The 2020 Academy Awards unfolded over three-plus hours Sunday, and the annual ceremony offered up plenty of moments both divine and ridiculous, as well as a bunch somewhere in between. And we couldn’t let the night of film accolades, big dresses and mispronounced names go by without singling out some of our favorite (and least favorite) vignettes.
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oscars-2020-best-worst-monae
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC BEST: MONAE KEEPS HER COOL
When Janelle Monae’s shirt came undone just seconds into the broadcast, the seasoned performer avoided a wardrobe malfunction by deftly refastening the problematic button and donning Mr. Rogers’ red sweater — all without missing a beat (or note) of the iconic children’s show’s theme song.
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oscars-2020-best-worst-rock
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC BEST: ROCK ON A ROLL
When Chris Rock and Steve Martin got up to do a few jokes at the start of the broadcast, they got in a few barbs about the current state of race in America. Our favorite was this from Rock: “Mahershala Ali has two Oscars. You know what that means when the cops pull him over? Nothing!”
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oscars-2020-best-worst-acting-montages
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC WORST: MESSY MASH-UPS
Why, exactly, did producers eschew the traditional individual performance clips in favor of a sizzle reel blending scenes from all of the nominated actors’ work?
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oscars-2020-best-worst-menzel-introduction
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC BEST: A WICKED-LY PERFECT CALLBACK
Josh Gad, who introduced his Frozen II co-star Idina Menzel ahead of her performance of “Into the Unknown,” couldn’t resist pointing out how her name sounds “exactly as it is spelled” — a jab at John Travolta, who famously mangled it as “Adele Dazeem” while introducing Menzel at the 2014 Oscars.
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oscars-2020-best-worst-keaton-reeves
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC WORST: SOMETHING’S GOTTA GIVE REUNION
You’d never know that Diane Keaton and Keanu Reeves once played love interests based on their complete lack of chemistry as presenters. Keaton’s reaction to Parasite’s Best Original Screenplay win almost — almost! — made up for the minute of awkward banter that endured before she nearly dropped the envelope with the results.
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oscars-2020-best-worst-conners
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC DRAW: THE CONNERS GOES META
The blue-collar family lived out its own version of The Truman Show when their Oscars commentary was broadcast in a commercial promoting The Conners’ live episode (airing Tuesday, Feb. 11). Conspicuously MIA was Laurie Metcalf, whose Aunt Jackie must have made other plans. (Perhaps The Lobo hosts a viewing party?)
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oscars-2020-best-worst-eilish
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC BEST: BRIDESMAIDS DON’T IMPRESS HER MUCH
Maya Rudolph and Kristen Wiig’s “Auditioning While Presenting” bit had everyone in stitches. Well, almost everyone. Grammy winner Billie Eilish looked like she just wasn’t feeling it when the SNL alumni busted into an impromptu medley while introducing the award for Best Costume Design.
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oscars-2020-best-worst-eminem-menzel
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC BEST: WAS SHE LOST IN THE MUSIC? THE MOMENT?
We couldn’t tell if Idina Menzel was confused, angry or just really into Eminem’s surprise performance of “Lose Yourself,” but we applaud her honesty.
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oscars-2020-best-worst-isaac-hayek
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC BEST: GETTING IT PUN
“I can now say I’ve held an Oscar on this stage,” Salma Hayek joked, picking up the hand of co-presenter/Star Wars star Oscar Isaac.
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oscars-2020-best-worst-cats
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC BEST (OR MAYBE WORST?): LETTING THE FUR FLY
Presenters James Corden and Rebel Wilson took the stage as their Cats characters, and we will take absolutely any excuse we have to dunk on and/or hail this confusing movie musical.
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oscars-2020-best-worst-trio
Image Credit: Courtesy of ABC BEST: WONDER(FUL) WOMEN
Captain Marvel, Ripley and Wonder Woman introduced the idea of a fight club full of Hollywood females, and if we promise never to talk about it, can we please join?!?
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