TV Talk: ‘Everything Everywhere’ wins all at once at 95th Oscars

After last year’s shocking slap heard ‘round the world, this year’s 95th Oscars was a return to form as “Everything Everywhere All at Once” won best picture and took home six additional awards.

Returning host Jimmy Kimmel “parachuted” into the theater and started his monologue with somewhat soft, bland jokes (“Batgirl became the first superhero to be defeated by an accounting department”) that gradually built in intensity and edge, even biting the Oscars hand that feeds him for lack of women in the best director category (regarding James Cameron not receiving a best director nomination for the second “Avatar” film, Kimmel said, “How does the academy not nominate the guy who directed ‘Avatar’? What, do they think he is a woman?”).

Kimmel didn’t reference last year’s on-stage violence at the start of his monologue. Instead he built to it, mocking the immediate reactions to Will Smith slapping Chris Rock, telling the audience at the Dolby Theatre, “If anyone in this theater commits an act of violence at any point, you will be awarded the Oscar for best actor and permitted to give a 19-minute long speech.”

Kimmel said if any violence does occur, the Oscars now have a crisis response team on standby so the audience should “sit there and do absolutely nothing. Maybe even give the assailant a hug,” a reference to Denzel Washington hugging Smith post-slap last year.

Oscars coverage on TV began Sunday afternoon with the E! “Live From” special, covering the celebrity arrivals. The questions and commentary, especially, seemed slightly less inane than usual (Christian Siriano’s couture commentary helped elevate the E! coverage). Oscars producers pointlessly changed the carpet color from the traditional red to “champagne,” which showed off every loose thread and bit of fuzzy detritus whenever cameras panned to stars’ feet.

Weirdly, ABC stuck with the “On the Red Carpet Live” title for its pre-show even though the title was no longer accurate.

The awards themselves were both expected (Ke Huy Quan for “Everything Everywhere All at Once”) and surprising (Jamie Lee Curtis, who appeared shocked herself) with reactions ranging from tears (Quan) to a “Happy Birthday” serenade for live-action short actor James Martin.

Jamie Lee Curtis accepts the #Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. https://t.co/ndiKiHfmID pic.twitter.com/bGBtrI3k0g

— Variety (@Variety) March 13, 2023

Costume designer Ruth E. Carter became the first Black woman to win two Academy Awards, picking up her second for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and revealing in her moving, dramatic acceptance speech that her 101-year-old mother died this past week and asked the late “Black Panther” star Chadwick Boseman to “please take care of mom.”

Michelle Yeoh, the first Asian best actress winner for “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” also dedicated her award to moms, including her 84-year-old mother watching from her home in Malaysia.

“For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibility,” Yeoh said. “Dream big. This is proof dreams do come true. And, ladies, don’t let anybody tell you you are ever past your prime.”

The best song winner, “Naatu Naatu” from the Indian film “RRR,” provided an energetic, visually sumptuous performance in contrast to Lady Gaga, dressed in a black T-shirt, performing “Hold My Hand” from “Top Gun: Maverick.”

Here's the energetic performance of "Naatu Naatu" from #RRR at the #Oscars. https://t.co/ndiKiHeOT5 pic.twitter.com/Lf2nP826c4

— Variety (@Variety) March 13, 2023

Actor Hugh Grant was in rare form both on the red carpet, refusing to engage with questions, and then as a presenter alongside his “Four Weddings and a Funeral” co-star Andie MacDowell, noting the importance of moisturizer, which he never wears but she does.

“Still stunning,” he said gesturing to MacDowell, then indicating himself, “Basically a scrotum.”

In addition to performances of the best song nominations and clips for the best picture nominees, the Oscars dedicated a right-sized montage to the 100th anniversary of Warner Bros.

Kimmel joked about the show’s inevitably long running time — it lasted a little over three-and-a-half-hours Sunday night — but the telecast mostly moved with efficiency and didn’t feel draggy. There wasn’t a lot of filler; even his “questions from viewers” bit was short enough as to be unobjectionable.

“I know we lost an hour because of daylight saving time and good news, we’ve added that hour into the telecast,” Kimmel joked. “At this point in the show, kinda makes you miss the slapping a little.”

It was appropriate and deeply moving for John Travolta to introduce the “In Memoriam” segment the year two of his prominent co-stars (Olivia Newton-John, “Grease;” Kirstie Alley, “Look Who’s Talking”) died, saying they became “dear friends who we will always remain hopelessly devoted to.” (Though there were a few inexcusable omissions, including Philip Baker Hall and Anne Heche.)

In praising the importance of editors, Kimmel noted, “Editors do amazing things. Editors can turn 44,000 hours of violent insurrection footage into a respectful sight-seeing tour of the Capitol.

The Oscars telecast featured four students who are seeking careers in the entertainment business as trophy presenters, those who usher winners offstage. This year’s trophy presenters included University of Pittsburgh film production and psychology major Aditi Sridhar, who grew up in Johnstown.

The Oscars included an extensive trailer for Disney’s live-action “The Little Mermaid,” directed by Oscar-winning Pittsburgh native Rob Marshall.

“Women Talking” screenwriting winner Sarah Polley thanked one of her film’s stars, Monessen native Frances McDormand. Polley wrote in her book “Run Towards the Danger” about being treated for a concussion at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Here’s a full list of winners:

Best picture: “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”

Best actor: Brendan Fraser, “The Whale.”

Best actress: Michelle Yeoh, “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”

Best director: Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert, “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”

Best supporting actor: Ke Huy Quan, “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”

Best supporting actress: Jamie Lee Curtis, “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”

Best original screenplay: Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert, “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”

Best adapted screenplay: Sarah Polley, based on the book by Miriam Toews, “Women Talking.”

Best animated feature: “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” (Netflix).

Best production design: “All Quiet on the Western Front.”

Best cinematography: “All Quiet on the Western Front.”

Best costume design: “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.”

Best film editing: “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”

Best makeup and hairstyling: “The Whale.”

Best sound: “Top Gun: Maverick.”

Best visual effects: “Avatar: The Way of Water.”

Best original score: “All Quiet on the Western Front.”

Best original song: “Naatu Naatu” from “RRR.”

Best documentary feature: “Navalny.”

Best international feature: “All Quiet on the Western Front.”

Best animated short: “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse.”

Best documentary short: “The Elephant Whisperers.”

Best live action short: “An Irish Goodbye.”

You can reach TV writer Rob Owen at rowen@triblive.com or 412-380-8559. Follow Rob on Twitter or Facebook. Ask TV questions by email or phone. Please include your first name and location.