On Sunday's ABC telecast of the 83rd Academy Awards, viewers didn't see a quick kiss and dance between presenters Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin -- but it wasn't on purpose.
The kiss we were never meant to see
AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
Despite speculation that the network may have censored the two actors' smooch, Oscar producer Bruce Cohen insists it was because directors had already decided beforehand they would cut away to focus on the audience and Bardem's wife, Oscar winner Penelope Cruz, who recently gave birth.
"It [the dance and the kiss] was unscripted, and the plan in the truck was always to cut to Penelope in the audience applauding Josh's and Javier's introduction," Cohen explained in a statement to AfterElton.com, which had originally questioned why the moment didn't make it to the broadcast, noting that the 2006 Oscar telecast included a "Brokeback Mountain" spoof that starred Jon Stewart and George Clooney in bed. (Not to mention that Bardem is from Spain, where kissing is a traditional greeting among close friends.)
"So that is what happened, just as they were starting to dance. Josh and Javier's moment… would have made a great TV moment, but since no one knew it was coming, we cut to the gorgeous Ms. Cruz as planned. By the time, we cut back from her close-up, Josh and Javier were walking to the podium," added Cohen, who didn't see the kiss himself. (Two eyewitnesses from The Hollywood Reporter who were in the audience remarked that it was a fast peck.)
[Photos: Oscars red carpet]
AfterElton.com first speculated that the kiss wasn't shown because of the complaints the network received after "American Idol" runner-up Adam Lambert made out with one of his male dancers while performing at the American Music Awards in November 2009.
More from The Hollywood Reporter:
- • 83rd Annual Academy Awards: Television Review
- • Photos: Oscar Show Moments
- • Academy President Tom Sherak Defends Oscars Broadcast, Franco, Hathaway
Warm Regard, Sara Pandian
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