10 Reasons Why the 2014 Academy Awards Were the Best EVER
The 86th Academy Awards were the best I’ve ever seen and I am so pleasantly surprised. Could this be the beginning of the end of the snoozefest tradition? Let’s hope so.
I said I was only watching the Oscars to see if Lupita won and to see some of Ellen’s monologues. I was not planning on watching the whole show because I had work to do and its typically not enough to keep my attention for 3 hours. Well, shut my mouth WIDE open because not only did I watch the entire thing but I actually enjoyed it.
Everyone’s speeches were super dope and memorable, Ellen Degeneres killed it as host and had us laughing every time she was on stage (and even when she wasn’t) and the right people won awards. It was hilarious, engaging and RIGHT.
So let me get into why this Oscars was like no other before it.
Ellen.
Hosting an awards show is no easy task and we know this because many do it and many suck at it. So when someone can take the helm of one of the most historically boring shows and make it fun, they get ALL the props.
Ellen Degeneres not only made the Oscars a pleasure to watch but she made the three hour telecast go by quick. I tuned in just to watch her opening monologue but I couldn’t change the channel because I was afraid of missing more funnies.
In her opening monologue, she had me cracking up when she looked at Liza Minnelli and said “One of the most amazing Liza Minnelli impersonators I have ever seen in my life. Good job, sir.” Some folks felt that it was transphobic and I disagree. I think it was more of a jab about how many drag queens impersonate Liza, than it was about Liza looking like a dude. I really do.
Off topic but somewhat related: why does Liza Minnelli always look like someone just woke her up from her nap 15 minutes too soon? She perpetually has that “WHHAAA?” look that most of us get rid of right after we yawn and stretch. Bless her.
Lupita.
Everything about Lupita Nyong’o at the Oscars was a complete win and she continues to slay effortlessly. First of all, she had the nerve to show up in cotton candy blue, looking like a fairy tale and putting Cinderella’s dress to shame. I lived IMMEJATELY!
She stole the show and looked like the prettiest princess Disney never had. I swooned! Her inability to flaw is just admirable. So flaw deficient that the word flaw has to move out her way when she’s coming.
Then she won for “Best Supporting Actress” for her role in “12 Years a Slave” as Patsey.
And my soul sang and my eyes leaked as if I knew her personally. *lays on the floor rolling on the altar* LOOK AT GAWD WORK IN LUPITA’S LIFE!!! LOOK AT HIM WERKKKKK!!! I needed to call the plumber for my eyes because LUPITA WONNNNNNN!!!
She got on stage and gave another gracious speech that made us all fall in love with her all over again and I couldn’t help but grin. I could not be more proud to see a mirror of myself on the world’s stage, showing brown and black girls everywhere that their wildest dreams can come true and they have a right to them. Her mere existence on that stage is enough to inspire the hell out of anyone.
HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE HER LONG TIME?!?! I’ve signed a multi-year contract to be a member of the Lupettes/Lupistas/Lupitians. Our love is gonna go for a while and I am here for her.
TIME has the video of Lupita’s speech.
Jared Leto’s AIDS epidemic tribute.
Y’all know the issue of HIV/AIDS is one I hold dear to my heart and I work on with The Red Pump Project. So when Jared ended his speech with “And this for the 36 million people who have lost the battle to AIDS” I literally fist pumped. Salute, sir. His entire speech was so thoughtful and I was all “Look at Acting White Jesus win me over.” I loved it. Mashable has the video and transcript.
Best Selfie Ever.
During the show, Ellen decided to get in the audience, gather all the celebrities she could into a picture and get Bradley Cooper to take THE BEST SELFIE IN THE HISTORY OF SELFIES!
ABC / Academy of Arts and Sciences
I stalked Ellen’s Twitter timeline for minutes until I finally saw the picture and I squealed. I mean, there cannot be one to beat this one, unless you include the Dalai Lama, President Obama and the Queen of England in it.
We should all stop doing selfies now because none of us can ever have one this epic. It was so awesome that it broke Twitter, with over 1 million retweets.
Jared Leto’s eyeball, Jennifer Lawrence, Channing Tatum, Meryl Streep, Ellen, Julia Roberts, Kevin Spacey, Brad Pitt, Lupita Nyong’o, Angelina Jolie, Bradley Cooper. ALL THE WINS THAT EVER WINNED IN THE HISTORY OF WINLAND!
