HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 27: Reba McEntire performs onstage during the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
Neilson Barnard/Getty Images"A Night To Remember," is one of the many movies based on the sinking of the Titanic. A perfect title to go along with a significant moment in history.
That same title will most certainly be used from here on out to describe the 2022 Academy Awards, and it's not just the rapper formerly known as the "Fresh Prince," and his slap to the face of a treasured Saturday Night Live alum.
There were highs and most definitely lows from the evening, and it has people applauding in both sound and sign language, and leaving people with dropped jaws and wrinkled foreheads.
You did it, Reba
For history buffs and people of a certain age, country music legend Reba McEntire's performance was nothing short of both gratifying and bittersweet.
The last time McEntire performed at the Oscars, was just nine days following a 1991 plane crash that killed her band and road manager shortly after departing the San Diego airport. That's when she performed "I'm Checkin' Out" from "Postcards from the Edge."
The country queen said in reports she wasn't too excited about her 2022 Oscars performance because of what happened last time, but in true Reba style, she took the stage and perfectly performed "Somehow You Do" from "Four Good Days."
McEntire got a second chance with the Oscars, and there's no doubt this is a more positive memory for the "Fancy" singer to look back on.
If a man did that, his career would be over
Before I get into it, let me be clear that I find neither of the Oscar hosts funny. Once Regina Hall, Wanda Sykes and Amy Schumer were announced as the hosts of the program, I knew laughs would be at a minimum.
But what stands out the most is the actions of Hall, who promiscuously patted down some of Hollywood's male heartthrobs and called it a COVID test. Hall called up Bradley Cooper, Timothee Chamalet, Simu Liu and Tyler Perry, four of Hollywood's most eligible bachelors and then sent them backstage — a very poor attempt at comedy to lead the audience to believe she'd be giving "tests" with her tongue. And then she proceeds to frisk Josh Brolin and Jason Momoa. The video below speaks for itself.
My only response to that is a couple of questions. What if it was the other way around and a man did that to women? Why is it funny and okay in this situation, yet reversing the plot would result in a tarnished career? A man playing out the same "skit" and merely calling women on stage would've had him chastised for a lifetime.
The greatest words of the night were never spoken
If there was ever proof needed to describe the power and impact of a father, it came in the form of sign language profoundly delivered by Troy Kotsur.
Kostur became the first deaf actor to win Best Supporting Actor for his role in "CODA." In his acceptance speech, he emphatically thanked his father for being the "best signer" and being a hero despite a car accident that left him paralyzed.
It was a heartwarming moment that should go down as one of the best acceptance speeches ever given at the Oscars.
The suspense for Lin-Mauel Miranda
Music and theater genius Lin-Manuel Miranda couldn't be at the Oscars because his wife came down with a positive COVID test, but he really didn't have to be present for his fans and admirers to be on the edge of their seats.
Miranda, whose credits include "Hamilton," and "In The Heights" on Broadway and "Moana and "Encanto" with Disney, came very close to making history at the 94th Academy Awards because an Oscar win would've made him the newest person to get the EGOT title. That's the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards.
Miranda was nominated for best original song, "Dos Oruguitas," from "Encanto," but the award went to pop sensation Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell for the title song in the latest James Bond film, "No Time to Die."
But the suspense alone leading to Miranda's fate, that moment of silence between "and the award goes to," and the opening of the envelope, was downright amazing. History most definitely has documented and has its eyes on Miranda, and it's very clear that every project he gets involved with turns to gold.
Miranda may have lost, but this only means the best is yet to come and that means the EGOT status will be achieved with something we can't even fathom at the moment.
"The pen is mightier than the sword."
I think we'd all like to know what Will Smith was thinking as he got out of his chair, slapped Chris Rock and then yelled at the top of his lungs. But to quote Robert Redford in "All The President's Men," "I don't mind what you did, I mind the way you did it."
Smith is not only a Smith by name, but also a wordsmith. You don't have the success that he's had in his career without having a way with words. And instead of going on live TV and responding Chris Rock's unnecessary joke toward his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, physically he could've easily had a more poignant response in his Best Actor speech or even later in a statement or post.
Rock made a joke about Pinket Smith's baldness and the actress has publicly shared she suffers from alopecia, which is hair loss, and while it's more common in men, women can get alopecia too.
Live on TV and across the world, Smith walked up on stage and slapped Rock in what was clearly an un-scripted act. Smith would've come out a champion had he waited to respond in written or spoken word, but instead he found himself trying to salvage his special Oscar moment winning his first Academy Award by issuing apologies — none of which were geared toward Rock.
Reports indicate Rock declined to press charges via the LAPD, and he actually came out looking like a champ by keeping his composure and going on with the show.
