It’s not easy to put together the most prestigious awards ceremony in the entertainment industry. Several things can go wrong, and, over the years, they have. From the Will Smith slap controversy that dominated the 94th Academy Awards to the streaker incident in 1974 — which the John Cena skit paid homage to — there’s no telling which scandal will take over the headlines … and that’s before people start arguing about the musical numbers and the winners.
The 96th Oscars ceremony also had its share of belly-flops. The tiny text dump of the In Memoriam segment was a slap in the face to many dearly departed stars. The stuntperson tribute was total nonsense, as viewers criticized the Academy for not announcing a new category that recognizes this underappreciated profession. Still, even with such misses, the event provided so many amazing moments and great victories that fans have no problem considering it a success.
