for the Academy Awards
03:04
Bill Conti on the enormous viewership of the Academy Awards
01:23
Bill Conti on interacting with hosts of the Academy Awards
02:52

Alexander Courage

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Alexander Courage on his arrangement work for several Academy Awards broadcasts
02:32

Warren Cowan

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Publicist Warren Cowan on working on his first "For Your Consideration" Oscar campaign for Joan Crawford's Mildred Pierce
03:35

Judith Crist

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Judith Crist on her opinion of the Academy Awards
02:31

Billy Crystal

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Billy Crystal on watching Bob Hope host the Academy Awards telecasts when he was a kid
02:40
Billy Crystal on how he put his own stamp on hosting the Academy Awards
04:20
Billy Crystal on his recurring Jack Palance jokes at the Academy Awards, many written by Bruce Vilanch
03:24
Billy Crystal on his ad lib when Hal Roach spoke without a microphone on the Academy Awards
02:27
Billy Crystal on his filmed pieces inserting himself into the movies on the Academy Awards
02:59

Robert Dickinson

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Robert Dickinson on working with production designer Roy Christopher on the 1983 Academy Awards
02:14
Robert Dickinson on lighting the 1983 Academy Awards - his first live broadcast
05:05
Robert Dickinson on lighting all but four Academy Awards ceremonies since 1983
04:56
Robert Dickinson on lighting the Academy Awards one year and trying to make it monochromatic
01:01

Patty Duke

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Patty Duke on winning an Oscar for her role in "The Miracle Worker"
02:42

Mitzi Gaynor

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Mitzi Gaynor on performing with Donald O'Connor on the 1954 Academy Awards
01:11
Mitzi Gaynor on singing "There's No Business Like Show Business" on the 1961 Academy Awards
00:59
Mitzi Gaynor on singing "Georgy Girl" on the 1967 Academy Awards - the most heralded performance on an Oscar broadcast
05:26
Mitzi Gaynor on how appearing on the Academy Awards changed over the years
01:08

Larry Gelbart

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Larry Gelbart on the 1985 Academy Awards show, which he was asked to write, but during which there was a Writer's Guild strike; on his commitment to the WGA during this time
03:14

Whoopi Goldberg

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Whoopi Goldberg on becoming close with Billy Crystal and Robin Williams through Comic Relief specials and getting guidance from them on hosting the Oscars
01:07
Whoopi Goldberg on attending the Oscars for her nomination in The Color Purple -- with her date, Michael J. Fox
01:18
Whoopi Goldberg on her first time hosting the Oscars (1994) -- becoming the first Black person and first solo woman to hosting the Academy Awards
01:23
Whoopi Goldberg on becoming close with ABC executive Susan Futterman when hosting the Oscars
01:41
Whoopi Goldberg on her second and third times hosting the Oscars and criticism of her as Queen Elizabeth
01:50
Whoopi Goldberg on the process of putting together material for hosting the Oscars
02:24
Whoopi Goldberg on what it meant to her to be nominated for an Oscar and what the telecast celebrates, and on believing that Oscar hosts should be movie lovers and very knowledgeable about film
05:09
Whoopi Goldberg on a memorable Oscar moment with Billy Crystal and Hal Roach
00:57

Danette Herman

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Danette Herman on the "In Memoriam" segment at the Academy Awards
01:09
Danette Herman on working with Marty Pasetta on various variety and awards shows
08:48
Danette Herman on producing the Grammys, Emmy Awards, and Academy Awards telecasts
03:39
Danette Herman on dealing with talent for awards shows and how the process has changed
01:52
Danette Herman on the ideal host for the Academy Awards
04:38
Danette Herman on Christopher Reeve at the Academy Awards
03:35
Danette Herman on her forty-year history with the Academy Awards
01:50
Danette Herman on what makes the Academy Awards unique and selecting performers
02:18
Danette Herman on the difficulties of handling talent for the Academy Awards
04:32
Danette Herman on the aura of the Academy Awards
01:06
Danette Herman on the day of the Academy Awards
08:08
Danette Herman on her favorite Academy Awards show hosts
02:14
Danette Herman on the "pizza selfie" on the Academy Awards
01:38

