Today is Sunday, February 26th and for many people in the United States, it is a huge night on television. Tonight, ABC will be broadcasting The Academy Awards. Known as the Oscars, these awards celebrate the best of the movie industry.

The 89th Academy Awards ceremony will be held tonight at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood at 7pm ET/4pm PT.  Late-night TV comedian, Jimmy Kimmel will host the evening.

The following are a few interesting facts about the Academy Awards:

• Jimmy Kimmel is getting paid $15,000 to host the Academy Awards.
• The show will be televised in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.
• The cost of a 30-second commercial during the Oscars telecast is $2.1 million.
• The current value of the 24-karat gold-plated Oscar statuette is $696.
• The Oscars red carpet is 16,500 square feet and costs $30,000. (Makes Kimmel’s paycheck seem like a steal.)
• The Wolfgang Puck-catered Governors Ball will serve 7,500 shrimp,150 pounds of arugula and 2,550 macarons.
• Lin-Manuel Miranda, Sting, Justin Timberlake and John Legend are set to perform.
• In this year’s swag bag, the contents are estimated to value anywhere between $100,000 and $200,000.

One of the most interesting categories of the night is usually the award for the Best Original Song. It is presented to the songwriter who has composed a song written for a specific movie. Unfortunately, the artist who performs the song is not credited unless they contributed either some lyrics or music.

Below are some of the classic winners from previous years. These songs not only identify with the movies in which they were featured, they are often representative of their era.

Do you remember?

• Thanks For The Memories (1938)
• Somewhere Over The Rainbow (1939)
• When You Wish Upon A Star (1940)
• White Christmas (1942)
• Theme from Shaft (1971)
• The Way We Were (1974)
• Last Dance (1978)
• Flashdance (1983)
• I Just Called to Say I Love You (1984)
• I’ve Had The Time of My Life (1987)
• My Heart Will Go On (1997)

Clay Aiken has never had a prominent position at the Oscars, but back in 2005, he worked for the television show, The Insider, as an on-site reporter at the Emmys.

After the event, Clay donated his entire Emmy outfit to The Clothes Off Our Back. This charity was started by Bradley Whitford and Jane Kaczmarek. The organization sold items worn by celebrities at special occasions. When the auction was finally over, the tuxedo, shoes, and cufflinks that Clay wore to the 2005 Emmy Awards went for a final amazing total of $27,250.

The following are a few pictures of Clay working at the Emmy Awards in Pasadena, CA.

Working at the Dress Rehearsal!

Did you see Clay working as a reporter for the Emmys?  

 

Are you watching the Academy Awards Tonight  

What movie song would you like to hear Clay sing?

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Have A Wonderful Sunday!