After the 90th Academy Awards ceremony Sunday night, it’s difficult to escape the buzz.
There’s talk of who won — and who got snubbed — and other dramas before, during and after the show. But what piqued my interest is how, for at least two years, candy has played a supporting role during the Oscars.
Last year’s host Jimmy Kimmel also hosted Sunday’s ceremony. (Coincidence? Probably not.) Acknowledging that the Oscars are usually a drawn-out affair, Kimmel offered up a jet ski and a trip to Lake Havasu to the winner with the shortest acceptance speech.
Mark Bridges, who won for costume design, also took home the jet ski. But overall — and not shockingly — the prize didn’t do much to deter winners from thanking their supporters and sharing their stories on stage.
So how can you spice up an hours-long ceremony? Bring in the candy.
The comedian and talk show host fed the audience with lunch boxes filled with potato chips, gummy bears, Listerine strips and bars from This Bar Saves Lives. Each box also correlated with a donation to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.
“It would be right to make you sit through this without snacks,” said a note from Kimmel inside each box. “Please don’t throw them at me.”
That’s pretty sweet, in more ways than one.
Kimmel also enlisted a squadron of stars to pass out candy at the TCL Chinese Theatre across the street from the Dolby Theatre, where the Oscars were being held. Cameras captured theatergoers reactions as Gal Gadot, Lupita Nyong’o, Ansel Elgort, Armie Hammer, Margot Robbie, Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mark Hamill and Guillermo del Toro handed out the treats — and shot hot dogs from hot dog-shaped canons.
These aren’t the only snack-related stunts Kimmel has pulled. Last year he dropped parachutes filled with cookies, doughnuts and candy, including Red Vines and Junior Mints, from the ceiling of the theater.
Of course, these tactics ultimately extend the show, but at least it’s entertaining for the crowd at the Dolby Theatre and for viewers at home. And, with all the saddening stories coming from the movie and TV industries, it’s great to include a little positivity.
And we can’t forget the celebrity swag bags. Reportedly worth $100,000, this year’s bags were said to include chocolate “jewels” from Chocolatines amd organic vegan lollipops from Delicacies Candy & Confections.
Next year’s host will have big shoes to fill — and the swag bags will have to impress once more — but if they find a way to incorporate sweets, they’ll be golden.
