Well, this Sunday evening it's the 2012 Academy Awards, otherwise known as "the Oscars." Have you ever wondered why they are known as "the Oscars?" If you do, please tell the Academy, because it's a big mystery. That's right, no one knows for sure where the phrase came from as an alternate name for the awards.
There are a couple of theories. One is that director Margaret Herrick, in 1931, said that the statue looked like her Uncle Oscar. OK. The other theory concerns legend Bette Davis, who apparently in 1936 named the statue after one of her husbands named "Oscar." But interestingly, Bette had 4 husbands at various times in her life, and not one of them was named Oscar. So THAT theory apparently is a little suspect.
So the mystery continues as to why we call the Academy Awards, the "Oscars." I guess in the big picture, it doesn't really matter. The awards, no matter what they're called, is Hollywood at it's best....most of the time. Billy Crystal returns as host this year. Of all the Oscar hosts, he's my favorite, right behind another guy you may remember---Johnny Carson.
Enjoy "the Oscars" on Sunday night. I'll be watching with you.
[photo by popculturegeek]