Louis J. Horvitz

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Louis J. Horvitz on first directing the Academy Awards in 1997
07:31
Louis J. Horvitz on directing the Academy Awards since 1997; working with various hosts; and challenges of the show
35:21
Louis J. Horvitz on highlights of some of the Academy Awards that he's directed
08:46
Louis J. Horvitz on how production numbers on the Academy Awards and the Emmys differ
02:58

Ron Howard

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Ron Howard on the experience of winning the Academy Award (for Best Director) on the live Oscar telecast
01:19

Quincy Jones

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Quincy Jones on producing the 1996 Academy Awards
03:45

Hal Kanter

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Hal Kanter on working on the Academy Awards shows and winning an Emmy for the show in 1991
04:31

Arnie Kogen

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Arnie Kogen on writing for the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards
03:12

Buz Kohan

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Buz Kohan on his speciality -- writing for award shows -- and why he believes he continues to get ask to work on them
05:12
Buz Kohan on the required exposition when writing for the Academy Awards show
01:49
Buz Kohan on writing for the opening numbers and musical categories for the Academy Awards shows (the Oscars)
03:40
Buz Kohan on working on specific categories and with specific producers on the Academy Awards shows; on the routine nature of the show
02:07
Buz Kohan on the fascinating thing about being a writer for Academy Awards shows -- the things you can't anticipate -- and on the constant complaints about the writing of the shows
00:45
Buz Kohan on memorable hosts and moments from Academy Awards shows
10:29
Buz Kohan on the formula for writing an Academy Awards show and the pressure of the show; on working with the host and the host's writers
03:15
Buz Kohan on working with Hal Kanter on Academy Awards shows; on memorable, unscripted moments on the show
03:59
Buz Kohan on the preparations for Academy Awards shows -- nominations, working with presenters, turning in material, and the producer (often Gil Cates) being the position of power
04:49
Buz Kohan on the biggest changes to the Academy Awards over the years
01:01
Buz Kohan on integrating current events into Academy Awards ceremonies and the difficulties surrounding acceptance speeches
03:22
Buz Kohan on how writing for the Emmys and for the Grammys differs from writing for the Oscars
03:31

Jack Lemmon

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Jack Lemmon on hosting the Academy Awards
00:49

Jerry Lewis

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Jerry Lewis on the infamous end of the April 6,1959 Academy Awards telecast for which he was co-host
01:57

Charles Lisanby

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Charles Lisanby on his design work on the 60th Annual Academy Awards and his idea to helicopter a giant Oscar statue over the "Hollywood sign"
02:47

Bob Mackie

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Bob Mackie on designing clothing for the red carpet and designing production numbers for the Academy Awards
07:15

Delbert Mann

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Delbert Mann on winning an Academy Award for Marty
01:00

Anita Mann

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Anita Mann on dancing on and choreographing the Academy Awards
10:00

Eryn Krueger Mekash

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Eryn Krueger Mekash on her work for the 60th Annual Academy Awards and how she got her start on several ABC shows, including General Hospital
04:12

Nolan Miller

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Nolan Miller on designing a gown for Susan Hayward for the Academy Awards
01:52
Nolan Miller on designing a suit for Tatum O'Neal for the Academy Awards
00:58
Nolan Miller on designing a gown for Whoopi Goldberg for the Academy Awards
01:36
Nolan Miller on designing a gown for Barbra Streisand for the Academy Awards
01:44
Nolan Miller on designing for the Academy Awards
01:36

