The good, the bad, the Oscar telecast
After the debacle of the Academy Awards [“Broadcast Did More Than Hand Out Gold Statues,” Feb. 29], I’d like to suggest that the other networks and major cable stations stop showing reruns against the telecast because they’re afraid no one will watch. Please, bring out your newest, best, brightest episodes and give the TV audience some real entertainment to enjoy — no need to be frightened of big ratings for the Oscars anymore.
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Jennifer Lawrence
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 2/49
“The Martian” actor Matt Damon
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 3/49
Actress Priyanka Chopra
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 4/49
Taylor Kinney, left, and Lady Gaga arrive at the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
(Jordan Strauss/Invision/Associated Press) 5/49
“Titanic” costars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet reunite on the red carpet.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 6/49
Amy Poehler and Michael Keaton
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Charlize Theron
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 8/49
The Weeknd and Common
(Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP; Angela Weissangela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images) 9/49
Oscar nominees Cate Blanchett (“Carol”) and Bryan Cranston (“Trumbo”).
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 10/49
Oscar nominee Rachel McAdams (supporting actress, “Spotlight”).
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 11/49
From left, actress Margot Robbie, best actor nominee Eddie Redmayne (“The Danish Girl”) and actress Jennifer Garner.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times; Ethan Miller/Getty Images; Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) 12/49
People protest the all-white slate of acting Oscar nominees and lack of diversity in the industry near the 88th Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center.
(David McNew / AFP/Getty Images) 13/49
Taylor Kinney, left, and Lady Gaga
(Jordan Strauss/Invision/Associated Press) 14/49
“Director Ridley Scott and Giannina Facio, left, and supporting actor nominee Tom Hardy (“The Revenant”) with Charlotte Riley.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 15/49
Supporting actor nominee Tom Hardy (“The Revenant”) with actress Charlotte Riley.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 16/49
Best actress nominee Cate Blanchett (“Carol”).
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Nominees and former costars Kate Winslet (supporting actress, “Steve Jobs”) and Leonardo DiCaprio (best actor, “The Revenant”).
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 18/49
Leonardo DiCaprio
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Actor Christian Bale with wife Sibi Blazic.
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Reese Witherspoon
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Model Heidi Klum
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Model Chrissy Teigen and husband John Legend
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Kerry Washington
(Christopher Polk/Getty Images; Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) 24/49
Supporting actress winner Alicia Vikander (“The Danish Girl”).
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 25/49
Naomi Watts, Olivia Munn, Priyanka Chopra
(Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP; Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP; Jason Merritt/Getty Images) 26/49
Cinematographer Ed Lachman, Spirit Award winner and Oscar nominee for “Carol.”
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 27/49
Mindy Kaling
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 28/49
Jordan’s foreign-language nominee “Theeb” is represented by, from left, director Naji Abu Nowar and actors Jacir Eid and Hassan Mutlag Al-Maraiyeh.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 29/49
Sofia Vergara, costar of ABC’s “Modern Family,” on the red carpet.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 30/49
Actor Byung-hun Lee.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 31/49
Governors Ball chef Wolfgang Puck.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 32/49
From left, model Heidi Klum, best actress nominee Saorise Ronan (“Brooklyn”) and last year’s supporting actress winner Patricia Arquette (“Boyhood”).
(Left and right - Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times; center - Jason Merritt/Getty Images) 33/49
“Room’s” young actor Jacob Tremblay shares a stretch of red carpet with “Modern Family’s” Sofia Vergara.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 34/49
Original song nominees Jimmy Napes, left, and Sam Smith (“Writing’s on the Wall,” “Spectre”).
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 35/49
Nominated film editor Hank Corwin (“The Big Short”) and wife Nancy arrive at the 88th Academy Awards.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 36/49
Actor Orlando Jones during the arrivals.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 37/49
Tobias Lindholm, center, director of Denmark’s foreign-language nominee “A War,” arrives with the film’s lead actor Pilou Asbæk, right.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 38/49
“Beasts of No Nation” actor Abraham Attah.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 39/49
Morning show host and former NFL player Michael Strahan addresses the media on the red carpet.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 40/49
“Good Morning America” anchor Robin Roberts.
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 41/49
Composer Carter Burwell, nominated for original score for “Carol.”
(Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) 42/49
Model Dorith Mous on the red carpet.
(Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times) 43/49
Members of the nominated live-action short feature “Shok” arrive on the red carpet for the 88th Academy Awards.
(Valerie Macon / AFP/Getty Images) 44/49
Sofia Vergara at the 88th Academy Awards.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) 45/49
“Beasts of No Nation” costar Abraham Attah arrives at the 88th Academy Awards.
(Jordan Strauss / Invision/AP) 46/49
Orlando Jones arrives for the 88th Academy Awards.
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TV personality Stephanie Bauer on the Oscars red carpet.
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TV personality Giuliana Rancic at the 88th Academy Awards.