I love that Lupita’s brother, Junior, got prime spot in the front. Also, he’s adorable and I wonder if he’s single. I’m asking. For a friend. *coughs*
This selfie is about to be my desktop background. Seriously.
Matthew McConaughey’s speech.
Everyone came to the Oscars prepped with these super reflective speeches penned and I really enjoyed it. There’s few times in your life where you’ll have 1 billion captive listeners so saying something meaningful is needed. Matthew McConaughey has been FOREVER FAHN! I’ve always loved him as that surfer boy with the chiseled face. But after last night, I am a fan of the person underneath the segzy.
He talked about how he needs just three things in life: “something to look up to, something to look forward to and something to chase.” So God, his family and himself in 10 years. Well DAMB! That’s deeper than rap. And so poignant. “Every day of my life, my hero is always 10 years away. It gives me something to keep chasing.”
About God: “First of, I wanna thank God who is who I look up to. He’s graced my life with opportunities that I know are not of my hand or any other human hand. He has shown me that it’s a scientific FACT that gratitude reciprocates.”
*church scoots* YOU BETTER COME THROUGH AND SAY THAT!!! A man who loves God and gives HIM glory is a man I am here for. Look, Matthew. I will fall in love with you and you will deal! GOSH! That speech had me looking at him in a new light. Give praise to Jehovah Jahreh on the world’s stage! I love it!
Such an awesome speech. Vulture has the video.
But ummm… Matthew won “Best Actor” meaning Leonardo DiCaprio lost (again). Y’all. This man has been Keith Sweat begging for an Oscar for over a decade and they hang the string over his head but as he almost reaches it, they snatch it back. I have the same amount of Oscars as LeoDiCap. Aawwwwww. Can the world give him a group pat on the back? He’s the Susan Lucci of film. Maybe he’ll win in 2035.
LMAO! Because the internet has no chill.
BuzzFeed’s The Internet Has A Lot Of Emotions About Leonardo DiCaprio Not Winning An Oscar has me howling right now.
12 Years a Slave’s “Best Picture” win.
Slavery was ugly, inhumane, cruel and one of the worst atrocities ever committed to a people on this Earth. And we’re prone to painting it with softer brushes when talking about it to make it more digestable. 12 Years a Slave does not try to make it easier to swallow, as the camera lingers on the strange fruit hanging from the tree by a rope. Look at it. Hate it. Let your insides turn over as it slaps you in the face.
Solomon Northup was one man and his story is just as valid as any. I’m so glad “12 Years” won the “Best Picture” award because our stories need to be told, in ugliness, in beauty, in controversy, in chuckles and in their full scope. Our stories matter. Even without the award, we should know that.
Steve McQueen got hops!
Also, I get it. I know some of us are bothered that a movie about slavery won an Oscar, and a Black woman won an Oscar for playing a slave. But just for ONE second, I want us to celebrate this moment with the purest motives and joy. I want us to be able to lay these burdens down even for a hot millisecond because we carry this complex so close to the chest that it gives me heartburn.
Let us keep telling our stories from “12 Years a Slave” to “Best Man Holiday.” We need both and for now, if this award is for Patsey, maybe the next will be for Shelby. But for a moment, revel in these wins.
Pharrell’s “Happy” Performance.
Although Pharrell’s “Happy” didn’t win the Oscar it was nominated for, the performance won in my books! There’s no way you can hear that song and not start doing a shimmy. I don’t care if you’re a guy or a girl. “Happy” makes me bust out into the Carlton dance with reckless abandon. It is such a feel-good song and instant picker-upper.
Meryl Streep is about that shimmy life and I love it!
Whoopi’s appearance.
It brings me joy to see Whoopi Goldberg because she’s the kind of aged lady I want to be when I grow up. I’m talmbout the kind who is so fresh out of dambs to give that I have a Damb Famine in my house. Whoopi ain’t replenished her supply of dambs since about 1989 and I love it. What makes her even more awesome is that she’s an accomplished entertainer and an EGOT. If I had an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony, I wouldn’t care about folks’ feelings or dress codes either.
