Yet another Oscar tradition is capitalized upon by the show's producers, and this time they piss off Babe and Sandy.  These ladies had been attending the Oscar's for the past several years, camping out for days to get top seats in the bleachers. This year the producers gave out tickets to the bleacher seats, thus leaving Babe and Sandy near the back.

Billy Crystal's ship was the only one guaranteed to come in that year, as he proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is the quintessential host.  Among his signature moments includes an opening where he is inserted into several of the nominated films, as well as a musical number devoted to the various Best Picture nominees. 

From the Monologue

Titanic: To the tune of Gilligan's Island

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, a tale of a giant ship ... that started many years ago, with an over budget script.

Good Will Hunting

Matt and Ben - you are the one.  Your script is tight - and so are your buns.

The Full Monty to the tune of Hello Dolly

It's the Full Monty.  It's the Full Monty.  And my pants are on the floor where they belong.

... Dropping your pants is lots of fun.  Just like they do in Washington!

You know, so much has changed in the last year.  I mean last year, Washington was complaining that there was too much sex in Hollywood.

There are over a billion people watching tonight, except for Linda Tripp, who's taping it.  ... Is it me, or does she look like Michael Caine in Dressed to Kill?

Commenting on Titanic winning the Best Costume Award ... And the best thing is, those costumes are drip dry!

Commenting on a scene from Titanic ... That clip cost $15 million.  The only thing I saw retain water quicker than that was my aunt Sheila after eating shellfish.

Burt Reynolds gives what he calls, 'the best performance' of his career, as he smiles politely, just after losing the Best Supporting Actor award.

The macho hunk of the 1970's lost his steam in the 80's with a string of bad performances in some awful films.  By the mid-90's, Reynolds was a bit of a joke, but he was seriously looking for a comeback.     The previous year, his work in Striptease was expected to give him that, but the film was a colossal failure.  When P.T. Anderson cast him in Boogie Nights, Reynolds was suspicious.  After screening the film, he was disgusted, with his performance, as well as with the movie, and promptly fired his agent.     This action highlighted how out of touch he was with the pulse of movie goers, as the film was a critical and commercial success.     Going into the Oscar race, Reynolds was a frontrunner to take home the trophy, and despite his cocky behavior, his comeback story was the kind of thing Hollywood loved.  He went on Barbara Walters and really stuck his neck out by telling her that winning would be all that mattered.  When asked what he would do if he lost, he said "I will give the best performance of my career," meaning of course, that he would sit there and smile politely.

Celine gives a 'thump' to drag queens everywhere!

When Madonna opened the envelope for Best Song, she sarcastically exclaimed, "What a shocker!"     If there was anything that was a sure thing for an Oscar that year, the number one song of the year, Celine Dion's ballad My Heart Will Go On, from Titanic, was it.   People were so sure of the win, that a million dollar emerald was created especially for Dion to wear, that was a replica of the Jewel of the Sea, the necklace featured in the movie. For her number, Dion wore a slinky, but simple gown that showed off the bauble, as well her slim figure, that had many wondering about those bulimia rumors.        During the song, Dion thumped her chest, causing the jewel to bounce, and causing the world to gasp.  The move would become a signature for Dion that would be emulated everywhere, by satirists and drag queens, alike.

	Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are ribbed for their youth!
Jack Nicholson, Billy Crystal and Robin Williams all made fun of their age that evening, but Damon and Affleck had the last laugh when they went on to win the Best Original Screenplay award for Good Will Hunting.   The film was a big hit with audiences and critics, and it launched their careers.

To mark the 70th anniversary of the Academy Awards, producers invited as many past winners as were willing to show up.  They assembled 70 of them, including older stars such as Luise Rainer and Celeste Holme, with recent winners like Marissa Tomei and Holly Hunter.  Susan Sarandon introduced the group, and then, after each one was given their own introduction, this years winners, in a moment that looked frighteningly uncomfortable, were invited out to take their place among the ranks. (more)

  

Cameron's Ship Comes In!

Say what you like about Titanic, but it has to be the most successful picture ever.  The film broke box office records that year, and made superstars out of Leo DiCaprio (who was noticeably absent that evening) and Kate Winslet.  The film also made big sales with its soundtrack, and television was littered with  documentaries about the ill-fated ship. The film garnered so much praise, in fact, that the Oscar attention was just the icing on a very big cake.  Cameron was the big hero of the evening, eclipsing so many others.  As he went to the podium two times, he even dared to interrupt the proceedings (which were already way over schedule) to ask the audience to observe a moment of silence for those who perished.