The 96th Academy Awards are one week away!

[quote]Should Bradley Cooper prepare a speech?

Only for the press conveying his best wishes for the actual winners afterwards.

[quote]Will Annette Bening win her first Oscar?

No, there is really no possibility she will. You need to look facts in the face.

[quote]Will Barbie be shut out completely?

No, it will win "Best Song" and "Best Production Design," at the very least.

Oppenheimer will sweep the awards: picture, director, actor, etc. Emma Stone will win actress, and there will be an uproar about Lily Gladstone losing. But Barbie will be totally shut out, except for best song, and it will be the bigger controversy of the week.

Ratings will be slightly higher but still pretty low.

I hope you're right, R2.

I would be ECSTATIC if that were the outcome.

After seeing Poor Things I'm in the camp that thinks if anyone upsets Gladstone it will be Emma Stone and not Bening.

Lily Gladstone is kind of a bitch.

I hope she loses to Annette or Emma.

Although, Emma has already won an Oscar, so I'm rooting for Annette.

Everyone I know who saw Nyad loved it. I have no interest in seeing it.

The Paul Giamatti troll will weep and rend its garments when Cillian Murphy wins.

Do you think that Colman Domingo can pull off a huge upset, R7?

I think they would both be crying, then.

I think if there's an upset it's gonna be Emma Stone knocking off Lily Gladstone. I have no problem with that.

I've offered to pick up the Oscar for Emma Stone or Lily Gladstone, should they be indisposed.

[quote] I've offered to pick up the Oscar for Emma Stone or Lily Gladstone, should they be indisposed.

[quote] —Hilary Swank

Step aside, BITCH!

I want Society of the Snow to win Best International Feature.

Truthfully, Jodie Foster deserves the Oscar over Da'Vine Randolph.

^Easily. And she's the only one that did anything with a role in the category. All the the others were stock roles performed with stock performances.

R2 - I believe you're correct on all counts.

R7 - I really did enjoy The Holdovers, but don't believe it will win anything.

[quote] Colman Domingo

He ate my baby!

My hope is that enough voters will tick off Oppenheimer, Nolan, Murphy, Downey, and Randolph and then pause before choosing Best Actress, thinking, "Well, Gladstone's going to win no matter what I do, so, hell, I'll just vote my heart and go for Sandra Hüller. She was in two of the best pictures of the year in very different roles."

Why do you all hate Lily Gladstone so much? It's like an obsession on Datalounge. She really gives a superb performance in this movie.

Because she's a snotty, stuck up bitch R18.

Very unlikable.

Did Ya'll miss my TITTAYS??

An award should go to Annette Bening's 65 year old swimming muscles.

Annette is a sentimental choice because she's "due", married to a legendary actor/director and has always been classy, professional and a good sport. Respected and admired by most of her peers. She just seems to keep running into these juggernaut situations. She should have easily on for The Grifters but there was some kind of need to reward Whoopi after passing her over for The Color Purple. But it was just a goofy performance in a syrupy film that was very successful. And she is going to to lose.

Bradley Cooper is really, really weird. First, he talks about being nude all the time with his father growing up, and now this:

Bradley Cooper says his connection with his daughter didn’t develop for a few months after she was born:

“The first, like, eight months I’m like, ‘I don’t even know if I really love the kid. It’s dope, it’s cool, I’m watching this thing morph, and then all of a sudden, my experience was totally that. Fascinated by it, love taking care of it. Would I die if someone came in with a gun? It’s only a couple of months! … She could be an asshole! And then all of a sudden, it’s like no question.”

Lol R23.

What a FREAK.

Was Bradley molested by his dad?

I was molested.

My shishter wash moleshted.

I think Oscars will match SAG for acting: Cillian, Lily, Robert, DaVine.

[quote] I think Oscars will match SAG for acting: Cillian, Lily, Robert, DaVine.

Truly, I hope that Academy voters are more independent, and will think for themselves.

I don't want to see a repeat of the Golden Globes.

It would be nice to see some surprises.

