WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former Vice President Al Gore's faux-presidential announcement at last night's Academy Awards harkened back to a similar stunt pulled by Sen. Barack Obama last December.

In both cases, the two men received very valuable media exposure to large audiences.

Obama introduced a December 11 Monday Night Football match-up between his hometown Chicago Bears and the St. Louis Rams. During the minute-introduction Obama told viewers, "After a lot of thought and a good deal of soul-searching, I'd like to announce to all of America that I'm ready... for the Chicago Bears to go all the way!"

At last night's Oscars Gore said, "My fellow Americans, I'm going to take this opportunity right here and now to formally announce my intention..." before the Oscar orchestra strategically cut him off.

Obama's appearance reached over 11 million viewers and would have cost the Illinois senator nearly $400,000 in airtime.

Gore got nearly five minutes on stage, an appearance that would have cost the former vice president over $5 million. Full Oscar ratings are not in yet, but early overnight numbers say in 55 of the nation's top markets, the telecast was seen in 27.7 percent of total households and in 42 percent of households with TV's on.

Obama's faux-announcement was followed up by a real announcement on February 10. No word if a real announcement from Gore is in the future.