USA Today was all over the place at the 98th Academy Awards. What I missed on TV during the ceremony.
LOS ANGELES — At Sunday’s 98th Academy Awards, television viewers were treated to a spectacular selection of film adaptations.
One Battle After Another was a huge winner, winning six Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director for Paul Thomas Anderson. “Sinners” earned four wins, including Best Actor for Michael B. Jordan, whose acceptance speech soared to a rapturous standing ovation at the Dolby Theater.
However, the real drama was not broadcast on television.
USA TODAY takes a look at what you saw behind the scenes, including the backstage media room, the audience seats, and the Oscar bar, and what you missed on the ABC broadcast hosted by Conan O’Brien (currently streaming on Hulu).
Michael B. Jordan wins Best Picture Oscar for ‘Sinners’
Jordan fared well to win his first Oscar, overtaking previous strong contenders including Timothée Chalamet (“Marty Supreme”) and Leonardo DiCaprio (“One Battle After Another”). When Jordan stepped out of the Dolby Theater’s raucous audience into the backstage media room, normally jaded journalists gave him a thunderous standing ovation, prompting an elated Jordan to ask, “What’s going on?” Then hold your chest for a while.
Jordan said he felt “very blessed” with his win at “Sinners.”
“Hey, I feel great,” he said, looking at the Oscar statue.
Later, Jordan posted a tender photo on his Instagram Stories of his mother Donna proudly holding her son’s historic Oscar envelope.
But winning wasn’t everything. Earlier in the show, when Weapons veteran Amy Madigan won Best Supporting Actress, Jordan jumped out of her seat during a commercial break and hugged her Sinners co-star Wunmi Mosaku, who lost in the category.
Chalamet receives support from Elle Fanning and Adrien Brody
For every winner, there are four other losers in the Oscar category. That includes Chalamet, who won the Best Actor award. The aspiring actor fought hard for that honor during awards season. However, on Oscar night, Chalamet came under fire in O’Brien’s monologue for past comments about ballet and opera, ultimately falling short of Jordan. It was a long night.
Most of the audience stood up when Jordan’s name was announced, but Chalamet remained seated in the front row next to his date, Kylie Jenner, for nearly 10 seconds before slowly rising to his feet and applauding.
During the next commercial break, “Sentimental Value” star Elle Fanning rubbed Chalamet’s shoulder from the row behind him. Her boyfriend, Gus Wenner, also supported her. Last year’s winner, Adrien Brody, who presented the award, pulled Chalamet close for a long handshake before the ceremony resumed.
Chalamet and Jenner breezed through the ceremony in good spirits, exiting hand-in-hand and skipping the Governors Ball post-party and heading straight to the Vanity Fair party across town.
Jacob Elordi hangs out with ‘Frankenstein’ staff member’s mother Mia Goth at a bar
Jacob Elordi of “Frankenstein” lost the race for Best Supporting Actor to Sean Penn of “One Battle,” but Sean Penn did not appear at the Academy Awards ceremony and did not accept his third win. During a commercial break, Elordi quickly left the theater and headed to the lobby bar with her Oscar-era girlfriend, her mother Melissa, leaving a small group in the corner of the bar.
The pair were later joined by their Frankenstein co-stars, including Mia Goth (who perused the complimentary cocktail menu with Melissa), Felix Kammerer, who played Frankenstein’s brother William, and Mike Hill, who won an Oscar for Best Makeup. The group grew louder and happier throughout the night, even as Elordi drank what looked like ice water.
Stellan Skarsgard, who missed out on Best Supporting Actor for his acclaimed role in Sentimental Value, also greeted Elordi before seeking bar relief for himself.
“We parted the ocean and went to the bar,” Skarsgård said as he and his wife, Megan, pushed their way through the crowd.
Kate Hudson greatly fears missing out on Oscar moment with Goldie and Kurt
Kate Hudson joyfully exited the theater during the first commercial break, having an animated conversation with Emma Stone about their respective costumes. The “Son San Bleu” nominated star had cocktails with her parents Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, but Hudson suddenly realized at the lobby bar that she might miss out on the Best Actress win. Concerned, Hudson hurried to the director, who was wearing headphones, and asked about his schedule with a concerned look on his face. She was given good news to adjust her schedule.
“It’s okay,” Hudson shouted to his parents, relieved, before heading back to the bar. The family finished their drinks and slowly made their way back to the show.
Grogu becomes obsessed with Oscar’s quick exit.
One of the night’s cutest surprise guests, Grogu, aka Baby Yoda, didn’t stay in the theater long after appearing in the audience with his beloved Hudson. As soon as the show cut to commercial, a green doll was carried out of the theater on a red cushion. Grogu did not appear at Governor’s Ball.
Paul Thomas Anderson faces ‘situation room’ after winning Best Picture
“One Battle” creator Paul Thomas Anderson, who won three Oscars as a writer, producer and director, was impressed by the international journalists gathered backstage. “This is cool. This is like a situation room,” said the first-time winner.
Anderson wasn’t too keen on getting into behind-the-scenes politics when asked about global climate.
“I thought we were supposed to have a party,” he said, adding: “We don’t know where it’s going to go, but we do know that at the end of our movie, our hero Willa will continue to fight the forces of evil.”
Thomas, who has two Oscars under his belt, added that he hopes “common sense and decency will return to fashion.”
“KPop Demon Hunters” songwriters finished their acceptance speech backstage
One of the most controversial moments of the TV broadcast was when the winner of the Best Original Song award (“Golden” by “KPop Demon Hunters”) had his group’s acceptance speech cut off on stage.
In the media room they had to finish their speeches.
Yu Han Lee called the victory an “incredible honor” and thanked his family. Mark Sonnenblick also thanked his family, husband, and “everyone who worked on this film.”
