GENTLEMAN’S AGREEMENT

The estimated 1 billion home viewers will easily spot the famous faces occupying all the good seats--but take a second look. About 100 unknowns can be spotted sitting in those chairs as well. They’re seat savers. On Oscar night, ABC lines them up on either side of the auditorium, and, whenever a celebrity leaves his or her seat, a seat saver slides in until the star returns. Former seat warmer-turned-Washington publicist Christal Karnaze said savers do their best not to stand out so they often appear nonchalant to the point of looking expressionless. “I could pretty much tell when I’m watching the ceremony now who the seat savers are; they’re just staring straight ahead and not interacting,” she said.