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HeadlinesIt's Oscar® Night in Hollywood!
Airdate : 2/23/2009The biggest and brightest stars in the world lit up the red carpet for a night of glitz and glamour on Sunday, February 22, 2009.
Hollywood royals Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie reigned over the star-studded crowd. INSIDE EDITION cameras captured the stunning couple getting a warm welcome from Pitt's Benjamin Button co-star Taraji Henson.
There was no awkward red carpet run in with Pitt's ex-wife Jennifer Aniston who skipped the arrival line, first appearing onstage as a presenter. The closest they came to sharing the screen was when the camera cutaway to Jolie laughing at one of Aniston's jokes. After presenting, a glowing Aniston took her seat next to boyfriend John Mayer, just 12 seats away from Pitt and Jolie.
Outside the theater, the scene was celebrity gridlock.
The lovely ladies of Doubt, who were all nominated, posed together for a group photo. Two-time Oscar® award winner Meryl Streep told INSIDE EDITION the butterflies never go away. "No, there's so much hoopla," said Streep, who was nominated for the fifteenth time for her leading role in Doubt. Her adorable co-star from the film, Amy Adams was basking in her Oscar® moment. "I'm just awed to be here."
Robert Downey Jr. seemed to be feeling no pressure about his nomination. "I just get to sit and watch," he said. "I'm here to be entertained."
In so many ways, this year's Cinderella story was Slumdog Millionaire.
Slumdog star Freida Pinto talked with INSIDE EDITION's Jim Moret on the red carpet. "Nothing has sunk in yet! There is no time."
Slumdog's breakout stars were clearly having a blast, finding time for horseplay in between interviews. They couldn't help but be star struck by the famous faces surrounding them. "We are both big fans of Seal," said one of the film's stars. "We shook hands with him...we shook hands with Brad and Angelina Jolie so I'm not going to wash these babies," continued the actor, standing beside an equally excited Dev Patel.
Surely destined for more great work in the future, the radiant Freida Pinto explained what makes this awards show especially magical. "I think tonight is going to be really special because the kids are here and we are all together," she says, talking about some of the young stars who portrayed she and co-star Dev Patel's younger selves in the film, and some other Mumbai children.
It was those smaller stars of Slumdog who truly stole the spotlight. The excited group of youngsters was thrilled to be in Los Angeles. For many the idea of attending the Oscar® ceremony was simply a dream come true. "Still hasn't sunk in," said one child. "[My] first awards ceremony and it's the Oscars®!"
It's hard to believe that just a few days ago the adorable adolescents were living in extreme poverty in the slums of Mumbai, India. Now they've gone Hollywood and for some traveled on their very first airplane! The newcomers shared a special moment with Best Actress nominee Anne Hathaway who signed autographs and chatted with the group.
After a quick wardrobe change Hathaway hit a musical high note, performing with host Hugh Jackman in the show's opening number.
Jackman also performed a duet with a super sexy Beyoncé sporting red sequins, who paid tribute to Hollywood musicals.
When funnyman Ben Stiller stepped on stage to present with a stunning Natalie Portman the audience was in stitches. Stiller applied a shaggy beard to deliver his spoof of Joaquin Phoenix's bizarre appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman complete with gum-chewing.
One Oscar® attendee had a very special connection to INSIDE EDITION. David Frost was the show's very first anchor. His historic interview with Richard Nixon was the subject of the Best Picture nominee Frost/Nixon.
Watching the movie, Frost says, "It was like reliving the interview again...seeing yourself on screen is like an out of body experience in a way, but a fascinating one as well."
It was a bittersweet moment for the family of the late Heath Ledger. His father Kim, mother Sally and sister Kate traveled from their homes in Perth, Australia to accept his Best Supporting Actor Oscar®. Their speech left many in the crowd in tears.
"We really wish you were [here], but we proudly accept this award on behalf of your beautiful [daughter] Matilda,'' Ledger's older sister Kate said.
The 2008 Oscars® telecast had the lowest ratings ever so this year producers kept just about everything including the names of most presenters a secret in hopes of enticing more viewers to watch.
Previous Oscar® winners took to the stage in groups of five to hand out the night's biggest awards.
From the podium, Kate Winslet scanned the audience in hopes of finding her father. The star, who took home her first Oscar® after six nominations, asked her proud papa to whistle so she could at last spot him in the sea of faces. With one arm raised in triumph, Winslet and her father Roger shared a brief moment before the Best Actress winner continued her teary acceptance speech.
The night belonged to Slumdog Millionaire. The little movie that could took home eight Oscars® including the biggest award of the night, Best Picture.
According to one of the film's stars, Dev Patel, the movie teaches children everywhere to "keep dreaming. Pursue your dreams no matter what…no matter what class you are or where you come from."
Take a look at memorable Grammy® moments through the years.
