'Oppenheimer' dominates at the 2024 Oscars

Jimmy Kimmel and the biggest movie of last year.

The later night talk show host kicked off his hosting appearing in a scene from "Barbie" which won both the box office and the hearts of moviegoers.

He also paid tribute to the film's director, Greta Gerwig, who made headlines when she wasn't nominated in the best director category.

Kimmel reminded those in the audience that they were the ones responsible for that.

He also teased many others in the audience including Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, Christopher Nolan, Robert Downey Jr., Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Bradley Cooper and even the dog Messi, who is one of the stars of "Anatomy of a Fall."

He also received all the love from the audience.

Kimmel pointed out that while the show began an hour earlier this year, folks can't count on it not ending late. "In fact, we are already 5 minutes over and I am not joking."

He got plenty of laughs in his opener as he weaved in everything from the actors' and writers' strikes to the abundance of award-nominating worthy projects.

He even brought out a group of people who represented those behind the scenes like the Teamsters and others who stood beside the strikers. He encouraged them to "Take a bow" and vowed to stand with them should they strike.

The 96th Academy Awards will take place Sunday and while the gowns and the guests will be beautiful, we’ll be watching to get in our feelings with moving acceptance speeches.

Honestly, the crazier or more emotional, the better.

Let’s look back at some of the more unforgettable Oscars speeches from ceremonies in recent decades.

Roberto Benigni, “Life is Beautiful” (1999): When the director and actor won the Oscar for best foreign language film in 1999, he jumped up, walked over neighboring chairs, clutched Steven Spielberg’s hand along his path, then, quite literally, bounced his way to the stage to yell:

Rewatching video of the moment is an instant mood boost.

Leonardo DiCaprio, “The Revenant” (2016): DiCaprio used his moment in the spotlight to urge people to work together to address the threat of climate change.

Lupita Nyong’o, “12 Years a Slave” (2014): There were few dry eyes in the audience when Nyong’o won for her performance in the drama “12 Years a Slave.” Her poignant speech concluded with a powerful message.

Annette Bening is meeting the moment.

The acclaimed actor is currently in the midst of her fifth campaign for an Oscar statuette, this time for her intense and very physical performance in “Nyad,” based on the life of legendary and determined swimmer Diana Nyad.

Bening isn’t, however, considered the favorite to win this year. When asked during a recent interview with CNN about whether she’s as mad about that fact as some of her supporters are, she laughed heartily.

Bening maintains that when it comes to the entertainment business, “you have to have a sense of humor about it.”

“One of the good things about this moment for me is that I can look back at 34 years ago when I first went to the Oscars and what that was like, and compare it to this time, so it does give me a certain perspective that allows me to just go with the flow,” she said. “I don’t really worry. I just am appreciative.”

Bening is referring to her first Academy Award-nominated role in 1990’s “The Grifters,” the Stephen Frears-directed crime drama in which she starred opposite John Cusack and Anjelica Huston. It was one of her first film roles, but Bening stole the spotlight and was soon landing lead roles, like in “Bugsy” (opposite her future husband Warren Beatty) and “The American President.”

Actress and singer Hailee Steinfeld has arrived on the red carpet, looking ethereal in a sea foam green Elie Saab Couture gown with golden floral embellishments on the bust and wrists, and a trailing floor-length neck sash.

As a teen, Steinfeld was nominated for the best supporting actress Oscar for her role in 2011's "True Grit."

Steinfeld's is one of a number of looks on the red carpet channeling mermaid chic, including Anya Taylor-Joy’s Dior Haute Couture dress (inspired by Botticelli’s "Birth of Venus," the actor explained) and Emma Stone’s shell-inspired custom Louis Vuitton gown with a flared peplum waist.

It’s been over a century since theater mogul Sid Grauman introduced the concept of the Hollywood red carpet at the 1922 premiere of “Robin Hood.” Ever since, the Tinseltown tradition has seen stars attend film premieres, festivals and award ceremonies bedecked in couture, debuting new looks or new relationships (or, perhaps, subtly hinting at a breakup) with photographers capturing their every move.

