We are the Champions

Mike and I started off the 8th Annual Academy Award Guessing Game® banter early.

He texted me 07:01.

Sorry - STARTED texting me at 07:01.

Mind you, I was a willing participant in the exchange, so it went on for a while - or seemingly did.

He was in the car with his husband and since the dog was asleep, I have a feeling he was just bored with Peter after a long weekend away, so I got the attention.

Mike pointed out a flaw in my selection post, of which I was kind of aware. In two areas I changed my mind before I ever posted, but duplicates were still highlighted. And while I made said changes, the edits did not take - nor would they after several tries. But to him, this has already cast a pall over the validity of the Guessing Game.

Mind you - if HE wins, there would be no issue.  Naturally.

Our selections were separated by seven categories - which might be a record number.  It is usually four. This, in theory, leaves us a bigger margin by which to win............or lose. The margin ended up remaining razor thin - unlike Mike.

Oh - I kid him. He's not the opposite of razor thin. He's "just right".  Like Goldilock's third choices.....well, when he had locks.   Ooops.  There, I go again.

While we are both winners in our own way - in terms of this contest, I AM the champion.

Not we.

I.

While there is no 'I' in 'team', there is an "I" in "I".  ...as in I won!  ....by one.

That seven spread, of which I spoke, meant nothing. It came down to best Score - fifth from the last category, and even then, the best Mike could have done was tied. Ironically, we both lost that category.

Mike gave me a hard time (I know, right?) about bailing before the end, but as the victor, I could kind of do whatever I frickin' wanted.  So come the spoils.  So yes, I missed the Glenn Close upset. Even in my forecast, I said Coleman should get it, but I didn't base my choices on sentiment, like I so often do.  I don't think it helped her case that Close came dressed AS an Oscar.

And riddle me this - is ANYONE more annoying or self-important in Hollywood (and that's saying something) than Samuel L Jackson?  And yes Bob, I'm including Gwinnie in that group.

And poor Maya Rudolph.  Helen Keller comes back to life just to be her stylist for a day.

As I told Mike - Maria von Trapp couldn't have repurposed those drapes into something wearable either.

Don't start me on Gaga. I don't get the fascination with that song, but I did find it interesting that she wore ear monitors to keep her on pitch, while Cooper did not. I think that says more about him than her.

And Midler. Her voice is fine - as she is 70+ now. But the dreadful saccharine song of zero substance was just well..........dreadful. I would have loved to see Gillian Welch win, but we all knew that wasn't going to happen.

But back to going to bed early. The Oscars were both boring and better than before. I loved no host and no stupid schlock bits that drag the show out.  ...and the horrible horrible "jokes".  Yet, the show was kind of boring too.  I'll take boring over dragged out.

As for my win: we agreed on a firm handshake and joining us for dinner next time we're in town - which could possibly be next month.  As he had to pay for nothing but his time, Mike readily agreed.

Sucker.



But for the auditors and Dewey, Cheatham & Howe - the breakdown is here:

Supporting Actress - both won
Documentary Full Length - both lost

Make Up/Hair - both won
Costumes - Mike
Production Design - both won

Cinematography - both won

Sound Editing - Blob
Sound Mixing - both won

Foreign Film - both won

Film Editing - Blob

Supporting Actor - both won

Animated Feature - both won

Animated Short - both won

Documentary Short - Mike 

Visual Effects - Blob

Live Action Short - both lost
Original Screenplay - both lost

Adapted Screenplay - both won

Score - both lost

Song - both won

Actor - both won

Actress - both lost

Director - both won

Picture - both lost

Song by: Queen