Miss Goldberg showed up rocking a strapless maxi dress with a wrinkled white button up underneath, daring people to check her. Spoiler alert: no one did. She truly won my heart when she hiked up her dress to show her homage to the Wizard of Oz, as she rocked striped tights and SHINY RED SHOES! You know how I feel about Red Pumps.
Auntie Whoopi and these random strong of pearls, doe. Bless her entire heart. I love her so. “Whoopi is like everybody’s favorite auntie. Maybe a little high, maybe a little drunk, definitely don’t give one bit of a damn, tells it like it T.I-is, and always a whole lot of fun. Auntie Whoopi is always invited to dinner at my house. Always.” – my girl Kellee (@KHough09)
Pink’s Performance.
Whoopi was there introducing Pink, and that was another highlight of the evening. Pink got on that stage, sang “Somewhere over the rainbow” and brought the house down effortlessly in tribute to Wizard of Oz’s 75th anniversary. Her voice, man. It’s like her vocal cords were wept on by newborn unicorns. Them baby magical tears… Just watch here:
SANG, BOO!
Pizza delivery.
Ellen is a whole fool and when she went in the audience asking if anyone was hungry, I didn’t think she’d really get pizza delivered to the auditorium! She even had Brad Pitt handing out paper plates and everything.
BuzzFeed GIF!
Hilarious. That was a real pizza delivery dude too. Well, he probably wants to be an actor one day but HA! I loved it.
John Travolta showed up looking like a real life Ken doll, plastic included. He did have on his special occasion wig so we can clap for him for that. And then he butchered Idina Menzel’s name so bad that it came out as “Adela Dazeem.” Sir WUT?!? O__o How did you get here? Nobody’s s’posed to be here.
FAIL. There’s now a @AdelaDazeem Twitter account and I am cracking up.
Bless Idina’s heart, though. Her performance was not good and it’s not because she lacks talent. The woman can SING (I know, because GLEE) but she had an off night. When she was belting out “Let It Go,” she went so far off key that she had to call a locksmith.
Even still, I had good feelings after the 2014 Oscars and I am giving major props to Cheryl Boone Isaacs, the Academy and the best host EVER, Ellen!
Having a woman of color at the helm (Cheryl) at the Academy is starting to show. This telecast wasn’t the monochromatic parade it usually is. And it had a light-heartedness to it that past years have sorely needed but missed. Hoping for some REAL CHANGE to begin in Hollywood and that next year, color remains in the room.
Did you watch these Oscars? What were your thoughts?
Get these blogposts directly in your inbox! Sign up for my weekly LuvvLetter below:
It is time to write that book. Come into The Book Academy and learn how to go from IDEA to INK.
Related Posts
58 Comments
Your tweets made the Oscars even more fun Luvvie. Next year you should be tweeting from the red carpet!
“I wonder if he’s single. I’m asking. For a friend. *coughs*” HA! I agree with this entire post. Loved and watched the entire show, enjoyed ever second. Who knew? *shrug*
You said it all. Jared Leto stole my heart. Then Matthew McSexy stole it from him. But Queen Lupita whooped their asses and stole it TWICE. Once for her and once for her brother. And Ellen always been my boo. She is hilarious. Whoopi is my GOdmother in my head. Pink is my ratchet bestie who is always getting kicked out of places for being drunk and vulgar. This was hands down the best Oscar’s EVER.
I loved the show. That selfie is the best ever. I can’t help but chuckle at Kevin Spacey in the background!
Matthew…Loves him! He sounded so Longview, TX last night and I loved it.
Leo…My hubby is convinced that Leo did the southside slippery slide with some big wig’s wife and that’s why he can’t get any love
Lupita…NO WORDS!!! NONE!!! LOVED.EVERY.SINGLE.THING.
Ellen…I thought she was awesome and I also thought the Liza joke was directed towards the impersonators and not Liza
Pink…That girl can SANG
Jared Leto…I love how he gave a shout to his mom.
John T’s hair… Ummm…
I’m not familiar with Idina Menzel’s work, but it’s good to know she doesn’t always sound like that. Thanks for the info Luvvie. I was wondering why she was there.
Wait…Did you peep how the lady got on the mic and sang His Eye Is On The Sparrow? I wasn’t ready for that.