[quote]“The first, like, eight months I’m like, ‘I don’t even know if I really love the kid. It’s dope, it’s cool, I’m watching this thing morph, and then all of a sudden, my experience was totally that. Fascinated by it, love taking care of it. Would I die if someone came in with a gun? It’s only a couple of months! … She could be an asshole! And then all of a sudden, it’s like no question.”

Imagine being his daughter, reading this one day

Always thought Cooper played his remarks safe in the press. Lately i keep hearing some weird shit.

He also said he shits in front of his daughter while she's taking a bath.

No fucking way, R32.

Are you serious?

That's disgusting.

R2. Nope not gonna happen

"Oppenheimer will sweep the awards: picture, director, actor, etc"

No POC representation, no Trans character, no native Americans ( who actually lived in the area at the time). Etc

The ratings were decent last year and I think they will be even better this year. They have more big movies up, more stars nominated, went after real stars to present and I think are gonna stop worrying about the time so they can just let everyone let it go.

Foster is a lead role.

I think it will be Gladstone, who won SAG but not BAFTA, like Yeoh last year. Blanchett won BAFTA last year, like Stone, and it didn't translate to Oscar.

Sandra Huller is coming up in a number of the anonymous ballots. I think BA is a three way race between her, Stone & Gladstone.

[Quote] I really did enjoy The Holdovers, but don't believe it will win anything.

Randolph will certainly win for her performance, and it could possibly win for Best Original Screenplay

[Quote[ Imagine being his daughter, reading this one day

[Quote] He also said he shits in front of his daughter while she's taking a bath.

I don't understand why so many are freaking out over that Cooper quote, must be an American thing. It's a brutally honest account of the bonding process between a parent and a newborn (also valid for adopted and fostered kids). In fact, I find him less annoying now, knowing that he possesses this level of self-awareness.

RDJ will not win.

He has the Glenn Close Curse.

[Quote] I don't understand why so many are freaking out over that Cooper quote, must be an American thing. It's a brutally honest account of the bonding process between a parent and a newborn

a 6-year-old is not a newborn and at what age does the 'bonding' end?

There will be an upset and I’m predicting it will either be Best Supporting Actor or Best Actress.

Here’s how it will go down-

Director-Nolan. Duh?

Supporting awards-Downey Jr and Randolph. Randolph in fact is the only person period to win EVERYTHING in awards history from the NBOR through the SAG last week. Anyone who predicts otherwise is an idiot.

Lead actress-Stone. It’ll be close, but Academy members love to see ACTING onscreen, especially in the lead categories. Plus Poor Things as a film has performed better this awards season than KOTFM.

Lead actor-Murphy. Another close category, with the runner up being Giamatti. But Murphy will benefit from the Oppenheimer sweep.

Picture-Oppenheimer. There won’t be any upset here. Period.

The only possible upset might be in the Best Actress category otherwise its Nolan, Oppenheimer, Murphy, Randolph and RDJ who is this year's JLC.

R46, do mean talentless freak show with no dick?

or nepo baby R47

R48, if you are equating JLC's leg up with that of RDJ, you need to adjust your contact lens prescription.

Emma Stone is much loved and does consistently good work in many genres (comedy, musical, drama, historical etc.), but the chance to award Lily Gladstone and make a “point” of it given her heritage obviously may be a thing. It would be fun to have a Hepburn/Barbra situation, but that seems unlikely… my vote is for Lily, though I do think Emma gave a better performance.

I'm far more invested in this year's awards, over last year.

Last year, all the movies sucked, and the awards went to the worst of the worst.

This year is very competitive, with much more interesting movies and actors.

SO much better than last year.

Wouldn't it be funny if Bradley Cooper won Best Actor or Maestro won Best Picture??

You bitches will be SORRY then!

I saw Nyad R6 and it just wasn’t a good movie imo. Annette was very committed to that performance but it did feel a bit Oscar-baity at times. Jodie was great!

I was underwhelmed by Gladstone’s performance but I attribute a lot of to the writing—her character wasn’t well-developed.

OP- 🥱

No one cares because no one goes to the movies anymore except the kiddies 👶 and the teenyboppers.

Gladstone gave an adequate performance, but she is favored to win because she would be the first Native American to…. well, you know the rest.

Lily Gladstone is a bitch.

I hope the Academy doesn't reward her for it.