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TV personality Maria Menounos at the 88th Academy Awards.
( Ethan Miller/Getty Images, left, Jason Merritt/Getty Images, right) Thanks for trying, Chris Rock, but I’m convinced a song-and-dance person who can tell a few jokes is a better fit as host. Ever watch the Tony Awards?
Susan Stoller Rapp
Westwood
Generally, I respect and concur with Mary McNamara’s reviews, but after reading her critique of the Oscars, it became apparent to me that I must have been watching a different telecast. When she observes that “it certainly wasn’t boring,” I had to stifle a “What?”
Boring it was, from Rock’s relentless bleat of lack of diversity to his shameless Girl Scout cookie sales pandering.
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The cast of Best Picture winner “Spotlight” takes a selfie backstage at the 88th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre.
(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) 2/54
Director Tom McCarthy with the Oscar for best picture, “Spotlight.” (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Actress Stacey Dash speaks onstage during the 88th Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre on Feb. 28, 2016.
(Kevin Winter / Getty Images) 4/54
Michael Keaton and the cast and producers of “Spotlight” celebrate after winning the Oscar for best picture.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 5/54
The production team and cast of Spotlight celebrate the award for best picture.
(Mark Ralston / AFP/Getty Images) 6/54
Leonardo DiCaprio (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Brie Larson (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu, winner of Best Director with Tom Hardy
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 9/54
Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Lady Gaga performs (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Lady Gaga and abuse survivors (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Daisy Ridley and Dev Patel (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Vice President Joe Biden (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Director Laszlo Nemes (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Chris Rock and Girl Scouts (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Dave Grohl during the In Memoriam segment (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Whoopi Goldberg
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 18/54
Kate Winslet and Reese Witherspoon (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Kate Winslet and Reese Witherspoon (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Chris Rock (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Asif Kapadia and James Gay-Rees (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Louis C.K. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Chris Rock (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Mark Rylance (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Mark Rylance thanks Steven Spielberg before accepting his Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 27/54
Patricia Arquette (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Filmmakers Pato Escala Pierart and Gabriel Osorio Vargas (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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The Weeknd performs (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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The Weeknd performs (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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The Weeknd performs (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Jonas Rivera and Pete Docter (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Girl Scouts sell cookies with Chris Rock (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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David White, right, and Mark Mangini (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Marcos Taylor as Suge Knight
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 36/54
Rachel McAdams and Michael B. Jordan (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Emmanuel Lubezki (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Priyanka Chopra, left, and Liev Schreiber (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Margaret Sixel (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Chris Evans, right, and Chadwick Boseman (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Benecio del Toro and Jennifer Garner (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Elka Warden, Lesley Vanderwalt and Damian Martin (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Presenters Margot Robbie and Jared Leto (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Colin Gibson and Lisa Thompson (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Cate Blanchett (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Tina Fey and Steve Carell (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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CaJenny Beavan (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Alicia Vikander (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Adam McKay, front, and Charles Randolph with their Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 50/54
Sam Smith (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Sarah Silverman (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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“The Big Short,” the anarchic, bracing broadside against Wall Street malfeasance, won the adapted screenplay Oscar at tonight’s 88th Academy Awards. The script was written by Charles Randolph and Adam McKay, who also directed. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Emily Blunt and Charlize Theron (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Chris Rock (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
One plus: Only three of the five nominated songs were performed — another ill-gotten attempt by the producers to shorten the broadcast, but it still went long.
With all the pontificating rhetoric spewed by the winners, one would have thought that one was at a political rally, not an awards show for movies, for Pete’s sake. The show really was boring. Now, The Times can find legitimate above-the-fold front-page items other than lack of diversity and supposed racism in Hollywood.
John R. Grush
Mission Viejo
::
The problem with diversity became clear after seeing Rock’s hilarious trip to Compton. White and black cultures are segregated. Not every film can embrace every person in every culture. Forcing every movie to fit into one homogenous, all-inclusive package means diluting what makes art unique.
Stan Evans
Valley Village
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I have a lot of problems with how the film academy does business and who its members nominate for awards.
But after reading Mark Olsen’s piece [“The Oscars: Problem Isn’t Just Skin-deep,” Feb. 28], I’d still rather keep the current nomination list over those alternatives. Being different and allegedly more “adventurous” doesn’t necessarily equate to awards-worthy.