I loved the show. Ellen did great, as expected, and everyone’s acceptance speech was so awesome and heartfelt. Jared, Matthew and Lupita were my favorites of the night. I also thought the couple who won for the song in Frozen had a cute speech.
“It’s like her vocal cords were wept on by newborn unicorns.” {wall slides down into oblivion.}
Let us not forget the travesty which was Tyson Beckford, a man who has spent his entire career in fashion, the ultimate FAIL on the red carpet -show. Taumbout some “You ARE LOOKING great in…*pause*… uhm..what’s that? Grey?” All he knew was his colors. Poor empty hanger…smh
Word. Like I said earlier on FB, he is for looking not for listening. That goes for his cousin Tyrese. No talking. Just be pretty.
OMG Yes! Tyrese needs to stop looking up big words to sound important. Just sing and satdown.
I think Ellen was great and Pink’s voice took me away. I didn’t watch the entire show but came back to it a few times. All I wanted to see was Pharell sing, what Lupita was wearing plus her win and the last 15 minutes to see who gets the best movie.
The only thing you forgot was Ellen passing the hat, which was a hilarious moment and Lupita putting in the lip balm…LOL
Once Lupita won, I didn’t care. I honestly didn’t. I didn’t expect anything else to go right, so I was able to relax and just enjoy the show.
I loved 12 Years a Slave winning. Loved it, because of the honesty of the movie.
I love Brangelina, so that they both got Oscars last night cracks me up.
Lupita looked like a princess. Some makeup company needs to sign her like YESTERDAY.
Ellen was a lot of fun.
Jared Leto’s homage to his mother made me tear up.
Loved this Luvvie, but, um..where’s the Scandal recap..LOL
YAAAAAASSSSSSS!!!
The Liza comment *rolls eyes* you can’t please everybody. I thought it was funny af so whatever. Ellen was Everything!! I enjoyed it! lol ^^ Kevin looks photo-shopped in for some reason
now, THIS is the best Oscar review EVER!!! am gonna plug it all over : )
This recap, like the show, was AWESOME! You are hilarious. I agree with everything you said. Our stories are valid and need to be told in their entirety!
One last thing…I was moved my the warmth and respect Angelina Jolie showed towards Mr. Sidney Poitier. There are times where our elders are dismissed or mocked (especially in Hollywood), but there was none of that. She seemed genuinely moved that she got to be on stage with him. I would have been…
*by not my
“I have the same amount of Oscars as LeoDiCap” Nooo.. I wasn’t ready! My poor Boo, Leo. Every since they didn’t nominate him for Titanic and he refused to come, they have been hardcore snubbing him 🙁
Ellen was hilarious! …and the award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy goes to John Travolta because that wig and “Adela Dazeem” had me in tears.
Yes, Matthew!! Yes, Jared!!
All Hail Queen Lupita! That is all.
Girl….Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy….
YOU ARE HILARIOUS! *dead!*
I missed the show the ONE time it was good…*le sigh* http://reactiongifs.com/?p=16739
Did anyone else hear Ellen say at the beginning of the show “And now our first white presenter Anne Hathaway” LMBO!!! She is a fool and I love her.
LOL That’s s what Ellen said, right after she said 1. “12 Years a Salve will win best picture and 22. We’ll be called racist, now here’s our first white presenter Anne Hathaway.”
Degenres SLAYED last night. She made it look easy, breezy, and I loved how she connected with the audience. She brought them literally right into our living room, like she does on her show.
No wonder it’s a hit.
I love watching the Oscars, especially the Red Carpet. And there was no one ABSOLUTELY NO ONE that shone brighter and looked more regal than Lupita. She truly gives me life.
That show was so long that I feel like I deserve some kind of award for making it to the end – I did nod off though.
Lupita winning was the highlight for me followed by Steve McQueen’s praise break and Darlene Love belting out His Eye is on the Sparrow. I was on my couch looking for my prayer shawl and my tambourine. And then Bishop McConaughey brought it on home when he said “There’a gawd somewhere, he’s gawd on high!”Weeeeelll.
Okay, and not to be negative, but who peeped the shade from John Ridley when he won for Best Screenplay? Dude breezed right past Steve McQueen like he had cooties. Most winners hugged a few folks from their cast on the way to the stage, but not Salty McSalterson.