Any Academy Awards season without Meryl Streep, is a good season.

I'm so sick of seeing her stupid face at these awards ceremonies.

Boys in the Boat didn't get nominated for anything because it was utter dreck.

Barbie was utter dreck, but it was still nominated for Academy Awards.

It's all just Woke bullshit.

Only ancient gays and SJWs care about this crap.

I don't hate Lily Gladstone. I will not be at all upset if she gets the Oscar for Best Actress. But I believe Emma Stone and Annette Bening, and Carey Mulligan, and Sandra Huller have an equal claim. I can honestly say I won't be upset no matter who wins. Although Huller is my least favorite.

R62 have you seen Anatomy of a Fall or Zone of Interest?

Ellen Degeneres Oscar Selfie is 10 years old!

[quote] Ellen DeGeneres' internet-breaking Oscars selfie was taken 10 years ago, and wow, has it aged badly

Ellen DeGeneres' internet-breaking Oscars selfie was taken 10 years ago and wow, has it aged badly.

If your memory needs jogging while hosting the 86th Academy Awards, the then ubiquitous television personality gathered a slew of Hollywood A-listers to take a selfie midway through the ceremony on what appeared to be her phone.

The photo, featuring Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Julia Roberts, Lupita Nyong'o, her brother Junior, Channing Tatum, Kevin Spacey, and a barely visible Jared Leto, went stratospherically viral after DeGeneres posted it to Twitter, garnering more than 2 million retweets by the time the ceremony ended.

For a while, it was the most reposted photo ever. Then, it was the most lazily parodied selfie. Then it emerged that, despite denial from Samsung, who provided the phone for the selfie and shelled out $20 million to sponsor that year's awards, it was an orchestrated marketing stunt to put their new handset front and center.

The revelation that the moment wasn't spontaneous isn't the only reason feelings about the photo have since soured. Sure, it sucks to learn that what we believed was an impromptu moment of good-natured A-list fun was a canny form of product placement, but 10 years on, many of the stars in the photos have either become persona non grata, irrelevant, or simply put, uncool.

Let's start with the obvious: Kevin Spacey appears bang center in the middle, having somehow got himself a seat close enough to the stage to jump into the back of the selfie, despite not appearing in any films that awards season.

His stellar career came to a juddering halt in 2017 after allegations of inappropriate behavior were made against him. Although he was exonerated, cleared of assault charges in trials in the US and UK, he is still enduring a backlash whenever he's platformed.

Then there's DeGeneres herself. The former on-screen staple's long-running NBC talk show was hit with accusations of a toxic studio culture, saturated with fear and intimidation, by guests and employees in 2020, leading to huge scrutiny. The series was canceled a year later, and DeGeneres hasn't appeared in a regular TV role since.

Meanwhile, since the photo was taken, former Hollywood power couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have headed to Splitsville, finalizing their divorce in 2019, and things have only got messier since. The two have been locked in a bitter lawsuit over their joint French winemaking estate since early 2022, as well as a custody battle over their children, who Jolie has accused Pitt of being abusive toward.

What else? Jared Leto may or may not be an aspiring leader of a cult, Jennifer Lawrence had the tide of public opinion turn against her, admittedly for doing little wrong besides being overexposed.

That's something we're seeing happening to Bradley Cooper in real time as he mounts his Oscar campaign for "Maestro." The actor-director is arguably the least coolest person in Hollywood right now, thanks to his earnest efforts to make an Oscar-worthy picture, and it seems that every time he opens his mouth, he makes it worse.

There's not much to be said for Channing Tatum, Angelina Jolie, Julia Roberts, et al., except when was the last time you saw them in a movie that excited you?

If another Oscar selfie were to be taken at this year's ceremony, I can't imagine any of these stars would make it in.

R63, yes. I have watched both of them. I preferred her performance in Zone of Interest, but she was very good in Anatomy of a Fall. I just found the movie boring. I think Zone is a masterpiece. I just didn't warm towards Huller. But I will say that all the nominees deserved their nominations in that category. We all have our preferences. I just find Huller forgettable.

