Overheard during the 77th annual Academy Awards presentations at Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre:
“They like to say there’s over 100 stars out tonight. No there’s not. There’s only four real stars. The rest are just popular people. Clint Eastwood is a star. That’s a star. … Tobey Maguire is just a boy in tights.” – Oscar host Chris Rock in his opening monologue.
“I want to thank everybody and anybody who ever had anything at all to do with the making of this picture. But I especially want to thank Clint Eastwood for giving me the opportunity to work with him again.” – Million Dollar Baby supporting actor winner Morgan Freeman, who previously co-starred in Eastwood’s Unforgiven.
“It was so much love that was hidden underneath the bottom of the earth in America and all over the world for Ray Charles. We cracked it open with this movie and now it’s spilling out everywhere.” – Jamie Foxx, who played Ray Charles in “Ray,” as he walked into the Kodak Theatre.
“It’s a great night tonight. We have four black nominees tonight. It’s kinda like Def Oscar Jam tonight.” – Chris Rock.
“Thank you to the Academy who know Katherine Hepburn so well and are so intimately acquainted with her work. This is an indescribable surprise.” - Supporting actress winner Cate Blanchett, for The Aviator.
“I’m an environmentalist for life.” – Leonardo DiCaprio, who was among a cadre of celebrities who shunned stretch limousines and rode to the Oscars in fuel-efficient vehicles as part of the “Red Carpet-Green Cars” campaign.
“If he hires you, he hires you because he feels like you know what to do. And he’s very, very largely out of the way. He directs the picture; you do the acting. I love that, and I think that most of the people that he works with love that. I think that’s why he gets what he gets.” – Oscar-winner Morgan Freeman on Million Dollar Baby director Clint Eastwood.
“They tell me now that SpongeBob is gay. SquarePants is not gay. Tight pants maybe. SpongeBob Hot Pants? You go, girl!” – Presenter Robin Williams, mocking those who connect cartoon characters with pro-gay messages, before presenting the best animated feature Oscar.