Erik Davis, managing editor at Fandango, joins Cheddar News to help recap the 2022 Academy Awards.

Between Bells

Oscars: Will Smith Slaps Chris Rock, 'Coda' Wins Big

welcome everyone to between bells and baker Machado in new york. The slap heard around the world. So if you watched the Oscars last night, you know exactly what I'm talking about, but if you somehow missed it, comedian chris rock took to the stage to present the Oscar for documentary feature and he made a joke about Jada Pinkett smith being in G. I jane too. Well, will smith then took the stage and slapped chris Rock, returned to his seat and then yelled, keep my wife's name out of your effing mouth. Yeah, that happened, joining us now to discuss Erik Davis, managing editor over at Fandango. Erik Good to have you here. So the Academy actually tweeted out about the incident last night saying they do not condone violence of any form there. You see the statement right there, but we haven't really heard anything really from Will smith or chris Rock, except for when Will smith sort of addressed this in his speech last night. What was your initial reaction to this and could will smith potentially face consequences from the Academy here? Yeah, I mean like everyone else, I think it was a pretty shocking moment. Uh that that happened. It was an unfortunate moment. I think there are a million and one hot takes to read about that moment uh, this morning many calling it the strangest moment in Oscars history, it's definitely something that we've never seen happen at the Oscars, you know, I think, out of respect for everyone, I don't necessarily think my opinion is going to clear anything up. But I will say though baker is that that moment was followed by something very beautiful and it was in quest love winning best documentary for summer of Soul. His mom was there, he was crying, his mom was crying and I think that moment more than any other, it really shows you what we do love about the Oscars and it's seeing these artists sort of celebrating these career achievements, these moments of their life, the greatest moments of their lives. And you know West Love is a tremendous artists who I have a ton of respect for and seeing him follow up that moment with that beautiful sort of speech there. I thought was was absolutely Summer of Soul by the way, an amazing documentary. So Questlove absolutely deserves that because not even knowing about that with that festival that even took place, you know, 50 years ago is still insane to sort of think about, let's talk about some of the other good moments. Obviously there was some, you know, really historic first you have Ariana DeBose becoming the first openly queer woman of color to win an Oscar and her speech last night was so incredible last night as well. What do you sort of feel like that in terms of represented in terms of diversity and inclusion and was such an amazing moment for the Oscars last night. Yeah, I thought she was tremendous. You know, all four of the performers that one were first time winners, You know, two of them were veterans will smith and Jessica Chastain. Two of them up and comers, so to speak Ariana DeBose and and Troy cots or Ariana DeBose winning for Anita. Uh that Anita now two women have one for the same role. That's never happened before. You know, of course we had Joaquin and heath ledger win for joker, but we've never had two women win for the same role. Ariana DeBose has been winning this award throughout the awards season. She totally deserved it. I was fortunate enough to, to really be the first interview that she had for this film before premiered in new york back in november. Um and I walked out of that and I immediately put her at the top of the prediction list for best supporting actress because she was just that memorable when you walk away from the film uh and it's a fantastic film. You walk away remembering her performance, I would say more than any. Yeah. And you mentioned Troy carter. I loved that speech that he gave last night as well. But let's talk about coda here for a moment. Winning Best picture what you know, a month and a half ago eric, I feel like we weren't talking about this to be the Best picture. This by the way, the first Sundance film Festival film to win Best picture. Also because apple splashed down about $25 million to buy this, what happened in the last month and a half that the conversation turned from power of the dog? Winning this Dakota winning this last night. Yeah. I think a lot of people started getting turned on to this film. You know the code a cast has really been a family traveling together to all of these awards shows speaking together, I got to speak to them a few months ago and they're just a lovely bunch and they speak with so much passion and care and then you watch the film and you're laughing and you're crying. Uh and it very much is the kind of film that you want to root for. Um It is the first film about deaf people that's ever won Best Picture Troy Cots or only the first male deaf actor to ever win. And I think it's just not only is it a beautiful film for representation for the deaf community, but it's just a film that really makes you feel everything and I think especially right now uh you know we're still living through this pandemic and we're looking for those films that are going to bring out the emotions in us that are going to make us laugh, they're gonna make us cry and coda very much was that film. It won all three Oscars that it was nominated for. Um and I think it's just a really special film ah an apple becoming the first streaming service to win on top of that to you have to think netflix is apoplectic, it's like, how many more billions of dollars do we have to spend to get this elusive Oscar that they have still yet to win here. I want to talk about a new category that came out yesterday. This was the fan favorite Oscar and kind of a little bit of a surprise here, Army of the Dead ended up winning that beating Spiderman for that. I'm curious your thoughts on this because there has been talk for years about the Academy instituting a popular film category. What was your take on the fan favorite? And do you think this is something that's going to stick here and then how do you sort of celebrate this? Does this go on par with best picture here as a result of this? You know, I I don't know, this is the first time we've ever had something like that. I do think it's kind of weird that Zack Snyder received more recognition at the Oscars yesterday that the power of the dog. But you know, I I do think that it does, it is the Academy reaching out and saying, look, we want to bring the audience closer to the awards and their theme this year was movie lovers unite no matter what kind of movie lover you are, no matter what you do love and what resonated with you. We want you to be part of this conversation. We want to bring you closer to the event. So I do give them credit for attempting something like that. Um of course, you know, when you do your polls on twitter, uh, you never know what you're going to get. Um, Zack Snyder does have a lot of fans out there. Look, Army of the Dead. It was a really great film, really great zombie film was great to see him return to that genre. I think he's really strong as a filmmaker in that genre and his, his new cut of Justice League also winning winning cheer moment, which is kind of ironic because the film didn't play in theaters. But um, a lot of people really loved what he did with that. So you know, kudos stance. Eric really quickly. I have only about a minute left just coming in within the last little bit. It looks like ratings are coming in 13.7 million watched the Oscars last night. Up, 30% from the lows that we had a year before. How do you sort of interpret this? Good numbers here? Yeah, I think it's really good numbers And I think a lot of that speaks to the films that were nominated. You know, we had a real nice sort of selection of films. Everything from Dune. I mean, look, Dune. One of the most amount of Oscars last night. Six Oscars that was really the biggest, most commercial film that was in that best picture race and that one the most. So you know, I think between that west side story and kota and Belfast and King Richard, you really did have this my rate of of films to choose from that really spoke to every kind of movie fans of the show is entertaining. You know, it kicked off with Beyonce and then the three women hosts were really funny too. And so I think the show gave you everything that you look for from the Oscars. It gives you moments that nobody can stop talking about. It gives you memorable musical performances. It gives you some fun and some light comedy and it gives you some some really thoughtful, inspiring, passionate speeches in my opinion. That's why I tuned in to watch the Oscars and I think last night's show delivered all of that and then some and that's why those ratings are up. Yeah, I'm in the same boat with you. I mean, I loved Amy Schumer. I thought she was great. If anything that showed why I think a host needs to be at this awards show. Erik Davis, managing editor over at Fandango. Always good to have you here eric, thanks so much for joining us