R65 I really enjoyed that night. In fact, Every once in a while I'll go down the rabbit hole on You Tube to find the fun monologues and I've watched hers several times. But she was brilliant the whole night long.

R65 Christ, I never knew it was vulgar, blatant product placement from Samsung for that selfie. Leave it to Ellen to pull something like that.

Kimmel's gonna flop. He'll be too edgy and mean. Betcha.

That selfie was obnoxious. I hate it when actors pretend to like each other.

I'm so excited, I could just SPIT!

R70, Ellen is someone they all like to get along with. They enjoy being able to do her talk show.

Ruffalo is a better actor than Robert Downey Jr.

But RDJ made Hollywood more money than Ruffalo, which is why he'll win for Best Supporting Actor. I'm still hoping for an upset, though.

[quote] But RDJ made Hollywood more money than Ruffalo, which is why he'll win for Best Supporting Actor. I'm still hoping for an upset, though.

Um, I thought the Academy Awards were supposed to be about ACTING, and not BOX OFFICE receipts.

That's what the motherfucking People's Choice Awards are for.

Being the best actor in any Oscar category is besides the point. Many times the best overall actor or actress in terms of technique and what they bring to the role loses. RDJ gets to have it multiple ways for his impending victory next week. Being in one of the most profitable and critically acclaimed filmed of the year, making a ton of money for Hollywood, part career award for having sustained a 40 year filmography, overcoming a drug addiction that could’ve easily cost him his life. He probably would’ve won in 2008 if it wasn’t for the Heath Ledger juggernaut. Ruffalo or DeNiro will probably finish a distant second. No it’s not the people’s choice award, but the Oscars have always been part merit, part popularity contest. Is what it is.

Would this be RDJ's first Oscar, R76?

First Oscar, third nomination.

This year **I** will be the Masculine Oscar Thief!

That Indian bitch better not block my pathway to the podium!

I thought Robert won an Oscar for Chaplin?

He lost to Al Pacino that year.

[quote] That Indian bitch better not block my pathway to the podium!

Lol. I was confused by your post.

I thought you meant DOT, not feather.

Billie Eilish will win for best song.

That Billie Eilish song "What Was I Made For" is actually very good.

I hated that fucking stupid Dog Shit Barbie movie, but I must admit it's a good song.

It is a grid song and fits the movie well.

good* gees

R55 is a special kind of racist moron -- 7 of the 10 male acting nominees are white, you idiot Klan granny.

More movies I haven't seen winning awards I will never comprehend.

Are they giving out awards for Red Carpets yet?

How in the hell did Argo win Best Picture for 2012, over Lincoln and Life of Pi?

Argo sucked!

Lincoln was a FAR superior movie.

Lincoln was a snore.

All three of them were mediocre, but at least Life of Pi had amazing special effects.

[quote] Lincoln was a snore.

I've noticed that people who say things like "Lincoln was a snore" and "Oppenheimer was too long and boring" are highly unintelligent troglodytes with limited mental capabilities.

They're also the same brain dead morons who loved Barbie.

VERY low IQ.

Yes, R91, I'm sure you've done a highly scientific study of it while you YAAAAAS KWEEEEN it up at Sunday brunch with the girls.

I agree Lincoln should have won, but Argo was an old fashioned, feel good movie.

r91 Oppenheimer was way too long. It's obvious that no one is allowed to say "no" to Christopher Nolan. Expect his next movie to be 3+ hours long. Calling people stupid because they don't like the same movies as you is very high school.

[quote] I've noticed that people who say things like "Lincoln was a snore" and "Oppenheimer was too long and boring" are highly unintelligent troglodytes with limited mental capabilities. They're also the same brain dead morons who loved Barbie. VERY low IQ.

That's SO interesting, R91. You know what I'VE noticed? People who think that their opinion is the only one that matters are also highly unintelligent troglodytes with limited mental capabilities. VERY low IQ. And even bigger assholes.

Argo won after the controversial Affleck snub for the Best Director gave it a lot of sympathetic publicity. It's a lot like Lawrence's win, based on the media hype and narrative at the time rather than being because it was outstanding work.

For folks looking for anonymous Oscar voter picks. They really don’t like Maestro!

And the Hollywood Reporter’s annual series.