Marty Pasetta

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Marty Pasetta on his first time directing the Academy Awards
07:17
Marty Pasetta on Charlie Chaplin appearing on the first Academy Awards he directed
01:26
Marty Pasetta on the process of directing the Academy Awards
01:55
Marty Pasetta on the producers of the Academy Awards
01:17
Marty Pasetta on the Academy Awards hosts and the process of directing it
03:16
Marty Pasetta on the location of the Academy Awards and keeping the show interesting
02:11
Marty Pasetta on the Academy Awards infamous streaking incident 
01:34
Marty Pasetta on Marlon Brando refusing his Oscar
01:20
Marty Pasetta on John Wayne's final Academy Awards appearance 
01:03
Marty Pasetta on Vanessa Redgrave's infamous protest speech at the Academy Awards
01:48
Marty Pasetta on dealing with the winners and their speeches while directing the Academy Awards
01:57
Marty Pasetta on the music cues at the Academy Awards and experimenting with parts of the show
01:52
Marty Pasetta on how the Ronald Reagan assassination attempt impacted the Academy Awards
02:16

Hector Ramirez

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Hector Ramirez on preparing for shots for the Academy Awards
07:12
Hector Ramirez on shooting live award shows
03:01
Hector Ramirez on how shooting the Academy Awards differs from shooting the Grammys
09:22

John Rich

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John Rich on working on the first Academy Awards telecast in 1952; the 3-camera technique
02:45

Hank Rieger

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Hank Rieger on United Press covering the Academy Awards
00:13

Fatima Robinson

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Fatima Robinson on working with Pharrell Williams on his performance of "Happy" at the Oscars
01:05
Fatima Robinson on receiving her first choreography Emmy nomination for Beyoncé's performance at the 2022 Oscars
02:25

William Schallert

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William Schallert on getting a shout-out from Johnny Carson when Carson hosted the Academy Awards
00:49

Edgar J. Scherick

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Edgar Scherick on working with ABC founder Leonard Goldenson and Goldenson taking him to the Academy Awards
00:55

Mel Shavelson

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Mel Shavelson on writing material for the Academy Awards telecasts hosted by Bob Hope
06:13

Nina Shaw

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Nina Shaw on writing a 2017 article for Variety about the lack of diversity in Oscar nominations
04:16

Neil Travis

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Neil Travis on the experience of winning the Oscar for "Dances with Wolves" (on the live broadcast)
02:29

Ret Turner

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Ret Turner on costume design for the Academy Awards
06:50
Ret Turner on dressing Cher in her infamous Academy Awards dress
01:02
Ret Turner on dressing Billy Crystal for the Academy Awards
00:53

Bruce Vilanch

View Interview
Bruce Vilanch on staying topical with his writing for Academy Awards shows
01:45
Bruce Vilanch on his writing process for the Academy Awards show
01:08
Bruce Vilanch on the challenges of keeping the Academy Awards telecast interesting each year
02:29
Bruce Vilanch on the difference between writing for the Emmy Awards and the Academy Awards
01:42
Bruce Vilanch on writing for the Academy Awards in 1989 produced by Alan Carr with Snow White and Rob Lowe
07:08
Bruce Vilanch on the challenges of writing for the Academy Awards
02:25
Bruce Vilanch on writing jokes for the Academy Awards on the fly, and on Billy Crystal's Jack Palance jokes -- for which they won an Emmy
03:24
Bruce Vilanch on bringing politics and current events into the Academy Awards
02:56
Bruce Vilanch on where he is physically during the Academy Awards telecast
01:07
Bruce Vilanch on the various Academy Awards hosts during his time as a writer, and on what the hosts hope to accomplish
03:52
Bruce Vilanch on writing for actors on the Academy Awards
02:48
Bruce Vilanch on James Franco and Anne Hathaway hosting the Academy Awards and on writing for the presenters
05:17
Bruce Vilanch on becoming head writer for the Academy Awards and on divvying up the writing
01:54
Bruce Vilanch on the involvement of the Academy in the Academy Awards telecast and on serving the producers
09:56

Andy Williams

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Andy Williams on "Moon River" - his show's theme song, and performing the song at The Academy Awards
02:16

David L. Wolper

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David Wolper on befriending Art Buchwald at USC; on a prank they played at the 1948 Academy Awards
02:49

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