Entertainment NOW

TV Media Weekly | February 27 - March 4, 2016 sure to include some digs direct- ly related to the controversy. "As things got a little provoca- tive and excited, he said: 'I'm throwing out the show I wrote and I'm writing a new show,'" Hudlin said. "Chris is that thorough. He's that brilliant, and I have 1,000 per- cent confidence that he will deliv- er something that people will be talking about for weeks." Rock's longtime collaborator Ali LeRoi confirms that a comedian like Rock is the best possible choice to host amidst the negative feel- ings surrounding the ceremony. "If this was [last year's host] Neil Patrick Harris, it would be two minutes of 'Oscars-are-so- white jokes," he said in an NPR interview. "But everyone's go- ing: 'Oh my god, it's Chris Rock. What's he gonna do?'" Of course, there are just as many in the acting community — black and white — that staunchly defend the academy and its choic- es. In any case, the controversy has helped bring about some much-needed changes in the academy's membership, which is notoriously old, white and male. A week after the nominations, the governing board unanimously voted to double female and minor- ity members by 2020, allowing for better representation among those voting in the nominees. Further- more, the previously lifelong voting status has been changed to 10 years, to be renewed only if the member has remained active in the industry during that time. By Jacqueline Spendlove TV Media I t's a long, long night that seems to get longer every year, but awards-show junk- ies care not a whit for that. On the contrary, millions are excited — or at the very least, willing — to settle in for the Super Bowl of awards season as the crème de la crème of the acting world swarm into Hollywood's Dolby Theatre to honor the best films of 2015. Amidst controversy, cries for boy- cotting and some significant changes on the horizon, the 88th Annual Academy Awards airs Sunday, Feb. 28, on ABC. In 1940, at the 12th Academy Awards, Hattie McDaniel won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her iconic perfor- mance as Mammy in Best Pic- ture recipient "Gone With the Wind" (1939). This marked the first time a black actor or actress received the award. Including McDaniel, only 14 black actors have won acting Oscars in the ceremony's 88- year history. There's no chance of that number going up this year, either, since, like last year, all 20 actors in the lead and supporting acting categories are white. You can't talk about this year's Academy Awards without addressing the controversy — and the trending Twitter hashtag #OscarSoWhite — that this lack of diversity has sparked. Indeed, it's fast becoming a major focus of the Oscars during the lead-up to the ceremony. Adding fuel to the fire are the announcements from numerous stars decrying the "whiteout," with some de- claring their intent to boycott the awards all together. "Malcolm X" (1992) writer and honorary recipient Spike Lee wrote on Instagram that he and his wife "cannot support" the Os- cars and therefore would not be attending, while Will Smith ("Men in Black," 1997) and wife Jada Pinkett Smith ("Collateral," 2004) both separately announced their intention to boycott the event. Hosting the Oscars for the second time is audacious come- dian Chris Rock ("Grown Ups," 2010), whose comedy is general- ly peppered with race-related material. Rock was invited to host long before the nomina- tions spawned outrage, and while some have called for him to step down in support of the boycott, Rock is taking a differ- ent tack. Oscars producer Regi- nald Hudlin revealed to "Enter- tainment Tonight" that the co- median's original completed monolog has been scrapped, and the rewritten material is Chris Rock is set to host the 88th Annual Academy Awards The show must go on The Oscars draw Hollywood's best and brightest amid controversy 2 | Cover story Tipton Ford 3 x 10" A/Grindstone Charlie's B/Norris Insurance 1 x 4" 455-2700 3833 S. LaFountain • Kokomo, IN 46902 www.norrisinsurance.com • Home • Auto • Business • Life Call for a FREE Quote! Serving You For Over 50 Years Bill Neher BROUGHT TO YOU BY: Our editorial staff will inform readers about warning signs, how to stop stressing, knowing family history, and women & heart disease for themselves and their loved ones with articles publishing February 5, 14, 16 and 21. February is American Heart Health month During the month of February, Americans see the human heart as the symbol of love. February is American Heart Month, a time to show ourselves the love.

• Cover