Uh oh, R97.

Bradley is going to go BALLISTIC!

Who do you think will present Best Picture this year? And don't say Faye Dunaway.

I think it would be iconic if they had Eva Marie Saint, Kim Novak and Tippi Hedren do it.

America Ferrera will remind us how it is literally impossible to be a woman.

Please god, not Emily Blunt.

Miss Julia Roberts AS Harriett Tubman will present Best Picture.

[quote]Argo won after the controversial Affleck snub for the Best Director gave it a lot of sympathetic publicity.

Why couldn't they have done the same for me with 'Prince of Tides' ?

[quote]Who do you think will present Best Picture this year? And don't say Faye Dunaway.

Salute a true legend. Let Mamie Van Doren haul those tits across the Kodak stage while she still can.

I hope Jamie Lee Curtis gives out the Best Picture Oscar - we just don't seem to see enough of her on television these days.

Jamie L is not at the level to present the top award. She would not even be chosen to accompany an A-list actor.

Hi Angela!

Quite frankly, I'd be extremely happy not to see ANY of those so-called "winners" from last year's horrible Academy Awards.

That movie sucked donkey balls, and if they disappeared forever, I'd be ecstatic.

Worst year ever for the Oscars.

Well, she couldn't do it, anyway. She's already presenting Best SUpporting Actor.

It would be really great if they get Sheryl Lee Ralph to give out the BP Oscar - we never get tired of her.

With Oppenheimer as the overwhelming front-runner, R100, I wouldn't be surprised if it's someone who has worked with Christopher Nolan before: Morgan Freeman or Michael Caine if they're looking for a living legend, Christian Bale or Hugh Jackman if they're going for someone younger.

^That was my feeling too. And then The Zone of Interest upsets.

[quote]Who do you think will present Best Picture this year? And don't say Faye Dunaway.

Jonathan Van Ness and Mx. Dahlia Belle.

That's not going to happen, R113. I know people might be bored of Oppenheimer winning everything, but if it were to lose, it wouldn't be to The Zone of Interest, which is exactly the type of film that would never, ever survive the Academy's preferential ballot.

The one reason why people have doubted Oppenheimer is that it's not heartwarming or emotional. If it were to lose, it would be to something like The Holdovers or American Fiction, not an ice cold art house film about a Nazi family.

I would love to see Dame Maggie Smith present Best Picture.

I'd like to see Liv Ullmann interrupt Lily Gladstone's acceptance speech with a call for reduced tensions between Norwegians and Swedes.

ABLG.

Anyone but Lily Gladstone!

This is why, exactly why I love us! Thank you R117. I laughed so much I spit out my tea on my keyboard. You little fucker.

I think Tom Cruise or some one really big should present Best Picture. Maybe they'll get Michael Douglas to do it. He looks pretty healthy right now. Sw a Picture of him somewhere skiing with Catherine and their daughter.

If I have to sit there and listen to one more boring and pretentious Lily Gladstone speech, I think I'm going to spit!

Let Streisand present best picture. She can dress like Penny Marshall again.

I keep thinking of Michael Keaton who was an absolutely sure thing, frontrunner for Birdman. Until he lost.

[quote] I keep thinking of Michael Keaton who was an absolutely sure thing, frontrunner for Birdman. Until he lost.

Same thing for Glenn Close losing to that oriental woman in 2021.

That was an absolute fucking travesty.

Michael Keaton lost both SAG and BAFTA.

I hope Gladstone loses.

Also, didn't we already check the Native American box when Cher won?

I think was the Native Armenian box.

Streisand will present director and bitch about Gerwig while Triet sits there with a chopped liver look on her face.

Society of the Snow better win best foreign film!

Godzilla should present Best Picture to Oppenheimer.

Bradley Cooper will ‘hard launch’ his relationship with Gigi Hadid at the Oscars

My night would be made if two things happen-

The Zone of Interest upsets Oppenheimer for Best Picture

and Emma wins Best Actress..

I would also be thrilled if Gosling won Best Supporting Actor..

The likeliest of these is Emma

I feel pretty good about this year's nominees. I'm not invested and I actually don't care who wins in any category. This has been a good season.

