From a rainy red carpet to a show-stopping opening number, this year’s Oscar ceremony has already gotten people talking. THR‘s own Scott Feinberg, Matt Belloni, Stacey Wilson and Rebecca Ford were on hand to provide an all-access pass to the year’s most glamorous fete.
If this rain doesn’t wash us all away, I’ll be tweeting from inside the #Oscars tonight so follow along for what you don’t see on TV.
— Matthew Belloni (@THRMattBelloni) February 23, 2015
Before the show began, camera crews made sure to show the red carpet in the most glamorous light possible and the pristine, dry celebrities added to the illusion that nothing could rain on Oscar’s parade. But the rain was the star of the red carpet that the cameras didn’t show you. Despite expansive plastic awnings and buckets to collect dripping water, the event staff got sopping wet trying to usher talent out of limos with huge black umbrellas and publicists had their hands full directing their clients around the ubiquitous maroon puddles.
Red carpet turning more maroon by the minute #Oscars2015 pic.twitter.com/IUihF5UdvH
— Stacey Wilson Hunt (@GalinHollywood) February 23, 2015
Welcome to the soaking wet Oscars!! #Oscars2015 pic.twitter.com/l0RKY9Upef
— Stacey Wilson Hunt (@GalinHollywood) February 23, 2015
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The soggy #Oscars red carpet is producing glamorous photos like this. pic.twitter.com/iA3tejEBcR
— Matthew Belloni (@THRMattBelloni) February 23, 2015
Guests were rushed into the lobby as quickly as possible to avoid the rain, which allowed THR’s chief awards analyst, Scott Feinberg, to get a bird’s eye view of just how many people can fit into the Dolby Theatre’s auditorium.
The people gathered in the lobbies on the various levels have been told to make their way into the auditorium pic.twitter.com/PprISYlJ7A
— Scott Feinberg (@ScottFeinberg) February 23, 2015
Inside, meet-and-greets continued for many of the celebrities late to take their seats, including Jared Leto, who made it his personal mission to say hello to everyone near him.
Jared Leto is a smooth operator. He’s going seat to seat saying hello to everyone during commercial. #oscars
— Matthew Belloni (@THRMattBelloni) February 23, 2015
Meanwhile, Stacey Wilson caught Alejandro González Iñárritu, Chris Evans, and CAA’s Jim Toth taking an early break from the show at the bar just before an alcohol-related accident. Neil Patrick Harris would be pleased to know that Octavia Spencer is still in her seat.
Inarritu taking a break from the show in the bar, chatting with 2 friends
— Stacey Wilson Hunt (@GalinHollywood) February 23, 2015
Champagne explosion in lobby bar. “We’re ok” someone shouts. #Oscars2015
— Stacey Wilson Hunt (@GalinHollywood) February 23, 2015
After The Grand Budapest Hotel’s Mark Coulier won the Oscar for best makeup, Scott Feinberg shared an offscreen warning about acceptance speeches:
Surprised they’re letting the male makeup artist speak. They warned nominees only one person could speak per winner or they’d play em off.
— Scott Feinberg (@ScottFeinberg) February 23, 2015
And for those wondering how the set could possibly change so much in between segments, Feinberg snapped a quick picture that demonstrates the sheer manpower behind America’s most famous award show.
Look how many people it takes to strike and build sets during commercial breaks! pic.twitter.com/8vf2Wwlkl5
— Scott Feinberg (@ScottFeinberg) February 23, 2015
He also shared this insight for viewers who were redirected to the award presentation after Neil Patrick Harris’ revealing post-commercial segment.
Neil was undoing a wedgie and scratching his nipples as he walked off stage, which is why TV viewers may have heard laughter.
— Scott Feinberg (@ScottFeinberg) February 23, 2015
About halfway through the show, just after the presentation of the cinematography Oscar, Belloni noted that many of the celebrities had begun making their way to the bar. But even at an event filled with celebrities, the night’s biggest stars still found it difficult to get a drink without being photographed by fans.
There may be only slightly more people in the theater than in the bar at this point. #Oscars
— Matthew Belloni (@THRMattBelloni) February 23, 2015
Ethan Hawke trying to drink but being bothered by photo-wanting fans #Oscars2015
— Stacey Wilson Hunt (@GalinHollywood) February 23, 2015
After the In Memoriam segment minutes later, this year’s winner of the best supporting actress Oscar, Patricia Arquette, expressed her high regard of Meryl Streep backstage.
Backstage, Patricia Arquette calls Meryl Streep the “patron saint of all actresses.” #Oscars
— Rebecca Ford (@Beccamford) February 23, 2015
According to Wilson, Miles Teller could be overheard voicing his opinion about the best director nominees before the award was given to Inarritu.
Miles Teller yelling at Whiplash director Damien Chazelle- “you got robbed for best director!” He wasn’t nom’d- Nor was award given out yet
— Stacey Wilson Hunt (@GalinHollywood) February 23, 2015
Just after Laura Poitras claimed her Oscar for CITIZENFOUR and Neil Patrick Harris made a joke about Edward Snowden’s inability to be there “for some treason,” Scott Feinberg received an email from the ACLU on Snowden’s behalf:
Just got an email from the ACLU passing along Edward Snowden’s congratulations to Laura Poitras on CITIZENFOUR’s Oscar win. 100% serious.
— Scott Feinberg (@ScottFeinberg) February 23, 2015
After the last few awards were announced, the guests of the Academy awards were treated to dinner at the Governors Ball by Wolfgang Puck, who made good on his pre-show promise.
Wolfgang Puck and his son. “It is going to be a big feast” #oscars pic.twitter.com/PeHBfgbo7F
— Rebecca Ford (@Beccamford) February 22, 2015
Smoked salmon in the shape of an #OSCAR at the Governors Ball. Tasty! pic.twitter.com/wiD8FUuUtl
— Matthew Belloni (@THRMattBelloni) February 23, 2015
At the Governors Ball after the show, THR’s correspondents were able to catch up with the nominees and winners of the 87th Academy Awards and get all of the information viewers were dying to know. Fact #1: Octavia Spencer wasn’t aware she was going to be part of a gag and did, in fact, remain in her seat throughout the show!
Lovely @OctaviaSpencer tells me she had no idea Neil was gonna use her for the gag! Couldn’t leave her seat & her bladder was gonna explode!
— Scott Feinberg (@ScottFeinberg) February 23, 2015
For even more, see THR‘s full Oscars coverage.