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Brie Larson and Alicia Vikander backstage (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet backstage (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Leonardo DiCaprio backstage (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Leonardo DiCaprio with his Oscar for best actor (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Brie Larson celebrates (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu backstage (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Brie Larson (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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The cast of Best Picture “Spotlight” take a selfie backstage. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Lady Gaga (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Brie Larson (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Alejandro Gonzalez Iñarritu (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Sacha Baron Cohen (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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A Secret Service watches Vice President Joe Biden backstage (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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C3PO (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Kevin Hart (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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R2D2 and C3PO (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Kate Winslet (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Mark Rylance (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Cheryl Boone Issacs (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Backstage at the 88th Academy Awards (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Vice President Joe Biden (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Andrew Whitehurst and Mark Ardington (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Josh Singer and Tom McCarthy accept the award for Original Screenplay for “Spotlight.” (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Paul Norris and Sara Bennett (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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R2D2 and C3PO (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Pete Docter and Jonas Rivera (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Oscar statuettes (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Charlize Theron (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Josh Singer and Tom McCarthy (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Sam Smith (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Adam McKay (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Alicia Vikander (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Charlize Theron (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Adam McKay and Charles Randolph (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Alicia Vikander (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Emmanuel Lubezki (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Benicio Del Toro and Jennifer Garner (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Liev Schreiber and Priyanka Chopra (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
What distinguishes the Oscars from the Grammys is that this isn’t a popularity contest. Do we really want an Academy Awards ceremony where Michael Bay is a top contender for the directing prize, Adam Sandler is a lock for lead actor, and a “Jurassic Park” movie is up for best picture?
Joe Stemme
Culver City
::
The academy through the years has selected great artistry in depicting socially aware stories. The struggles and triumphs of life will always be told by all film genres. The academy understands the challenges in selecting greatness in film even with controversy.
Edie Liberatore
Sherman Oaks
::
While I agree with all the stories you’ve run concerning the total lack of diversity in the Academy Award nominations, I have a giant question to ask: Why are all the critics’ faces white, white, whiter than white?
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Mark Rylance, left, Brie Larson, Leonardo DiCaprio and Alicia Vikander in the winners room.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 2/22
Songwriter Jimmy Napes, left, and singer Sam Smith won the original song Oscar for “Writing’s on the Wall” for the film “Spectre.”
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 3/22
Brie Larson with her Oscar for lead actress for the film “Room.”
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 4/22
Alejandro G. Inarritu with his Oscar for directing for the film “The Revenant.”
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 5/22
Alicia Vikander won the supporting actress Oscar for her role in “The Danish Girl.”
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 6/22
Leonardo DiCaprio with his lead actor Oscar for “The Revenant.”
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 7/22
Production designers Colin Gibson and Lisa Thompson celebrate winning the production design Oscar for their work on “Mad Max: Fury Road.”
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 8/22
Ennio Morricone, 87, won the Oscar for original score for “The Hateful Eight.”
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 9/22
Hungarian director Laszlo Nemes won the Oscar for foreign language film for “Son of Saul.”
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 10/22
Mark Rylance displays his Academy Award for his supporting role in “Bridge of Spies.”
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 11/22
Directors James Gay-Rees, left, and Asif Kapadia take home an Academy Award for their documentary feature “Amy” about late singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 12/22
Director Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy holds her Oscar for documentary short subject. Her winning film, “A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness,” is about honor killings in Pakistan.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 13/22
Gabriel Osorio, left, and Pato Escala win the Academy Award for animated short film for their film “Bear Story.” Their win is the first win for their country, Chile.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 14/22
Emmanuel Lubezki wins the Academy Award for cinematography for this work in “The Revenant.” He is photographed with the presenter of the award, actress Rachel McAdams.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 15/22
“Inside Out” producer Jonas Rivera, left, and director Pete Docter take home the Oscar for animated feature.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 16/22
Margaret Sixel holds her Oscar for film editing for her work in “Mad Max: Fury Road.”
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 17/22
The winning visual effects team for “Ex Machina,” from left, Mark Ardington, Paul Norris, Sara Bennett and Andrew Whitehurst.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 18/22
Winning “Mad Max: Fury Road” sound editors Mark Mangini, left, and David White, right, pose with actor Chris Evans, who presented the award.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 19/22
“Mad Max: Fury Road” makeup and hairstyling winners Damian Martin, second from left, Lesley Vanderwalt and Elka Wardega stand with the awards presenters, actors Margot Robbie and Jared Leto.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 20/22
“Mad Max: Fury Road” costume designer Jenny Beavan holds her Academy Award. She is photographed with Cate Blanchett, who presented the award.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 21/22
“The Big Short’s” writers Adam McKay, left, and writer Charles Randolph win the adapted screenplay category. McKay also directed the film.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) 22/22
“Spotlight” writers Josh Singer, left, and Tom McCarthy win for original screenplay. McCarthy also directed.
(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) The Envelope’s Buzzmeter spotlighting nominees for supporting actor was a perfect example: four men, two women, all Caucasian.
There’s an old saying about the pot calling the kettle black.
David R. Moss
Reseda
Hollywood, L.A. Phil style
So Gustavo Dudamel is taking his act on the road [“Here or Away, Phil Goes Its Own Way,” Feb. 27]. The playlist includes some ballet music, a movie score and a bombastic piano concerto. Seems appropriate for an orchestra that represents the entertainment capital of the world and whose home base is named Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Ray Sherman
Duarte
