8 Things to Look Forward to at the 2019 Oscars
The 2019 Oscars are set to take place on Sunday, February 24, and while much of the conversation so far has been about the hosting controversy, there are many other reasons to tune in to Hollywood's biggest night. From an opportunity for innovation to anticipated on-stage reunions and, of course, seeing all of your favorite celebs in one place, here are eight things to look forward to at the 2019 Oscars. (Photos via Christopher Polk/Getty Images + Clay Enos/Warner Bros. Entertainment + Paul Drinkwater/NBC)
An Unconventional Approach: Although this won't be the first time the Oscars have been hostless, it will be the first time in 30 years that no one person is anchoring the direction and tone of the show. And that's not necessarily a bad thing. Without a host, the Academy has a chance to change the way the sometimes-stuffy, hours-long telecast unfolds, giving presenters — of which there are many — more leeway and potentially introducing a fresh new format. (Photo via Christopher Polk/Getty Images)
History in the Making: This year's Oscar nominees contained a multitude of remarkable milestones, from firsts to ties, and there's a chance we could see even more historic moments on February 24. Notably, Black Panther could be the first superhero film to win Best Picture (it's a long-shot, but still); Roma actress Yalitza Aparicio could become the first Indigenous woman ever to win the Best Actress Oscar; and revered director Spike Lee could pick up his first-ever Best Director award. (Photo via Matt Kennedy/Marvel Studios)
The Possibility of a Tina Fey and Amy Poehler Reunion: Fey and Poehler had a glorious three-year run hosting the Golden Globes from 2013 to 2015, and with both women slated to present at this year's Oscars, there's a chance they could reunite and bring us more of that sweet, sweet sass. (Photo via Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Spike TV)
A Diverse and Inclusive Telecast: Despite many of the top acting categories still lacking in diversity, this year's Oscars nominations do contain a wider array of stories and voices, including Alfonso Cuarón's foreign film Roma, which led the noms with 10 (tied with The Favourite). Additionally, GLAAD celebrated the fact that the 2019 Oscar race is the most LGBTQ+ inclusive in history, with five of the eight Best Picture nominees — A Star Is Born, Green Book, The Favourite, Vice, and Bohemian Rhapsody — telling queer stories and/or featuring queer characters. (Photo via Carlos Somonte/Netflix)
Ally and Jackson Maine, and More Musical Performances: The Best Original Song nominees typically get to perform during the telecast, and this year, that includes Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper reuniting for a highly anticipated rendition of their A Star Is Born hit, "Shallow." Other performances that have been confirmed so far include Jennifer Hudson performing "I'll Fight," from RBG; Gillian Welch and David Rawlings singing "When a Cowboy Trades His Spurs for Wings," from The Ballad of Buster Scruggs; and Bette Midler performing "The Place Where Lost Things Go," from Mary Poppins Returns. (Photo via Clay Enos/Warner Bros. Entertainment)
Memorable Speeches: It remains to be seen whether any speech this year will top Frances McDormand's "inclusion rider" acceptance speech from last year's Oscars, but given that 2019 nominee Glenn Close already wowed viewers with her Best Actress acceptance speech at the Golden Globes, we'd bet that there are some inspiring words to come at the Oscars. (Photo via Paul Drinkwater/NBC)
Meme-able Moments: Even with the upscale and serious nature of Hollywood's biggest night, there are bound to be a few viral moments. Case in point? Last year, Jennifer Garner's "realization" face took Twitter by storm, even earning a shout-out from the star herself. And who can forget Fiji Water Girl from this year's Golden Globes? We'll be on the lookout for those unexpected moments on the red carpet and during the ceremony. (Photo via Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for FIJI Water)
Red Carpet Arrivals: Stars go all out for the Oscars red carpet, making for a few hours of entertainment before the actual show even starts. Besides the fashion, the arrivals also provide plenty of adorable moments for Hollywood's cutest couples, which we're always 100 percent here for. (Photo via Christopher Polk/Getty Images)