[quote]I think it would be iconic if they had Eva Marie Saint, Kim Novak and Tippi Hedren do it.

Given Hedren was recently reported as suffering from dementia, it would certainly be memorable.

La La Land could have another chance to win, for one!

Will we see ALOK working the red carpet?

no, they're going to save that pretty, pretty princess for next year when her film is nominated in the Best Short Documentary category because POLITICS.

Gladstone barely acts in KOTFM. A Gladstone win would be even more regretful and egregious than Ariana Debose.

At least Ariana got off her ass and moved and danced. Gladstone is catatonic about one half of her performance.

I didn't begrudge Ariana Dubose her Oscar. I thought she did a commendable job. Aside from NYAD and Emma Stone the categories for women aren't that strong

The great Michael Caine (2 Oscars) to present Best Picture would be appropriate; obviously, Oppenheimer will win and his significant work with Nolan adds gravitas to awarding the Best Picture with dignity.

[quote] I think it would be iconic if they had Eva Marie Saint, Kim Novak and Tippi Hedren do it.

Don;t hold your breath. Hedren has dementia, Novak will never do it again after she got humiliated the last time for her bad plastic surgery, and Saint is so old she could kick the bucket at any second.

Last year’s acting winners were atrocious but this year’s set of acting winners will be equally atrocious. Cillian didn’t make Oppenheimer interesting at all and Downey is just being rewarded for making millions for Hollywood. Gladstone and Da’Vine will be wasted DEI wins. I’m hoping for an Emma Stone upset. Poor Things is brilliant and all Gladstone did was lie catatonic in bed.

I wouldn't mind seeing Anthony Hopkins announce Best Picture.

I would love for Gena Rowlands to present one, but she has not been seen in public in at least 5-6 years and I suspect that she probably has dementia... (she seemed very old during her last public appearance)

Emma Stone is gonna upset.

Once the sacred honor of Oscar is passed from winner to winner, the Oscar energy will shift from winners past to winners anew.

We shall honor and worship this transition, which is the most hallowed of traditions, as the winners of Oscars of years past, evolves into new.

Now down before the power of Oscar. It is new yet old. It is eternal.

It is me.

Dear Jamie Lee Curtis,

Your mother deserved an Oscar for Psycho.

You didn't deserve an Oscar for that crappy shit movie for which you received the award last year.

The only reason you DID get it, was because of the legacy of both your parents.

So please shut the fuck up.

Sincerely,

The World.

[quote] Ahead of Oscars, maker of blockbuster weight loss drug urges against ‘vanity’ use in new ad campaign

“When I look around this room, I can’t help but wonder,” Academy Awards host Jimmy Kimmel joked at last year’s ceremony. “Is Ozempic right for me?”

Celebrities’ use of a type 2 diabetes drug to lose weight had sparked both backlash and fascination by the time of last year’s Oscars. As this year’s ceremony approaches on Sunday night, the maker of a competitor set of medicines in Ozempic’s class has a message for people trying to use the drugs to slim down quickly for cosmetic reasons: These aren’t for you.

“Some people have been using medicine never meant for them,” begins one ad from drugmaker Eli Lilly, called “Big Night,” which will debut on TV this weekend. “For the smaller dress or tux, for a big night, for vanity.”

A red carpet is rolled out; paparazzi cameras flash.

“But that’s not the point,” the voiceover continues as the images transition from a glitzy event to a woman dressed in ordinary clothes riding public transit. “People whose health is affected by obesity are the reason we work on these medications. It matters who gets them.”

The ad doesn’t specifically mention Lilly’s drugs – Zepbound for obesity and Mounjaro for diabetes – and thus it doesn’t include the litany of safety information that US TV-watchers have become accustomed to at the end of pharmaceutical commercials.

But it delivers a message Lilly’s been trying to convey since the beginning of this year.

“We have a point of view about how these drugs are being used,” CEO David Ricks told CNN. “These medicines were invented for people with a serious health condition; they were not invented just to have someone who’s famous look a little bit better.”

