March 27, 2000
Web posted at: 5:00 p.m. EDT

(CNN) - Dennis Michael is a correspondent for Showbiz Today. Based in CNN's Los Angeles bureau since 1982, Michael's assignments have ranged from the home video market and technological innovations to interviewing Hollywood's hottest celebrities. Michael also produces a weekly "Home Video Preview" and "Tech Guide" segment for Showbiz and produced the "Hollywood Minute" for CNN Headline News.

Dennis Michael joined us on Oscar Night, Sunday, March 26, 2000, to bring us a behind the scenes look at the Oscars. From the Shrine Auditorium, Michael shared predictions, reactions, and backstage stories with our chat audience.

Michael joined us via telephone from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles California and CNN provided a typist for him. The following is an edited transcript of the chat.

Dennis Michael: Well, hello everyone! I just got out of one of the biggest limo traffic jams you've ever seen! The limo driver said there are cars here from Vegas and San Francisco, and every valet parking attendant in the western hemisphere is working here tonight. :-) Big day for those guys! Thank God the weather is good! In fact, the weather is great!

Chat Host: OK, folks, here's your chance! Ask Dennis whatever (within reason) you would like to know about the Oscars so far!

Dennis Michael: 21 years ago, I made my first trip to the Oscars… I was working in radio in Pomona, and I read an article in Variety, and they were requesting credentials for people to go to the Oscars. So I applied, and they gave it to me! I drove my 15-year-old Volkswagen to the Awards, rented a tux, and a Swedish television crew thought I was Jon Voight and asked for an interview. I still regret not giving it! I met Christopher Reeve and Audrey Hepburn... it was great. It still is.

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Question from Angelina: Mr. Michaels: Is the Oscars fun to cover or is it crazy?

Dennis Michael: It is both... there's nothing that can escape the fact that the atmosphere is electric. Every time you turn around, you have the shock of seeing a movie star. "Oh my god, that's..." You know that for every person that's here, there are 200,000 people who are wishing they were. You get that much energy all in one location, and it has an effect. At the same time, I'm in a truck full of people, and we'll be up until 5, 6, or 7 o’clock tomorrow morning working on this. It's been the concentrated center of our work for 3 months. The only thing better than getting to the Oscars is getting them over! As soon as that ends, we'll start working on summer movies.

Our correspondent on the carpet right now is talking to Angelina Jolie. The thing you don't see while watching the arrivals is that you're elbow to elbow with people. There is barely enough room to put your feet... you worry about banging your head on the camera behind you. There's constant maneuvering, because you're afraid to talk to one person, in fear of missing another. Sometimes you have no idea who they are! While you're talking to the nobody, Denzel Washington might go by! You have to keep up this level of energy... arrivals last like 2 hours or more. You have to remember who's who, what movie they were in, what to ask, what NOT to ask... people are whispering in your ear, the control room wants to hear something else… and you're in a tuxedo! Most of us are wearing like black Reeboks, by the way. On the carpet, you go right to the sensible shoes!

Question from Kona: [If you are nominated] like, do you get an Oscar out of the trash or a clean one?

Dennis Michael: You know, if I understand correctly, most were still in their packing... Also, it's true that the Academy ordered a new batch from the manufacturer in Chicago. They also seem to have a supply of blank Oscars in the vault. They'll have all shiny new ones, but look out next year! I don't know for sure, but I think it would be hard to tell if one was from the trash! That was quite a story!

Question from mon: Dennis, speaking of Denzel, do you think the controversy on "The Hurricane" will affect his chances of winning an Oscar?

Dennis Michael: Well, put it into perspective... by far, the largest category, section of the Academy voting members that dwarfs all the others, is the actors. I think the actors will look at performance, not source material. How well he carried it out. Actors alone can sweep it... I figure it's not likely to be a problem. You can't second-guess them, though. I think that will be just a small consideration.

Question from JeffD: Are there any raging controversies this year?

Dennis Michael: Not really... not like the Elia Kazan one last year, for example. There are always controversies, but they seem benign this time. The "Where's Canada" controversy would probably delight the Academy. It gives the show a little zing. The whole situation with the lost ballots and lost Oscars gave the Academy a lot of publicity, but the one group that doesn't need publicity this week is the Academy! Even the Pope doesn't get this coverage! But coming through, there are always protesters outside... this year there seems to be a lot of pro-life/anti-abortion people. They've taken a lot of venom on Ciderhouse Rules. I don't see that as being a controversy inside the carpeted area here, though. That's not an issue that will divide the Academy, as the issue last year with Kazan did. Denzel Washington is now on our hot seat, btw....

