In our flashback episode devoted to the 2003 Oscars, my Little Gold Males cohosts and I marveled at simply what number of montages had been included in that broadcast—from a tribute to the spirit of America (this was, after all of the daybreak of the Iraq Battle) to a montage of previous Academy presidents talking on the Oscars (actually!!). The period of indulgent, sweeping awards-show montages has appeared firmly over for some time now, as ABC continues its push to tighten up the Oscar ceremony and different awards reveals wrestle for any sort of scores foothold in any respect.
However then, on Sunday night time, one thing fantastic occurred: the SAG Awards aired on Netflix’s YouTube channel, industrial and censor-free. In idea, they didn’t even have to take industrial breaks. However as a courtesy to the individuals within the room who wanted to zip to the toilet or the bar, the published took some pauses and stuffed them with…montages. Wonderful montages of SAG Awards previous, from memorable speeches stretching again to the ’90s to “I am an actor” intros that featured such a curious quantity of now broken-up celeb {couples} (Amy Poehler and Will Arnett, Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux) that you simply wished to applaud the editor.
The SAG Awards have solely been round since 1995, so there’s not that a lot historical past to attract on. However even in that restricted time span, the nostalgia was palpable. James Gandolfini onstage alongside his Sopranos castmates. Sarah Jessica Parker, early on within the Intercourse and the Metropolis run, beaming within the viewers. Betty White admiring (and possibly additionally ogling) her statuette, Sean Hayes going for an elaborate cosmetic surgery visible gag, Queen Latifah declaring on to digital camera “I AM sufficient”…appropriately for an awards present hosted by and devoted to actors, the SAG Awards have had robust star energy because the very starting.
Since they took the place of what would often be industrial breaks, the montages didn’t decelerate the tempo of the present, which got here in simply over its supposed two-hour run (a.ok.a. a lot, a lot shorter than even the briefest Oscar telecast). However additionally they added to what felt like an total relaxed, celebratory temper, which our colleagues who attended the present say carried over into the room as nicely. For as soon as, free of the strain of advert breaks and having to wrap in time for the 11 o’clock information, an awards present felt prefer it was really having fun with itself, leaving time to have fun the previous in addition to the current.
Nothing summed that temper up higher than James Hong on the shut of the present, talking on behalf of his All the things All over the place All at As soon as castmates and on his lengthy Hollywood profession. He wasn’t in any of these previous SAG montages, however his handle completely captured the spirit of the present: Appearing careers may be lengthy and tumultuous, however so rewarding when every part goes proper.
The SAG Awards will air on Netflix correct subsequent 12 months, and can presumably keep commercial-free. Will different main awards reveals observe their lead? The Golden Globes are on the lookout for a brand new dwelling, however the Critics Selection Awards stay dedicated to the CW, the place the published drew file low numbers this 12 months. The large query, in fact, is the Oscars, which have a contract with ABC that lasts till 2028. By then, it’s straightforward to think about the entire different awards reveals having jumped to streaming, and hopefully stretching the liberty of commercial-free ceremonies.
Will the Oscars ever do the identical, after which permit themselves to convey again a number of the indulgent, nostalgic montages so many people love? It’s felt like an excessive amount of to hope for in recent times. However Sunday’s SAG Awards might have simply proven the remainder of the awards-show business how a lot potential lies forward.
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