Oscar winners will deliver multiple speeches

Posted Tuesday, February 16, 2010 at 4:07 PM Central

by John Couture

If you're a fan of the over the top acceptance speeches that usually grind the Academy Awards ceremony to a halt and cause it to be the bane of DVR users everywhere, then this year's show is for you.

Not only are there double the number Best Picture nominees than usual, but this year there will be double the acceptance speeches too. According to Reuters, producers of the awards show asked nominees at the annual nominee lunch yesterday to prepare not one but two acceptance speeches.

But fret not, this plan (believe it or not) is meant to make the ceremony more streamlined. They are asking nominees to prepare two speeches, one that will be delivered on stage immediately following their win expressing what it means to them to win the award. Then, the second speech will be presented backstage into something they are calling the "thank you cam" where they can be sure to thank the first grade acting teacher that got their career started and the guy they roomed with Freshman year at school who was so annoying that they dedicated all of their free time to their craft.

Of course, this is only a suggestion and as I'm sure many of the directors in tinsel town will tell you, not all of Hollywood's finest are the best at taking direction.

So, it's definitely an interesting idea, but I, for one, enjoy those spur of the moment impromptu speeches. The "you really like me" by Sally Field type of speeches that create lasting memories for decades. What do you think about this new policy?

Either way, I still think that we'll hear more orchestral flares as the winners encroach upon their 45 second "limit."