These behind-the-lens creatives are a crucial link between celebrity and civilian; their work serving as an arbiter of trends and beauty and aspiration in the moment, as well as visual time capsules for years to come. Photographer Chelsea Lauren has documented the red carpet scene for the photo agency Shutterstock for nearly a decade.

Every year, from January to April, Lauren shoots most of the major awards ceremonies — the Golden Globes, Emmys, Grammys, alongside other industry events like the Costume Design Guild Awards and Independent Spirit Awards. It’s a hectic time.

Billed as the celebrity event of the year, with its 900-foot-long red carpet that sweeps down Hollywood Boulevard and into the Dolby Theatre, the Oscars are on another level.

There’s a hierarchy to the arrivals — non-famous attendees take a less central route down the red carpet, while the biggest stars arrive last. But Lauren admits it can be overwhelming, even for some of the seasoned celebrities in attendance. It’s noisy — photographers vie for the attention of stars by calling out their names — and despite a sea of professional lights, camera flashes go off all around as live TV cameras roll.

Read the full story here.

Dozens of protesters gathered blocks from the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and were chanting Free Palestine!” ahead of the Oscars on Sunday.

Los Angeles Police Department officers blocked off the roads as demonstrators carrying Palestinian flags and various signs walked along Sunset Boulevard between Vine Street and Ivar Avenue.

The LAPD issued a dispersal order in the area for unlawful assembly, the agency said on X Sunday afternoon. It advised people to stay away from the area.

Ryan Gosling isn’t just Ken, he’s also now officially a celebrated singer.

It was announced last month that the “Barbie” star will perform the movie’s hit song “I’m Just Ken,” along with collaborator Mark Ronson at today's Academy Awards ceremony.

Producers of the Oscars appear to be leaning to star power at this year’s show.

“I’m Just Ken” is up for best original song as Gosling is competing in the best supporting actor category.

And it’s not the only “Barbie” song up for the sought-after award.

“What Was I Made For?” from the soundtrack is also nominated and will be performed by Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas O’Connell. The song recently snagged a Grammy for song of the year.

Jon Batiste is set to perform “It Never Went Away” from the film “American Symphony,” while Becky G will hit the stage with “The Fire Inside” from “Flamin’ Hot.”

Scott George and the Osage Singers are set to perform “Wahzhazhe (A Song For My People)” from “Killers of the Flower Moon.”

In a night of muted tones (so far), America Ferrera wowed in a slinky, shimmering pink gown, courtesy of Versace.

Per E! News, stylist Karla Welch said the luxury house cycled through 10 different types of chainmail to arrive at the final look.

“Barbie” has provided a wealth of inspiration for cast members’ red-carpet looks during the year, from Margot Robbie’s literal adaptations of famous Barbie dolls to Ryan Gosling’s Kenergy-infused suits.

Tonight, Ferrera hopes to take home the award for best supporting actress for her role as mom Gloria in the blockbuster hit, which would be a historic win — only two other Latina actors have won in the category with Mercedes Ruehl in 1991 and Ariana DeBose in 2021.

Oscars host Jimmy Kimmel is not planning to devote much time to on Sunday is politics. However, it all depends on the news cycle. 

That likely means no jokes about former President Donald Trump, though Kimmel has had a lot to say about the presumptive Republican presidential nominee on his late-night show in the past.

Kimmel said that he’s prepared for how another Trump administration would impact late-night television, but he’s “more worried about the country than my monologues.”

“I just cannot believe that anyone thinks it would be a good idea to put him back in the White House,” Kimmel said.

Despite his strong opinions about Trump, Kimmel told CNN he’d like to have a conversation with him on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” “I would absolutely have him on the show,” Kimmel said. “I do think there are a lot of questions I would like to ask him, and I would like to get actual answers. I think most of the interviews that he does don’t require those.”

Watch his response in the clip below: