No one does social embarrassment as well as the British. John Marwood Cleese did a wonderful riff on the subject in A Fish Called Wanda, way back in 1988, but that has absolutely nothing to do with why we're all here today. And, no, it's not the underpants-on-the-head scene, either.
Though, if you speak to someone who has been caught in this position, they will tell you that it becomes surprisingly easy to steer the conversation in any direction that appeals. In fact, A Fish Called Wanda could have been called The Art of Awkward Conversation. But it wasn't. Possibly because of all the gelatine fish Kevin Kline consumed on his way to an Academy Award.
No, this version of The Art of Awkward Conversation is a web series, made by Tom Melia. It focuses on common situations, starting with Episode One, which takes place in a restaurant.
I love the Oscars. The expectations, the hoopla, the hope, the fear, the misery of losing, the (carefully disguised) hatred. There's nothing quite like it.
And I love the hosts. Well, some of them, anyway. Billy Crystal's been the best. He took a break for a while, but this year he's back. Can't wait for it.
To keep us all humming until the show kicks off, here's the Billy Crystal introduction to the 2004 Academy Awards. Sit back and watch how an expert handles it.
I'm assuming you've already won your Oscar (in your dreams, anyway). The important thing now is making sure you know how to care for it. The Oscar, yes. You've accepted a weighty responsibility, and people will be watching.
For a short course in the etiquette of grip, check Kirsty Stark's Oscar photo. For a more detailed explanation, follow Kevin Kline through his... refresher course. Chop!
