On Hollywood’s Biggest Night, Why Were the Movie Stars in Hiding?

Mar 16, 2026 10:19am PT On Hollywood’s Biggest Night, Why Were the Movie Stars in Hiding? By Daniel D'Addario Plus Icon Daniel D'Addario Chief TV Critic DPD_ Latest Why Amy Madigan’s ‘Weapons’ Oscar Win Is So Inspiring — for Fans and for Hollywood 17 hours ago Stephen Colbert’s Long ‘Late Show’ Goodbye Has Gone From Resistance to Ego Trip 4 days ago Sean Penn, Please Don’t Skip the Oscars 5 days ago See All Two months ago, Julia Roberts held the Golden Globes audience captive as she presented the best musical or comedy trophy. In a couple of minutes of screen time , Roberts accepted the audience’s spontaneous standing ovation, laughed that famous laugh and poked self-deprecating fun at her own ego, and semi-randomly shouted out both Emma Stone and the film “Sorry, Baby.” Where was this energy at the Oscars? Not the discursiveness, maybe — the Globes are, notoriously, a loose evening. But the star power. Excepting a couple of brief moments, the Oscars’ cohort of presenters tended to lack both wattage and eagerness to lean into making a moment. Producing the marquee awards show of the year, the Academy’s team would seem to have the opportunity to draw from a bevy of legends. Instead, though, the broadcast felt at times… small. Related Stories How ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’ Producers Helped the Subject’s Family Evacuate Gaza After the Film's Venice Premiere