When Are The Oscars?: 2012 Academy Awards Start Time, Best Picture Nominees And Fun Facts

We've seen the movies and cast our picks, but as Hollywood's biggest night draws near, there's only one question in mind: Who will take home the Oscar?

Celebrities will walk the red carpet and take their seats on Sunday for the 84th Academy Awards slated to begin at 8:30 p.m. ET on February 26, 2012. The show will be broadcast on ABC, and host Billy Crystal will attempt to entertain the crowd for the first time since 2004.

Viewers eager to see their favorite stars on the red carpet can tune in to ABC at 7 p.m. ET and watch celebrities arrive at the Los Angeles venue. Stations such as TV Guide and E! will also be reporting from the red carpet. For showtimes, check your TV listings here.

If you're not near a television, there's no need to miss out on the Oscars action. Hidden cameras backstage will give viewers access to footage of their favorite actors in the audience, lobby, the winners' walk and more. The footage will be streamed online at Oscars.com.

And this year, nine nominees vie for Best Picture: "The Artist", "The Descendants," "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close", "The Help", "Hugo", "Midnight In Paris", "Moneyball", "The Tree of Life" and "War Horse."

"The Artist," might be the first silent film to take home an Oscar for Best Picture since the first Academy Awards, the Star observes. "Wings," a World War I film, took home the honor in 1929.

Just ahead of the 84th Academy Awards, however, money problems signaled the end for one Oscars staple.

The Kodak Theatre has been host to the Oscars since 2002, but with recent financial hardships, Eastman Kodak Co. has had to forfeit sponsorship of the venue, the Associated Press reports. The location will be referred to as the “Hollywood & Highland Center" during the show.

The first Academy Awards ceremony was held at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in 1929. The Academy began using sealed envelopes in 1941, after the Los Angeles Times broke embargo and published the names of the winners in its evening edition on the night of the awards in 1940.


Hosting an Oscars watch party? Print out Moviefone's ballot, and start up a friendly competition with friends.

Take a look at some photos from over 80 years of the Oscars.

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Comments

[rafael000]

01:42 PM on 02/27/2012

The Oscars for years have been so predictable and boring they have been loosing viewers for years. They have become too political for my taste.

[Hope4us2change]

08:53 AM on 02/27/2012

Hollywood and the entire film industry has let the American public down for years. Last night, I hope was a wake up call for the producers and directors as a French "silent film" won their highest award. Yesterday, I watched an old film called "Rear Window" with James Stewart. It is a classic well done film for many reasons: It has no R rated violence, no car crashes or buildings blowing up, and it has a wonderful story line with great acting. It's time to entertain the audiences again--we don't need 2 hours of depressing "social issues"--this is not true entertainment--these are documentaries!! I want to leave the theatre enthralled with the UPLIFTING story line, the beautiful costumes, and the music played by thrilling orchestras. There you go, Mr. Producer--this is your formula for success--get off your thumbs and make movies that the whole family can attend and love!! Enough of scrapping the bottom of the barrel for something to make a statement--You are the entertainment industry--so entertain!!!

[Hope4us2change]

09:16 AM on 02/27/2012

Hollywood directors, writers and producers should be scratching their heads today as a French "silent film" won their highest award last night. For years, Hollywood has made sub-standard and cheap films that fall flat. They have strived to make movies with R ratings, shocking "social issues", and now, hopefully, they got a wake up call -- they just don't work. Stop all the car chases, buildings blowing up, R rated bedroom scenes, and depressing social issues. I do not want to see a movie about a woman dressing up like a man. Make us movies that are based on true life hero's, movies with uplifting story lines. Bring back glamorous costumes again. I want to hear beautiful orchestras and memorable songs. Most of all, make movies that have happy endings--we want to leave the theatre uplifted and glad we came. Come on Hollywood--you are the entertainment industry--take a lesson from the great classics--the people want to see romantic love stories, great story lines, and great acting. Please, please drop the R ratings!! Now go ... you have the formula...step up, class up, and entertain us!

[foyonu1923]

08:42 AM on 02/27/2012

Who belongs to the board of governors.....Let me take a guess....Old deaf men and women that were born during the Silent Movie Era and therefore nostalgia TOOK OVER THEIR BEST JUDGEMENT. What is wrong with this people........maybe a change of this old group is long overdue...The Artist is the worst movie ever ...I DO NOT RECOMMEND ANYBODY ..spending their hard earned money to see this movie....I HAVENT.........WAKE UP PEOPLE ..YOU ARE DEFINITELY NOT IN TOUCH WITH MOVIEGOERS AROUND THE WORLD.....except in France...