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1723365/12-years-a-slave-steve-mcqueen-john-ridley-oscars-feud.jhtml
I thought he seemed a little tight about something. He just won and his body language was off. For a moment I thought it was just me.
Nope it wasn’t just us. And when they won for Best Film, he was in the back looking very angry about something.
Not so far off key she needed to call a locksmith… flat line. Awesome recap!
Awesome recap! I agree with everything.
My biggest fear for poor Leo Lucci is that the only Oscar he’ll receive will be the Honorary one they give when he’s 75.
The only other comment I have is for the legend himself – Sidney Poitier. As Angeline led him out, all I could say to myself was bless, bless, bless this man. I’m glad he was there to witness all the terrificness of that night.
Enjoyed the show. Folks came dressed to impressed, and the right people won for a change.
I felt worse for Bette Midler than I did for Idina Menzel. Idina missed that one note, but poor Bette missed ALL of them.
Dang, I thought I was in the solo club when it came to The Divine Ms. Midler. She was majorly off key for 99.9% of Wind Be-neef my wangs! It was painful to listen to, and she got a standing “O” ?
Did anyone else notice that Whoopie was wearing Julia Roberts’ golden globes dress? http://www.imnotobsessed.com/wp-content/uploads/julia-roberts-taylor-swift-2014-golden-globes-5.jpg
I was delighted that “20 Feet from Stardom” won an Oscar. It’s the story of some memorable black lady back up singers and worth a watch. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWyUJcA8Zfo#t=82
Well, now I hate that I missed it! I usually cannot tolerate the boredom but it looks like this would have been the year to watch. Thanks for the recap.
When Leo finally gets his Oscar, he will get a standing ovation like when Susan Lucci won her Emmy after getting nominated 23 times.
“Her voice, man. It’s like her vocal cords were wept on by newborn unicorns. Them baby magical tears” lolol God bless you. That had me rolling. I don’t usually watch the Oscars and yesterday, I watched for two people. Lupita and Ellen and I was surprised I watched the whole thing. BEST OSCAR EVER!!!!
Loved it all of the show and your commentary! Did we have any Lupita and Jared Leto moments last night that I can add to my theory of the two of them?
Luvvie I loved this years’ Oscar ceremony, everyone was dressed to the nines, Lupita was wearing her crown and received her scepter, A celebrity was not ashamed to recognize and honor God publicly and the host was actually funny.
I think Idina had a problem with pitch because she is accustomed to having a live orchestra in front of her and not playing from a studio across the street, she is a Tonyd award winner, cause that woman has a pair of lungs in her. Pink showed she is a real singer and that lady took that whole auditorium to church, Amen. And I just want to know did Kerry ever that that slice of pizza?
I wondered that about Kerry too. She was the first to raise her hand when Ellen asked about pizza. When it arrived, Ellen said she needed a slice because she was pregnant. And then she sat there with that empty paper plate for the longest! I was frustrated for her, po baby!
Kerry’s gluten-free; the gf pizza was in the Green Room. She tweeted a picture of her posing with a slice.
Lupita, Matthew and Jared….all bought tears of joy to my eyes! Bette…..I thought it was just me. Whoopi….nope it wasn’t just me…..and Ellen…..was all that and then some! Best Oscar ever….my first time really watching the whole thing!!!!
Anyone who has not heard Idina in all the awesomeness that is truly her gift should immediately watch RENT. Great movie, great cast, great songs. Bonus offerings: Taye Diggs (not his singing, just him). Rosario Dawson (the girl from Men In Black) & Jesse L. Martin (Law and Order)
Trivia-RENT is where Idina met Taye and their swirling began.
YES. That cast was to live for. One of my favorite musicals/movies.
My favorite part was just watching Goddess Lupita! She looked like a 5 year old in their Easter dress twirling and swinging! ¥Just waychinh the glory that is her made me smile
Luvvie
I am going to print this Oscar recap and frame it because it is truly the best Oscar recap ever! You actually have me looking forward to watching the show next year.I agree with everything you wrote.
When Lupita won I ran through my house like I did when Barack Obama won in 08…LOL
I enjoyed the Oscars last night because they didn’t stick to the previous sceipts. Ellen engaged the audience and those watching.