Question from JeffD: No tux on Denzel Washington??

Dennis Michael: hmmm, he's wearing a tux, isn't he? Oh, he's wearing a "formal cravat"... I see. It's the leading end of men's haberdashery, actually. It's still a tie, you have satin lapels. It's formal, it's a tuxedo... just a different kind. We're about to go black from the arrivals, by the way... the Academy's official pre-game show starts soon, and the rest of us have to stop. So, whoever you get now, to go live with, will be good... the throng has slowed down. There's always that really adrenaline charged moment, right at the end, where you grab them or lose them... it's the time when the Barbra Streisands of the world show up. This is the period of time when you get really tense and desperate. Dame Judy is being interviewed now. She's on the hot seat at the moment.

Question from bunny: Dennis, were they fair to "The Sixth Sense"?

Dennis Michael: If I had been a voting member, I would have voted for Sixth Sense. It's my kind of picture. Having said that, I can say that I think American Beauty will do well tonight. It deserves to. It's challenging and honest. I'd give it the highest praise... you just don't know what will happen next in it. I think that more praise could be given to Sixth Sense and Green Mile, but to tell the truth, I think everyone was treated well. If there were 10 nominees, the arguments would still exist. But you have to draw the line somewhere.

Question from tokai: Dennis, which movie do you wish to take Oscar?

Dennis Michael: Assuming you mean Best Picture, I would have voted for the Sixth Sense. But that's just me. I fully expect, and this is totally non-scientific, that it will be American Beauty. If it wins, I don't think anyone is getting robbed.

Question from JeffL: Has Vegas given odds on Ms. Bening give birth during the show?

Dennis Michael: I don't know! I can look it up... I'll check the wires real quick! hmmm, not finding it yet... hang on. Nope, don't see anything on odds! But that's the kind of thing that would be Oscar legend, isn't it? Right up there with Sasheen Little Feather, who went up and rejected the Oscar on behalf of Marlon Brando! And the streaker!

Dennis Michael: Hey, it's show time! The set looks great, huh? Oh gosh, here we go with the edited stuff by Chuck Workman. He edits these montages. Oh, wait... this is the opening!

Chat Moderator: A pause as we watch the opening.

Dennis Michael: This is great!!

Dennis Michael: This is wonderful!

Dennis Michael: ROFL!! This is great!

Question from Hollywood_Worm: What do you think of the opening, Mr. Michael?

Dennis Michael: Great opening!!! Oh man! It was wonderful! Best one I've ever seen! Then again, I said that about Whoopi coming out as Elizabeth last year!

Dennis Michael: We'll have lots to talk about tonight!

Dennis Michael: Hey look, Billy is wearing one of those formal cravats.

Dennis Michael: It must be tough for him host, but it sure makes a difference when he does the show.

Dennis Michael: Michael Clarke Duncan... I had a chance to interview him. He's a funny, sweet, terrific guy. I went to the technical Oscars with my 11-year-old daughter, and she had a LONG conversation with him. Not sure what it was about, but she loved it! He towered over her! I asked him yesterday what he'd do now, and he said, "go back and handle the cows!"

Dennis Michael: Oh, there’s Haley Joel Osment. This is the brightest kid I've ever seen. There’s the director is right behind him. That was a terrific picture... I've never seen a "ghost picture" with so much heart. In the end, it was a sweet, warm film. Had a lot of dead people in it, though! If I were to vote for Best Supporting Actor, by the way, I would vote for Haley

Chat Moderator: Why is Osmet nominated for supporting instead of best actor?

Dennis Michael: The supporting actor thing has to do with studios promoting people in certain categories...the studios decide about "actor" and 'supporting actor"... the studios definitely guide that. Sometimes it doesn't work... many years ago, Peter O'Toole was up for best actor for The Stuntman, and someone else was a shoo-in for that award, for another film. Everyone thought O’Toole should have been nominated instead for a supporting actor award, and should have won it for that. It was a real mistake on the part of his studio.

Question from helen: Where can we watch live online?

Dennis Michael: Hmmm, I think oscar.com will provide SOME online stuff.... but remember, this is the Academy's show. They control it. What they say goes. If they don't want it online, it won't be. This is their big night.

Chat Moderator: Thanks for the update... Hope to see you again soon!

Dennis Michael: Okay... I'll be back after a while! See ya!