Favorite Oscar® Moments

The Oscars are coming! The Oscars are coming! So, of course, all movie addicts like me will be glued to our TV sets on Sunday, February 26, to watch Billy Crystal host the 84th Annual Academy Awards® telecast on ABC -- which motivates me to list my favorite Oscar moments from the past. Here they are, but in no particular order:

2009 – Host Hugh Jackman opening the show with a musical number poking fun at nominated films like Slumdog Millionaire, The Reader and Frost/Nixon.

1974 -- David Niven’s impressive composure when a streaker interrupted his comments during the 46th Academy Awards ceremony.

2002 -- Whoopee Goldberg’s outrageous costume changes (inspired by nominated films like Moulin Rouge!) while hosting the Oscars.

1985 -- Sally Field’s exuberant “You like me!” speech upon winning Best Actress for Places in the Heart.

1999 -- Roberto Benigni running on top of the theater seats to accept his Best Actor award for A Beautiful Life.

1992 – Seventy-three-year-old Jack Palance doing push-ups after being awarded the Best Supporting Oscar for City Slickers.

1964 – Winning Best Actor for Lilies of the Field, Sidney Poitier makes history as the first African-American male to receive an Oscar.

1989 – The dreadful, but great fun to watch, Snow White musical number with Rob Lowe (!).

1997 – Cuba Gooding Jr.’s enthusiastic “I love everybody” acceptance speech after winning Best Supporting Actor for Jerry Maguire.

1973 – Sacheen Littlefeather condemning treatment of Native Americans while accepting Marlon Brando’s Best Actor Award for The Godfather.

Honorable Mention: Any of Billy Crystal’s movie parody songs from his eight previous Oscar-hosting gigs.

Always the eternal optimist, I’m expecting to see more memorable moments while watching this year’s Academy Awards® show.

(Photo: Cuba Gooding Jr.)