Oscar producer calls Whoopi Goldberg’s omission an “absolute oversight”
by Winnie McCarthy
According to People magazine, Gil Cates, the producer of the Academy Awards telecast, feels “very, very badly” that Whoopi Goldberg was left out of a montage during this year’s ceremony which aired on Sunday.
He further stated that “No harm was intended. I’m going to call her and tell her that.” Gates also said that the montage was “80 exciting moments of the Academy Awards,” and not specifically a montage of hosts. He pointed out, as Whoopi stated on Monday’s episode of The View, that previous host Steve Martin was also not in the montage.
Cates added that Whoopi is “a formidable talent” and it was “an absolute oversight” to leave her out.
Academy Awards, Whoopi Goldberg, Gil Gates
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February 26th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
You remember last week when Elisabeth said I didn’t get to finish, and Whoopi said neither did I but I never said boo. I think Whoopi was the one crying “boo” this week.
I think Whoopi is great, broke some milestones for African-American women, but just because she was left out she shouldn’t have taken it so
personally. Like Barbara said yesterday, they did honor her in another video sequence during the program.
February 26th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
I watched the show and Whoopi didn’t bring up the subject. If that were me my feelings would have been hurt too. I was glad that the ladies had her back and touched by Whoopi’s response.
Gil Cates said it was, “80 exciting moments of the Academy Awards,” and not specifically a montage of hosts.” If that’s so then why did he make sure to say that Whoopi is “a formidable talent” and it was “an absolute oversight” to leave her out. Seems somebody is talking out both sides of his mouth.
February 26th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
She deserved the apology, even though there were other hosts left off. She did a good job as host and deserved recognition….not many women have held that job.
February 26th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
The way I see it, maybe it was more important to her to be acknowledged as a host than an Oscar winner?
This is my own personal logic though, I could be talking complete bull!
When the omission was brought up on the View yesterday, I thought she was just being juvenile, but then I rewatched the clip, and kinda had a change of heart, cos she does look genuinely upset.
I think she possibly sees it as the fact that her hosting duties made Oscar history, since she was the first
-woman
-African American
host ever. So yeah, it’s groundbreaking.
And she hosted four times, which is no small feat either.
And I also think it takes a lot of balls to host a huge gig like this; you’re under international scrutiny, you have an audience of, apparently, a billion (!), and it’s a marathon during which you have to be funny, not too risky, but a little, you gotta keep things flowing, be quick on your feet, it is big time pressure, and at the end of the day, there will always be a bunch of ppl to say you sucked.
So I guess maybe it’s just something she is really proud of. In retrospect, I guess I can understand her disappointment.
February 26th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
I agree, she deserved the apology.
For all the reasons stated above. I’m not so sure that I exactly buy the explanation either. Seems like the first Woman host, and African American woman at that, would have been a “big” memorable moment.
I think she’s happy with the apology.
February 27th, 2008 at 12:12 am
I so think she deserved the apology no doubt.. and I am deaming myself the authority on the subject
j/K but seriously folks… her hosting and awards on the show were certainly groud breaking if maybe you were sleeping.. but lord have mercy!!! Its Ok not to notice if thats not ur bag.. but it was news worthy.. and not to have a nod.. it only give creedence to Whoops legacy of ol time dis that today should be forgotten. The woman is a legend and deserves her props in the right place..
I’m just saying….
February 27th, 2008 at 8:22 am
Whoopi stayed so quiet and looked so offended and hurt when the ladies were asking why she was ‘left out’ of the montage, they are the ones who were making trouble, Whoopi said nothing but then said she must have pissed someone off. I didn’t think it was an intentional slight to begin with, she was in that really cool opening with all the famous scenes from some of the best movies of all times intertwined. Is that not enough recognition?
When Whoopi got up and kissed everyone and said ‘this makes up for it’ I felt bad for her, but IMO, I think Whoopi has some deep down issues with the fact that she is no longer making hit movies and is now a lowly talk show cohost. At least that’s the impression I think she gives off of her current gig. She doesn’t seem truly happy there.
February 27th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
I hope nobody takes this the wrong way bu it’s funny how the karma wheel turns.Ummm….wasn’t it just a few weeks ago when Whoopi (before going to a commercial break) pretended to be crying over Britney Spears woes? Does anyone remember that? She was basically trivializing the discussion about this young woman’s situation. To me, I thought this Oscar oversight was just that…AN OVERSIGHT! Trust me I’m not a fan of Britney and I’m sorry Whoopi is feeling low about this. I just wanted to say even though this is a completly different issue, sometimes things happen for whatever reason that makes you shrugg your shoulders about how life often comes back full circle.
February 27th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Tina, I think you’ve been reading my mind.
February 28th, 2008 at 7:57 am
BFD. I am sure there were dozens of other great performers/presenters who were not represented in this (one of too many) montage.
The Oscars should have been held a half hour earlier, the awards passed out with the silly musical numbers in between and then the ZZZzzzzzing montages shown afterwards. People need to go to sleep to go to work on Monday, unlike these pampered celebrities.
February 28th, 2008 at 8:46 am
Huckabee’s Huckster, what’s BFD?
February 28th, 2008 at 8:47 am
[...] that she spoke with Gil Cates, producer of the Academy Awards called her and apologized for the oversight of leaving her out of the montage. She accepted his [...]
February 29th, 2008 at 5:39 pm
BFD - Big F-ing Deal (You can fill in the blank as flipping or freaking if you want to be nice…)
February 29th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
For #10:
What I want to know is:
What does “Huckabee’s Huckster” mean? Does it stand for “Huckabee Is a Huckster”? Or does it mean you one of Huckabee’s Hucksters?