- Farrell set for 'challenge' of downing Bordeaux in Top 14
- Springbok Etzebeth diverts attention from looming caps record
- Inter on a high ahead of Milan derby as Napoli face Juve test
- Bank of Japan leaves key interest rate unchanged
- Asian markets track Wall Street record to extend global rally
- Guirassy and Anton to return to Stuttgart with new side Dortmund
- Marseille bidding to continue 'almost perfect' Ligue 1 start
- Arnold quits as coach of Australia men's football team
- Harris and Oprah hold star-studded US election rally
- Allies to remember failed WWII parachute operation
- Perez leading new-look Villarreal charge against leaders Barca
- Man City face Arsenal in Premier League title showdown, Postecoglou under pressure
- Fake celebrity endorsements, snubs plague US presidential race
- Documentary brings Argentine 'death flights' to the big screen
- Strike shows challenge to Boeing 'reset' of labor relations
- World leaders to gather at UN as crises grow and conflicts rage
- How plastic pollution poses challenge for Canada marine conservation
- Scientists track plastic waste in pristine Canada marine park
- South Africa's Buhai grabs LPGA Queen City lead
- Japan inflation firms to 2.8% ahead of BoJ rate decision
- Russia's Kadyrov accuses Musk of 'remotely disabling' his Cybertruck
- Titan sub had to abort a dive days before fatal implosion: testimony
- Ohtani eyes MLB history after surpassing 50 stolen bases
- Barca downed by Monaco as Arsenal held in Champions League stalemate
- Head's 'good night at office' after century seals win over England
- Dubois seeks legitimacy with Joshua scalp
- Rate cut could lift consumer spirits before US elections
- Last-gasp Gimenez strike sends Atletico past Leipzig
- Barca stumble at Monaco after early red card
- Raya heroics save Arsenal in Champions League opener at Atalanta
- Guardians beat Twins to secure MLB playoff berth
- Jihadist attack in Mali capital killed more than 70: security sources
- Alonso hails 'efficient' Leverkusen after Feyenoord rout
- Ex-Man United striker Anthony Martial joins AEK Athens
- NFL unbeatens meet as Texans visit Vikings, Steelers host Chargers
- Head's hundred seals Australia win over England in 1st ODI after Labuschagne strikes
- Dream debut for Wirtz as Leverkusen thump dire Feyenoord
- Myanmar flood death toll climbs to 293: state media
- Israel army says West Bank air strike kills 4 militants
- LIV golfers get green light for US Ryder Cup team, PGA Championship
- US accuses social media giants of 'vast surveillance'
- Ten Hag to bed Hojlund, Mount in carefully when they return for Man Utd
- Breaking bad as McIlroy endures 'weird' day
- EU chief announces $11 bn for nations hit by 'heartbreaking' floods
- Spanish PM, Palestinian leader urge Mideast de-escalation
- New study reinforces theory Covid emerged at Chinese market
- World Bank boosts climate financing by 10 percent
- Bagnaia eyeing summit on home ground in 100th MotoGP
- 'Something was wrong', defendant in French mass rape tells court
- Hezbollah chief admits 'unprecedented' blow in device blasts
Not just Ken: Oscars producers share vision for gala
When "Barbie," a neon-pink pop culture phenomenon like no other, was nominated for eight Academy Awards including best picture, the team organizing this year's Oscars gala knew exactly who they needed to approach.
"The fact that Ryan Gosling will be performing 'I'm Just Ken' for the very first time, I think, will be a moment that everybody will want to watch," Oscars showrunner Raj Kapoor told AFP.
Gosling "was rightfully a little hesitant at the beginning," but quickly agreed because "he is a total professional," explained executive producer Molly McNearney.
It is traditional for each of the year's five best song nominees to be performed live on the Oscars telecast. But it is rare that two of those tunes both come from the year's top-grossing film.
"What Was I Made For?" will be performed at Sunday's ceremony by Billie Eilish, one of the world's biggest music stars who has already won two Grammys for the tune.
And the other, a six-minute power ballad to the fragile male ego, will be sung by the Oscar-nominated Gosling, who plays Barbie's boyfriend-turned-foe Ken in the surreal feminist comedy.
The former Disney child star turned A-lister, who performed at weddings and fronted an indie rock band in his teens, has been deep in rehearsals since agreeing to perform, meeting producers multiple times at the venue.
"He's going to leave no one disappointed with that performance," said McNearney.
The emphasis on "Barbie" is unsurprising. It grossed $1.4 billion, and movies that do well at the box office tend to attract more viewers to the Oscars when nominated.
Last year, producers heavily emphasized "Top Gun: Maverick."
A promotional skit for Sunday's Oscars saw returning host Jimmy Kimmel visit the film's pink "Barbieland," alongside its stars including Gosling and America Ferrera, also a nominee.
The producers also can showcase "Oppenheimer," which is the favorite for best picture, itself earned nearly $1 billion, and was the other half of last summer's "Barbenheimer" viral phenomenon.
"It just feels like that energy has carried on through the year," said executive producer Katy Mullan.
"We're giving 'Barbie' plenty of love in the show. But we're giving every movie that's been nominated lots of love," added McNearney.
Another highlight will be Osage musicians performing a song from Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon," on a night that could see its star Lily Gladstone become the first Native American actor to win an Oscar.
"For everybody in that room and everybody at home, to have a little insight into the musical nuances of a historical tradition within that tribe, and it to be celebrated on our show? There's been a lot of time and thought into how we honor that correctly," said Kapoor.
- Celebrate -
After a pandemic low of barely 10 million viewers led some to question the Oscars telecast's relevance in the era of TikTok, audiences bounced back strongly last year, to 18.7 million.
Part of that was attributed to the successful return of late-night funnyman Kimmel as host, and he is back again Sunday for a fourth stint.
Could he be planning to go for Bob Hope's remarkable record of hosting 19 times?
"I hope not -- I don't think he could survive that!" joked McNearney, who is married to Kimmel.
"I think it's really important to remind someone of all the obstacles before taking on such a big and truthfully thankless job. So I always try to talk him out of it!
"If he still wants to do it, then I know he's truly committed," she said.
Kimmel was partly inspired to return by a desire to celebrate the end of last year's massive Hollywood strikes, which he plans to mention in his opening monologue, said McNearney.
The host's first Oscars ended with the infamous envelope mix-up in which "La La Land" was mistakenly announced as best picture winner, before the prize was awarded to "Moonlight."
Kimmel recently said he hopes Sunday night will again take some unexpected, spontaneous twists.
"That is where Jimmy completely shines. He is the most comfortable in discomfort," agreed McNearney.
Mullan -- who oversaw the London Olympics opening ceremony -- has a more cautious approach.
"I love that Jimmy says he hopes that something goes wrong," she said. "I really hope that nothing goes wrong."
P.Sousa--PC