Zepbound and Mounjaro are part of a class of medicines broadly referred to as GLP-1 receptor agonists, which also includes Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and its sister drug, Wegovy. Both sets of drugs mimic a hormone known as GLP-1 that reduces appetite, causes people to feel full longer and affects insulin secretion. Lilly’s drugs mimic a second hormone, GIP, involved in those processes, as well.

Ozempic and Mounjaro are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for diabetes, and Wegovy and Zepbound are approved for chronic weight management; in clinical trials, they were shown to help people lose 15% to 20% or more of their body weight, on average, and guidelines for their use revolve around patients’ body mass index.

They’re indicated for people who have a BMI of 30 or more, who are considered to have obesity, or who have a BMI of 27 – considered overweight – or higher and at least one “weight-related” health condition, like high blood pressure or cholesterol.

“This is a disease,” Ricks said. “It’s a metabolic disorder that, for most people, won’t go away without serious medical treatment. … So I don’t think we’re going to make much progress on this topic, that affects 100 million-plus Americans, unless we treat it like a health condition just like we do hypertension or arrhythmia or anything else.”

Ricks detailed three reasons his company is trying to draw a line on who should get access to these drugs: insurance coverage, shortages and the people in whom they’ve been studied.

“We’ve only studied it in a population that had overweight or obesity, and we’ve focused it on people with chronic complications from obesity,” he said. “We can’t speak to benefits and risks outside the population, so we think it’s only responsible to point the light here, where the drug is most needed.”

Would Lilly ever study the drug for cosmetic weight loss?

“It’s not in our roadmap right now,” Ricks said. “It’s not really our mission. I think people come to work in my company and they want to solve tough health problems, not just make money in healthcare.”

Ricks also pointed out the medicines are already in shortage, and he noted the World Health Organization reported last week there are more than 1 billion people globally with obesity.

“We’re a long way from being able to supply a billion people with these medications with obesity, let alone the people who may want to lose some weight cosmetically,” Ricks said. “So we need to prioritize, and that’s what this ad’s about, is prioritizing those who need it most.”

Lilly didn’t say how many people may be using its drugs inappropriately, but the short supply of both sets of them has left people with type 2 diabetes scrambling to find their medicines. Novo Nordisk had to limit the lower starting doses of Wegovy so it could keep supplying patients already on higher maintenance doses of the drug.

Both companies are racing to increase production, building and acquiring manufacturing plants, but Novo Nordisk’s CEO told CNN last year that it could take years to catch up to demand.

And insurance coverage is poor, particularly for medicines for weight loss. They cost between $960 and $1,350 per month before insurance or discounts, and “half the people in America who have obesity” don’t have insurance coverage for them, Ricks said – including those covered by Medicare, which prohibits coverage of drugs for weight loss.

“That’s wrong to us,” he told CNN. “We would call on all the decision-makers in the health-payment world, starting with the federal government which doesn’t reimburse these in Medicare, to really reconsider that position – that obesity is a serious condition that leads to other serious conditions, and it likely cannot be resolved for many people without medication.”

Pressed on whether Lilly should reduce the price of the medicines to increase accessibility, Ricks pointed to discount programs the company has put in place to provide the drugs for as much as half off.

But, he said, “that’s not the same as insurance. And again, we don’t think that a health product we’ve made for a serious health condition should be uninsured. We don’t accept that in any other condition.”

The way obesity is viewed is the subject of a second new ad from Lilly, twice as long as “Big Night,” called “Shame.”

“It showed up when I was young and stayed like a shadow, living in glances of people I loved and ones I didn’t even know, always reminding me of my body’s supposed value,” the voiceover says. “But what good is shame when it comes to health? Health is not about what weight we lose; it’s about all the things a body can gain.”

Ricks said the ad is a result of years his team spent with people with obesity, and its goal is to engender more empathy for them, particularly within the health-care system.

Lilly said the ads, which are part of a series that began this year with a focus on different diseases – including Alzheimer’s, where the company expects FDA approval of a new medicine this month – would run nationally starting this weekend.

Will “Big Night,” the ad admonishing celebrities and others who use the drugs for “vanity,” air during the Oscars broadcast itself? Ricks said he didn’t know. But, he noted, the week leading up to it is focused on advocacy, around World Obesity Day on March 4 and Obesity Care Week.