[StRicky1013]

12:09 AM on 02/27/2012

It was just plain and simple " bad taste " !!! The BIGGEST night for Hollywood's movie stars, writers, directors etc... and this idiot just had to try to ruin it...let's see how many movie offers he gets after this little stunt...I guess I just don't share my sense of humor as most of the people that posted in here about this...either that OR maybe I have a bit more class ...???

[SkeeBee]

09:52 PM on 02/26/2012

"Everything You Need To Know About The 2012 Oscars"

"need"?
I can quantify that succinctly:
"Nothing".

[Vikingdave]

07:13 PM on 02/26/2012

Think I'll curl up with a good book instead.
http://www.politicalcartoons.com/cartoon/6a1321c6-4a6d-44a0-984f-6feb8fdc8697.html

[Booji Boy]

06:54 PM on 02/26/2012

Everything You Need To Know About The 2012 Oscars In One Word: Boring.

[Oregonlib]

06:23 PM on 02/26/2012

I've only seen two of them, Hugo and Moneybll. I liked them both.

[cincinnati]

02:45 AM on 02/27/2012

a bit disappointed with Hugo....
as a Scorsese film I expected it to be
more complex....I'd give it about a B

[Tuigim]

04:52 PM on 02/26/2012

In a fair world A Separation would win the Oscar for Best Picture
but sadly it is stuck in the Foreign Film section.
Considering how the film forces us to re-examine all we thought about Iran and about ourselves, maybe the Academy should watch it and rethink the rules.

[Rick Eriksen]

05:12 PM on 02/26/2012

Just a curious, but if you use the avatar no fear…then why do you not use your own picture and your own name…you know instead of an avatar and screen name…just curious…

[Deborah Beck]

04:43 PM on 02/26/2012

Does anyone else feel that the Oscars are being over hyped this year?

[Jack E Jett]

04:17 PM on 02/26/2012

Let me be the first to say that I want to thank God.

[kevinbr38]

05:32 PM on 02/26/2012

What about your high school drama teacher? Lol.

[Oregonlib]

06:21 PM on 02/26/2012

That jerk? No way!

[btown]

03:57 PM on 02/26/2012

How else are the actors supposed to know if they're any good at work? Actors get to rate each other and increase their salaries by the millions. I have a performance review from my boss every year. My reward for good work is more work, and that which I am thankful for.

[politicky]

03:47 PM on 02/26/2012

Wow. I haven't seen one of those movies.

[Salty too]

03:36 PM on 02/26/2012

A bunch of people patting themselves on the back and telling each other how wonderful they are.

[CrazyBird54]

05:24 PM on 02/26/2012

People who are outside the movie industry don't realize that these super rich actors who seem so confident and self assured are usually very insecure, many of them late bloomers who suffered through being the "weird kid" in school. I have been both in and out of the movie industry, and let me assure you actors are just like anyone else, some are major jerks, some sweethearts, many insecure despite theri fame and fortune. My feelings to those who have strong feelings about the Oscars, don't watch, and for those of us who enjoy seeing the pretty dresses and watching people being rewarded for their work let us enjoy it. Also the Oscars are not just about the, as you see it, rich self absorbed actors, There are many people behind the scenes, camera men, special effects people- the editors and sound people, the usually unsung heros that make the movies what they are.. Movie people work really hard for their money- filming at 5 AM and many times ending at 8 or 9 O'clock at night. The Oscars are the only awards show that really rewards and highlights those behind the scenes people. Just because all you see is the money, the fame and all the stories by the pulp press don't judge the whole industry by that...I presume you do watch movies because most people do.....

[liberalandproud72]

07:57 PM on 02/26/2012

people always find reasons to hate. I love the movies...I love The Oscars. I know one these days I will be making a speech while holding that golden bald man :)

[StRicky1013]

12:07 AM on 02/27/2012

EXTREMELY WELL SAID !!! Thank you !!! :)

[CSNC]

03:18 PM on 02/26/2012

"2012 Academy Awards: What You Need To Know"

Here is what I and you need to know: A big waste of fracking time, watching super rich stroking super rich.

H

[AWL]

06:01 PM on 02/26/2012

Time better spent fracking?

[CSNC]

06:10 PM on 02/26/2012

AWL,

Absolutely... don't see any other way.

H

[Oregonlib]

06:28 PM on 02/26/2012

Well, fracking does produce a lot more natural gas than not fracking, but there is the issue of ground water contamination. There, I said it.