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LOS ANGELES – Steven Spielberg doesn’t want to curse the Oscars.
Early Saturday morning, the legendary filmmaker took the Dolby Theater stage wearing sneakers and a crochet scarf to rehearse for Sunday’s broadcast. He read aloud the nominees for his assigned category, but graciously declined to name a “winner” for the sake of the summary.
“No, that would be bad luck!” Spielberg told a crew member, earning laughter from a small army of journalists who showed up to Saturday’s rehearsal armed with bagels and coffee.
Although the Academy has strict restrictions on what can be revealed before Sunday’s show, the mock gave a delightful glimpse of the stars at their most casual and unfiltered. Lupita Nyong’o paired her white beanie and matching sweatshirt with a pair of awards-ready heels, while Zendaya battled a sore throat as she took the stage in jeans and a floor-length emerald coat.
Introducing with his “Beetlejuice” co-star Catherine O’Hara, Michael Keaton stumbled over the script on his teleprompter and politely asked for it to be reversed. And America Ferrera, in pink Barbie shoes, dropped a lovely f-word and apologized to co-host Kate McKinnon after stepping on her line.
Ferrera and McKinnon were a burst of energy during the tack rehearsal, which focused primarily on testing lighting cues and camera angles for Hollywood’s biggest night. The “Barbie” stars waltzed arm in arm — laughing often, resting their heads on each other’s shoulders and fervently applauding the alternate “winners” as they took the stage to accept the Oscars.
The fake victors were often hilarious as they gave passionate mock speeches, thanking the usual suspects (mothers, wives, the Academy) as well as some of this year’s nominees. “Bradley Cooper, we never could have done this without you!” a person exclaimed breathlessly. “Bradley,” said another, “I’ll follow you wherever you go.”
Outside the theater, the Oscars red carpet looked decidedly less glamorous, filled with stairs, boxes and statues wrapped in plastic as film crews began to mark their territory. Photographers practiced taking pictures of tuxedo-clad lookalikes, all holding laminated signs with A-list names like Robert Downey Jr. and Willem Dafoe. And on Hollywood Boulevard, spectators stood on tiptoe and took photos through a chain-link fence, hoping to catch a glimpse of the cavernous carpet area, which is draped in cream-colored curtains.
Reporters were not allowed to watch rehearsals for this year’s musical performances, which will include Oscar-nominated songs by Billie Eilish (“What Was I Made For?”) and Jon Baptiste (“It Never Went Away”). But the Academy shared a behind-the-scenes photo of Ryan Gosling wearing sunglasses, while practicing the best original song nominee “I’m Just Ken” from “Barbie.” Is it just us or Can you feel the Kenergy??