“It just so happens at the end of the week is a big award show, the Oscars,” he said. “And so we’re kind of seizing that moment to juxtapose those two ideas, that this is a serious condition with a serious medication.”

“We have to use language to talk about the condition beyond just what, you know, size dress you fit into or whatever,” Ricks said. “It’s not for that.”

R69, So was “Ferrari”.

I adore Michael Caine and I think it is a great idea for him to present the Best Picture Award. You're right he is part of the Nolan contingent. Good work, R142.

Wow, only two more days until the Oscar ceremony.

How exciting!

I stopped watching this nonsense after the 2022 slap when everybody continued on as if nothing happened.

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Hari Nef and James Earl Jones!

I'm so happy that we get to see both Jamie Lee Curtis and Jodie Foster at this year's ceremony. Two of my all-time favorites.

Are you serious about Jamie Lee Curtis, R157?

WHY?

Jodie Foster, I can understand.

But JLC?

For anyone who has Peacock, they are streaming two Academy Award nominated movies right now.

The Holdovers and Oppenheimer.

I already watched Oppenheimer (which I loved), and I think I'll watch The Holdovers either tonight or tomorrow night, just to see what the fuss is all about behind Da'Vine Randolph and Paul Giamatti.

I'll be shocked if Oppenheimer doesn't win, it deserves Best Picture as well as Director. Cillian Murphy should also win. Those are the oscars I'm rooting for. A surprise win for Jodie Foster would make me happy.

I personally thought Mark Ruffalo was terrible in Poor Things, but that movie is full of amateur performances. No matter. He won’t win.

At this point, everyone is sick of awards shows and there is no suspense on who will win. It’s already been decided.

Winnie the Pooh cleaned up at the Razzies. Fran Drescher won the Redeemer award.

Hoping Stone beats Gladstone for Actress just to watch people lose their shit.

The show will begin at 7:00 PM Eastern on ABC Sunday.

Emma Stone is a mediocrity.

The only oscar I really care about is Best Foreign Language film and I'd like that to win and it won't. And it's more because of people I know that would be happy to see it win than me caring about awards. I've just become so cynical about Hollywood awards. And though it's been a somewhat above average year for film when compared to the last few years (except 2019 that remains the best since at least 2010) it was still not enough to care much. I did think Anatomy of a fall was good if not particularly memorable or groundbreaking. Though I liked it better than the overrated Oppenheimer. Barbie? Its a joke its even nominated. And while the film itself (Perfect Days, the german film up for BFL film) was a bit of a bore, Kōji Yakusho (who won the Palm d'or for best actor), wipes the floor with Cillian Murphy as an actor .

You'd like what to win, R166? There are five nominees.

[quote] Hoping Stone beats Gladstone for Actress just to watch people lose their shit.

Will Lily's people scalp the audience?

Agree about Ruffalo’s performance R161. I was expecting much better. And he seemed to have trouble locating a consistent accent.

But I did think Emma Stone was fantastic.

Carey Mulligan might pull an Olivia Colman upset.

R167 Sorry I meant to say Society of the Snow

R164, But the Red Carpet shows begin hours earlier, on E! and ABC.

R172, Must we endure Laverne Cox again?

I just watched Past Lives. A gem.

R174- Oh man. such a quiet deceptive film. It lulls you, and bores you a little, then moves you, then destroys you.... That last (or close to last line?) That last line made me bawl like a pussy.....

I really wish that Greta got her nomination.

Five hours to go!

Society of the Snow better win best foreign film.

"What story are you telling with your look tonight?"

You can cast your own Oscars ballot here, and see how you did at the end of the telecast.

R177 Best International Feature Film and yes, it deserves to win.

Emma’s stone deserves best actress.

So did Cate Blanchett but white women are barred from winning now.

R173, Yes, if you are watching E! right now (also with Christian Siriano).

Laverne's decolletage is very very.

And the same stupid just interviewed Paul Giamatti and revealed his movie's ending. Great going, LC!

Is this the thread?

No...

No R185.

It's this one...

[quote] "What story are you telling with your look tonight?"

The Horse and His Boy!

[quote] So did Cate Blanchett but white women are barred from winning now.

White women have it SO HARD!