Minority Mindset

I went to the Oscars rehearsal on Saturday, and even though it was warm outside, I was cold in my jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. In a fancy, velvet-lined elevator, I received strict instructions about what I couldn’t share before the show aired on Sunday. They warned me, with a smile, that if I revealed anything about the script, who was presenting each award, or even a funny bit involving someone pretending to be Adrien Brody, there would be consequences.

Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans presented the awards for Best Adapted and Original Screenplay at the 2026 Oscars, but it was their fun, back-and-forth conversation that everyone was talking about online. Their playful exchange quickly became a highlight of the show and generated a lot of buzz on social media.

Anderson mentioned the 1975 Best Picture nominees – Dog Day Afternoon, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Jaws, Nashville, and Barry Lyndon – after receiving his award. He emphasized that there wasn’t a truly ‘best’ film, suggesting the winner simply reflects the prevailing sentiment at the time. He expressed gratitude for being included among such talented nominees and filmmakers, even those who hadn’t received an Academy Award nomination. Of course, one could argue that the film that actually won is the best.

The speech felt like the culmination of everything she’d been building towards all season – it was charmingly humorous, genuinely touching, and just a touch unconventional.

Timothée Chalamet hoped to become one of the youngest actors ever to win an Oscar. Instead, he experienced three weeks of letdown as various groups – from British awards voters to online influencers and Academy veterans – all seemed to agree: it wasn’t his time yet.

During the awards ceremony, the main cast of Bridesmaids – Maya Rudolph, Kristen Wiig, Ellie Kemper, Melissa McCarthy, and Rose Byrne (who was also nominated for If I Had Legs I’d Kick You) – reunited to present the awards for Best Score and Best Sound. Wendi McLendon-Covey wasn’t mentioned, likely to avoid drawing attention to her recent neck lift, but everything seemed friendly and positive among the Bridesmaids cast.

This week’s episodes are packed with drama! Greg tries to convince Katie not to give up, fearing she’ll end up like him. Archie faces a truly awful day, while Dylan fiercely advocates for her students. We’re also introduced to Alan Ruck as the Dean of Ludlow, and he’s brilliantly playing a thoroughly unpleasant character. In his first scene, he dismissively explains to Dylan why poetry isn’t a priority for the college, using a sarcastic analogy about sports teams and shouting the name of a poet as a joke. (Just for the record, I’d put Alfred Lord Tennyson on my poetry jersey!) I’m really looking forward to seeing Ruck and Carell act together – it’s going to be great.

The Oscars’ annual tribute to those lost usually features sad music and heartfelt songs. But this year, with so many people to remember, they took a different approach. Instead of a simple montage, Billy Crystal led an extended tribute to Rob and Michele Reiner, sharing stories about their early friendship and Rob’s career. Crystal explained … Read more

He also honored the other Black actors who had previously won Oscars, mentioning Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jamie Foxx, and Will Smith. He expressed gratitude for standing alongside such legends and those who paved the way for him. He then thanked everyone involved in his film, as well as viewers who supported Sinners, saying, “You made this movie what it is,” and expressing his love and appreciation for their repeated viewings.