Craig Zadan

The directorial duo Craig Zadan and Neil Meron have become favorites around Hollywood come awards season and now they’ve been called on again to produce the 2015 Oscars ceremony. This will be Zadan and Meron’s third consecutive year running the live broadcast after this year’s ceremony brought in the best ratings in 14 years. Almost 44 million viewers in the United States tuned into the ABC live telecast of Hollywood's biggest night, hosted by comedian, talk show host and potential demigod Ellen Degeneres, 8 percent more than the previous year and the highest number since 2000, according to Nielsen ratings data, via Reuters.

Zadan and Meron's last turn at the Oscars was nothing short of a rousing success.

Whatever Zadan and Meron are doing – so far they have been banking on broad social media appeal – has been working.

Continue reading: #Oscars2015? Zadan And Meron To Produce Academy Awards For Third Consecutive Year

Oscar producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron made a controversial hit out of the Oscars last year, but they might be on thin ice this time. Getting Seth McFarlane to host anything is a risky bet and his antics last year got a lot of people – notably the feminist crowd – pretty riled up. The controversy served its purpose. Last year’s show pulled in 40.3 million US viewers, the largest audience the show has had in three years. Zadan and Meron’s show was a hit with the key 18-49 demographic and the duo were invited back this year.

Ellen might be a safer choice for host, but she is far from boring.

And yet. The choice of Ellen for this year’s host suggests that the producers were at least a little bit intimidated by last year’s backlash. This year’s host, Ellen, while hilarious and ever entertaining, is a much safer option and has proven appeal with the Oscars’ key demo – women.

Continue reading: Oscar Producers Zadan And Meron Tease Some Of This Year's Biggest Moments

Apart from the award show itself, the Oscar luncheon is the event of Oscar season. Unlike the more stressful award ceremony, the luncheon is an informal opportunity for all Oscar nominees to mingle, regardless of their popularity or likelihood of winning. Attendees of the luncheon receive a goodie bag, a certificate and the chance to mingle with others at their randomly assigned table and the entire event. The Academy also places a member of their Board of Governors at host each table. For an informal event, there are quite a few rules, but this is the Academy, after all.

Oscar producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron made a point of telling them a billion people will be watching in more than 225 countries and that the time begins the moment they hit the microphone and they will have only 45 seconds. “But don’t be nervous,” Zadan said by way of advice to the attendees, according to Deadline. “Just prepare”.

Oscar vets Craig Zadan and Neil Meron already know a thing or two about the luncheon.

Continue reading: "Just Prepare", Oscar Producers Advise Nominees At Annual Luncheon

Ellen Degeneres has been announced as the host of The Oscars for 2014, confirming our fears that the Academy would lose its bottle after the Seth Macfarlane debacle and retreat to safe, fluffy ground for next year.

"It's official: I'm hosting the #Oscars! I'd like to thank@TheAcademy, my wife Portia and, oh dear, there goes the orchestra," the comedienne and talk show host tweeted on Friday (August 2, 2013).

"We are thrilled to have Ellen DeGeneres host the Oscars," said producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who managed to survive the cull from last year, "As a longtime friend, we had always hoped to find a project for us to do together and nothing could be more exciting than teaming up to do the Oscars. 

Continue reading: Has The Academy Lost Its Nerve Hiring Ellen DeGeneres As Oscars Host?

Despite widespread criticism – although primarily directed at the host, Seth Macfarlane – The Oscars 2013 was considered a success by The Academy due to the high ratings, especially in the much coveted demographic of ‘young people’.

And in that light, the decision to bring Caig Zadan and Neil Meron back as producers seems less strange. The ceremony was rich in set pieces; Macfarlane, Joseph Gordon Levitt and Daniel Radcliffe did a number, as did the entire crew of Les Miserables. Turns out, people love all that.

Partners in crime - Zadan [L] and Meron [R] will work on The Oscars again

Continue reading: High Ratings See Craig Zadan And Neil Meron Re-Hired For Oscars 2014

Michelle Obama was the surprise turn at an otherwise predictable Oscars ceremony in Los Angeles on Sunday evening (February 24, 2013), presenting the prize of Best Picture to Iranian hostage drama Argo via video-link up. A debate soon erupted on social networking sites: was it right and proper for the First Lady of the United States of America to be getting involved with the Oscars? Right or not, it proved one hell of a job keeping the whole thing under wraps, as the New York Times has since discovered.

"The Academy Awards approached the first lady about being a part of the ceremony," said Kristina Schake, a spokeswoman for Mrs. Obama. "As a movie lover, she was honored to present the award and celebrate the artists who inspire us all, especially our young people, with their passion, skill and imagination." The original idea to have Mrs Obama participate in the ceremony was hatched by the producers, with film mogul Harvey Weinstein also having a hand in proceedings. "Literally from the first day we were hired we thought, 'How can we make this special?'" said Neil Meron, who helmed the event with Craig Zadan. "We were hoping Obama would win [the elected] so we could have our plan executed." Meron and Zadan soon discovered that Mr Weinstein was pretty close to the Obama family, and the Django Unchained producer made the initial calls. "If we went through normal channels the odds were small it would happen," said Zadan.

The initial plan was for Mrs Obama to guest at the awards show, though the First Lady had a conflict of engagements. After agreeing on a video-link, Meron and Zadan were given a private flight for the trip to Washington though told people they were heading to New York to avoid suspicion. The only other invited Oscars guest to know of the surprise was actor Jack Nicholson, who presented Mrs Obama from the stage in Hollywood. Wearing a shimmering Naeem Khan gown, the First Lady did the honours and opened the all-important envelope to reveal Ben Affleck's C.I.A drama as the winner of this year's Oscar for Best Picture. 

Continue reading: How Secrets And Lies Got Michelle Obama To The Oscars

The man behind one of the USA's most controversial comedies Family Guy, as well as its spin off The Cleveland Show, and American Dad, Seth Macfarlane will be hosting the 85th Oscars on Sunday 24th February, 2013. MacFarlane's latest work was ‘Ted’, the comedy about a mischievous animated bear voiced by MacFarlane himself and starring Mark Wahlberg and Mila Kunis.

The Academy Awards producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron said “We are thrilled to have Seth MacFarlane host the Oscars. His performing skills blend perfectly with our ideas for making the show entertaining and fresh... He will be the consummate host, and we are so happy to be working with him."

In response to this tremendous accolade, MacFarlane responded by saying "It's truly an overwhelming privilege to be asked to host the Oscars” and in true comedic tradition, followed this saying, "My thoughts upon hearing the news were, one, I will do my utmost to live up to the high standards set forth by my predecessors; and two, I hope they don't find out I hosted the Charlie Sheen Roast."

Continue reading: Seth MacFarlane To Host Oscars 2013