LOS ANGELES — Emma Stone wasn't the only one crying in the lobby of the Dolby Theater.
The first time I got choked up on Oscar Sunday was 2:27 p.m. This was my first time covering the awards in person, and he traveled four blocks from his hotel for an hour before finally arriving inside the theater. There's nothing more depressing than roadblocks on Hollywood's biggest night.
After several sweaty selfie attempts on the red carpet, I finally managed to get a half-decent photo of the tuxedo. I immediately sent the photo to my dad, who helped me choose the photo this past weekend at Tuxedo World in Wyckoff, New Jersey (I learned that in 2019, the team “Green Book” (It was the same store where I got my Oscar costume).
I'm known for sobbing over everything, and I'm still amazed that just sending an email to my dad made me so emotional. Like all of my wonderful colleagues, I have loved the Oscars all my life. Growing up in Post Falls, Idaho, I used to go to this show every year with my girlfriend's sister and mom, and her mom always said, “Someday, let's get tickets and go with her family.” I was there. As a teenager, I threw Oscar parties with themed food and drinks and made a checklist of all the nominated movies I hadn't seen yet.
Three years ago, my boyfriend and I started an award season fantasy league with some friends. Friends gather in their living rooms every November for a tense pizza-fueled “Draft Day.” (Margot Robbie and Ludwig Göransson were two of the biggest point getters for me this season.)
It's safe to say that going to the Oscars was a lifelong dream. When he took his seat on the main floor of the Dolby, he couldn't stop crying. They returned for the first 15 minutes of the show, as Da'Vine Joy Randolph won Best Supporting Actress for her beautiful performance in “The Holdovers.” And then there I was, buzzing out of the Governors Ball afterparty, phone off, chocolate statue in hand, wondering if I'd ever be able to come back.
If you're asking yourself, “Did this guy really have fun?”, the answer is, of course, “yes.” I'll never forget being there to watch Ryan Gosling's explosive, jubilant performance of “I'm Just Ken.” It felt equal parts rock concert and A-list karaoke. (We met, Emma Stone.) As someone who fell in love with Bacao Rhythm’s “PIMP” after watching “Anatomy of a Fall” – I have the Spotify-wrapped receipt to prove it – Directed by Justin Torrier I was excited to hear the song blaring from the speakers while I took the stage to accept the best original script.
And I'll always remember the mysterious woman who smiled and cried in Ariana Grande's arms during a commercial break, so grande politely wiped the tears from her face. (Who are you? What do you think about the “Wicked” trailer?)
In the nearly 11 years I've covered entertainment for USA TODAY, I've heard a lot about what it's like to attend the Oscars. However, sitting towards the back, I was mildly shocked to find that we spent almost the entire television broadcast with empty seats, as everyone flocked to the bar during the first commercial break and never returned. I ended up spending too much time thinking about who was going to decide which candy to put under the seat. (Swedish fish with milk? Really?) And I happily texted my partner about how efficient his process was for scanning tickets since she's 31 and he's already 61. I did. (Just like the show itself, these lines also moved!)
By now, you're probably getting cavities from all this slimy seriousness. me too. But there are some moments in life that are so special that you can't help but cringe a little. If there was an Oscar for honesty, I'd just get an “Oppenheimer” level sweep.
If I have one regret, it's that I didn't get to meet my dog Messi. Maybe next year.