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Yes, the Oscars are about the actual awards handed out Sunday, but they are also about the spectacle on display. Here's what you should definitely be anticipating.
This year's Oscar ceremony—which is being streamed—is bound to be less controversial than last year's. For one, the host is Ellen DeGeneres, a pretty universally appealing star, as opposed to Seth MacFarlane, who delivered on the promise of offense, primarily with his gross "We Saw Your Boobs" number. Surely there are some ways the ceremony will breed haters, but it likely won't be Ellen's fault.
So what can you look for? We explore.
Mom-Dancing
Ellen is the host here so, naturally, there will be mom dancing. Ellen's persona is now invariably associated with mom dancing. She even mom danced in an Oscars promo. The only way there could have been more mom dancing at this ceremony is if Emma Thompson had gotten a nomination. Hence, we fully expect an opening number in which Ellen mom-dances down the aisles of the Dolby.
Jokes about avoiding 12 Years a Slave jokes
No one can make a really good joke about 12 Years a Slave. And that's fine! It's a movie about slavery! We shouldn't joke about it! But that means that there will be jokes about not being able to make 12 Years a Slave jokes in its place.