LOS ANGELES ‒ It was clear the Oscars were going to be an “Anora” celebration on Sunday night when its raucous contingent of Russian actors ‒ including Yura Borisov (nominated for best supporting actor) and newcomer Mark Eydelshteyn ‒ rolled up to the main bar in the Dolby Theatre lobby and made one drink request: “Vodka!”
An hour later, the indie sensation movie about a Brooklyn sex worker’s disastrous whirlwind marriage to a Russian oligarch became the undisputed ruler of the 97th Academy Awards with five big wins ‒ including best movie, best actress (Mikey Madison), and best director (Sean Baker).
USA TODAY was in the Oscars audience and in the lobby (where “Nosferatu” star Willem Dafoe charged his iPhone between awards). We were at the star-filled Dolby bar and in the backstage media room. Here are the celebrations you didn’t see on TV at the awards show hosted by Conan O’Brien (now streaming on Hulu).
Host Conan O’Brien wanted to give everyone a gummy, Disney said ‘hard pass’
O’Brien gave everything to the Oscars. The first-time host was a major hit in the auditorium ‒ irreverent and yet cutting on topics from the Kendrick Lamar-Drake beef to the best actress “Emilia Pérez” debacle
with Karla Sofía Gascón
. O’Brien also did his best to give out illicit gummies to the audience. The benevolent master of ceremonies left a care kit beneath each audience member’s seat for the nearly four-hour show. The sealed box included a Wetzel Pretzel, Milk Duds, and a fake handwritten note saying, “Enjoy these complimentary snacks. I tried my best to include a gummy, but Disney said that was a ‘hard pass.'” Nonetheless, it was still a great night.
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Announcer Nick Offerman swipes at Kevin Spacey… and MCU hero Hawkeye
Five minutes before the telecast even began, Nick Offerman started the comedic fireworks. The show’s deep-voiced announcer took the stage to remind winners not to thank their agents and publicists during their speeches. Instead, Offerman suggested they send drunk 4 a.m. texts saying that they’re finally willing to play an Avenger in the Marvel Comics Universe. “But a real Avenger, not Hawkeye,” Offerman deadpanned, earning gasps from the audience for his strike at Jeremy Renner’s superhero. “Yes, I said it,” he added. Offerman drew further groans when he instructed winners not to stop for long hugs on the way to the podium, “whether consensual or with Kevin Spacey.”
Gascón appears at the Oscars and steps out
After disappearing from the “Emilia Pérez”
awards campaign following the resurfacing of racist social media posts, best actress nominee Gascón dramatically reappeared at Sunday’s Oscar. The Spanish actress received a polite, subdued response in the auditorium. Gascón’s foray to the lobby bar was the evening’s most highly scrutinized moment. Followed by a throng of onlookers, the smiling actress conversed intently with “The Brutalist” star Adrien Brody, who had been leaning against the bar, enjoying a cocktail with girlfriend Georgina Chapman. Brody spoke close to Gascón’s ear so as not to be overheard. Gascón’s minder dismissed reporters, saying that the actress was having “a wonderful night, and now she is going to have a glass of champagne.” Gascón did indeed order a glass of champagne from the bartender before returning to the show.
Brody went on to win best actor.
Selena Gomez leaves the Oscars early but makes a firefighter’s night
Selena Gomez and fiancé Benny Blanco made an early exit, leaving the Dolby during the in-memoriam tribute. But on the way out the door, Gomez made the day of Los Angeles firefighter Jake Heflin by signing the adorably handmade autograph book made by the emergency responder’s 9-year-old stepdaughter. Heflin flagged down Gomez, who held up foot traffic to sign the important paper.
“She told me I had to get Ariana Grande or Selena Gomez,” Heflin told USA TODAY of his step-daughter. Mission accomplished.
Monica Barbaro will sprint for Oscar viewing
The key to visiting the Oscar lobby is to
not
be missing from the auditorium when a key award is given ‒
the fate of actress Emma Stone at Oscars 2024,
when the “Poor Things” star was memorably locked out of the auditorium when her film was feted. To avoid missing anything, the “A Complete Unknown” nominee Monica Barbaro sprinted from the theater to the restroom, holding up her Dior gown in both hands. Then she sprinted back.
“Wicked” actor Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers planned out their lobby visit, consulting with the earpiece-wearing show coordinator at the entrance before reentering. “‘Wicked’ is up for best cinematography; let’s go back for that,” Rogers said as the duo meandered to the theater.
Kieran Culkin can’t be serious about his Oscar
Kieran Culkin continued his quirky awards speech run with the night’s funniest Oscar speech seemingly born from his “Succession” mind. Holding aloft his best supporting actor trophy for “A Real Pain,” Culkin reminded his wife, Jazz, that she had promised to have a fourth child if he ever won an Oscar. Jazz was shown on TV laughing at the speech while nodding that her husband’s sentiments were true. The loved-up duo kept the laughs going in the lobby afterward. Culkin jokingly held his cocked head near his wife’s laughing belly as the duo gabbed with Emma Stone and husband Dave McCary.
Backstage, Culkin said he was too overwhelmed to answer the serious question of what he had learned from his character in the “Real Pain” drama. “Oh God, that’s too heavy,” Culkin said. “I’d like to think that I’m a little more together than that guy. I’d like to think that I’ve figured some stuff out. That’s my terrible answer to your otherwise excellent question.”
Mikey Madison reveals post-Oscars plans: Picking up dog poop
Many viewers in the lobby crowd monitoring the TV screens let out an audible gasp when 25-year-old Madison pulled out a dramatic best actress Oscar victory over “The Substance” star Demi Moore, 62, who had been enjoying her own Cinderella story in this awards season.
Backstage, Madison seemed at a loss for words as she adorably buried her head in her hands and lost track of a reporter’s question. “Sorry, my mind is all over the place,” Madison said. “My heart is about to explode right now.”
Madison promised that her new puppies at home outside of Los Angeles would end any glitzy post-award day-dreaming.
“I’ll come home to my new puppies and clean up their mess,” said Madison. “That will bring me right back down to earth.”
