As with all Oscars “In Memoriam” segments to date, there was a heartfelt speech, melancholy music, a video montage, and… outrage at who was left out.
Some 55 entertainment figures who died in 2022 made Sunday night’s six-and-a-half-minute edit, from household names like Sidney Poitier, Olympia Dukakis, Betty White and Ivan Reitman to behind-the-scenes greats like super-agent Chris Huvane and the character actors Ned Beatty and Charles Grodin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngCHamNI-Eg
Tyler Perry kicked off the segment with a personal tribute to Poitier, who became the first black best actor in 1964’s Lilies of the Field.
“He was the first and for far too long the only black man to win an Oscar for Best Actor,” Perry said to the background strains of Sara McLachlan’s ubiquitous “I Will Remember You.” “I wouldn’t be here today without Sidney. We are all so blessed and honored to be so inspired by him. To you, sir, with all our love.”
Halyna Hutchins, the ‘Rust’ cinematographer who was killed earlier this year when a gun held by Alec Baldwin was fired on set, was also among the honorees – not all of whom the average Oscar viewer would necessarily recognize. And as always, a handful of them were left lying on the cutting room floor.
Perhaps most notable was Bob Saget, himself a Student Academy Award winner for his 1977 black-and-white documentary (and first acclaimed project) Through Adam’s Eyes. Saget, who was also a Grammy nominee for his 2013 comedy album That’s What I’m Talking About, was better known as a TV star (Full House, America’s Funniest Home Videos) but had 16 films acting credits (including the upcoming posthumous release Killing Daniel) and directed the 1998 comedy Dirty Work, starring Norm MacDonald.
Speaking of MacDonald, Saget’s close friend and fellow actor/comedian, who died in September last year, has also been removed from the list. The likes of Ed Asner, Louie Anderson, and writers Anne Rice (“Interview With the Vampire,” “Queen of the Damned”) and Joan Didion (“Play It As It Lays” and the 1976 version of “A Star Is Born”) .
But the biggest shock seemed to come from the omission of Saget, whose death in murky circumstances in January was freshly remembered during Sunday’s broadcast. Saget was found dead in his Florida hotel room; An autopsy revealed severe blunt force trauma to the head, the exact cause of which has not been clearly clarified, at least publicly. His death was ruled an accident.
“Uproar over Bob Saget not being in the In Memoriam portion of the #Oscars,” Emily Hall tweeted.
Uproar because Bob Saget wasn’t in the In Memoriam part of #Oscar
— Emily Hall (@emilyyyhall1) March 28, 2022
Cancel #Oscars for not mentioning Bob Saget in the memoriam
— Mike Mulia (@MikeMulia1) March 28, 2022
Mike Mulia wrote, “Swipe off the #Oscars for not mentioning Bob Saget in the memoriam.”
Some just thought they blinked at the mention of it — but they didn’t.
The truth is, no one would have taken the omission — or traded it down for a nasty, borderline inappropriate, self-deprecating joke — quite like Saget.
REST IN PEACE.