The speeches in the best acting categories were all touching and poignant. I appreciate Matthew McConaughey bringing God back into the room and sharing his gratitude.
there’s was a time I could name the number of black actors who have won an Oscar on one hand. It’s a slow change but I’m glad to see winners not just in the actor categories but also in other areas such as screenplay.
Go on and get your John Travolta name here…..you’re welcome!
http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/low_concept/2014/03/john_travolta_called_idina_menzel_adele_dazeem_what_s_your_travolta_name.html
Don’t forget Idina aka Tony award winner was Elephaba the green witch in wicked – Don’t think for a moment she cant SING the prob was they cut out half the song and sped up the tempo so she didn’t have the time to build her voice up to the crescendo to hit the note – listen to her sing Defying Gravity from wicked and you will see she hits notes that on are on Mars I just love her – She is also the soon to be the former Mrs Taye Diggs. Lupita’s dress and speech had me in tears She is the new Queen of EVERYTHING
great show loved it from beginning to end The acceptance speeches were on a whole nother level Jared Leto’s mom i cant imagine how she must have felt what a beautiful speech for a son to give about his mother. lUPITA didnt only look like a princess but her speech showed her to be the pinnacle of educated class!Brad and Angelina showed us why they deserve the title of Hollywood Royalty! Im going to put this out there am i the only one that thinks that Kerry Washington hubby Nnamdi is embarrased to be seen in public with her i mean i get being private but honestly at the Oscars did he really think that if he showed up with his wife that the cameras /paprrazi were all going to swing their cameras from BRAD, BEN, WILL, BRADLEY, MATTHEW, JAMIE ETC and focus on him? Maybe his wifes love scences on SCANDAL are proving a problem? I was so disappointed that Chiwetel didnt win but Matthews speech was so heart felt he really felt blessed to have won and it really came across Hey dont feel sorry for Idina 50 million people now know who she is !
This entire recap literally has me CACKLING!!
Wow! Thanks for the Oscars recap! I am not much of an Oscars fan, but you make me want to watch it now!!!
Do we not care that Matthew did not one time in the entire award season, if I remember correctly, mention AIDS/HIV or the hundreds of thousands of Americans whose voices were completely silenced by the treatment of AIDS patients in the 80s? When taken in comparison to some of the other winners, like Lupita who explicitly referenced Patsey’s pain even as it was the basis for her own joy, Matthew was a real let down for me. His speech smacked a little too much of white (straight) male privilege IMO.
John Travolta had dyslexia….but Sciencetology cured it sooooo idk.
Lolol! John Travolta’s “special occasion wig”… Bwahhahahahahahaaaaa!!!
[…] And I think she’s a big reason why the 2014 Academy Awards was the best I’ve ever watched. […]
Stop having such a hilarious and addictive blog! I need to get work done and I cannot stop clicking. A word on Whoopi. I love her so much and sometimes my love gets distracted by one of her seven thousand huge-ass talents. BUT, I recently heard a bit of hers on some comedy radio channel and it reminded me to never forget she is still one of the greatest stand-up comedians of all time. She kicks all the ass. Thank you for this blog post, it is hysterical.
Commercial properties must abide by zoning laws and will include provisions set
forth inside Americans with Disabilities Act. Its well-linked infrastructure and a robust economy make corporate houses
build businesses here. In Sydney, Australia, a great deal of private firms are checking out fitouts, a process by Office
Fitout Sydney that provides the most up-to-date technology and innovative construction methods to create and convey
its projects and install the plans with a reduced price.
I’m curious to find out what blog system you are utilizing?
I’m having some small security issues with my latest
website and I would like to find something more secure.
Do you have any solutions?
When you recommend a forensic investigation be performed on your blackberry
or call phone, a professional investigator will examine the device and recover the data
you need. The records will stay there for thirty days on some programs so you don’t have
to worry about logging in every day either. Fly on the Wall has security and surveillance equipment
to make any secret agent jealous, and their mini GPS tracker
is great for keeping an eye on your valuables.
Appreciating the time and energy you put into your blog and
detailed information you present. It’s nice to come
across Veja como é possível atingir a independência financeira blog every once in a while
that isn’t the same outdated rehashed material. Fantastic read!
I’ve bookmarked your site and I’m including your RSS feeds to my Google account.