Idiot Box: How To Overdose On Oscar This Academy Awards Night

Get Your Fill Of Academy Award Coverage

\ Feb 27, 2014

3 min read

For the most dedicated of movie fans, the Academy Awards aren’t just a list of the past year’s cinematic highlights. They’re also a chance to revel in all things Hollywood. Real Oscar addicts know this Sunday, March 2, they need to start tuning in to what’s happening out in Los Angeles at the Dolby Theatre as early as humanly possible. ABC is happy to indulge you by beginning its coverage early with the syndicated celebrity news show “On the Red Carpet (KOAT-7 2pm). That’s followed by “Hollyscoop” (KOAT-7 2:30pm)—which sounds like a reality show about a Los Angeles ice cream parlor, but is actually more celebrity news. Serious coverage of the Big Dance gets underway with “The Road to Gold: An Academy Award Preview” (KOAT-7 3pm). This “insider’s look into Hollywood’s biggest night” features the “closest races, biggest surprises, nominee interviews and behind-the-scenes reports.” Oh, man, the excitement is getting thick. But that’s not all. The foreplay continues with “Entertainment Tonight” (KOAT-7 4pm), broadcasting live from the red carpet. Officially sanctioned red carpet coverage follows with “Oscars Red Carpet Live!” (KOAT-7 5pm). Robin Roberts, Lara Spencer, Jess Cagle and Tyson Beckford will be there to ambush stars and quiz them about who they’re wearing (Marchesa) and how they’re feeling (nervous). Finally we cap it all off with “The Oscars” (KOAT-7 6:30pm), as they’re now officially known (as opposed to the far wordier “Academy Awards.”) Ellen DeGeneres hosts. (How long before the first Ellen Page joke?) U2, Pharrell Williams, Idina Menzel, Karen O and Bette Midler perform. Drink it in, movie freaks. Drink it in.

But ABC isn’t the only network trying to get a piece of the Oscar spotlight. Wanna follow Amy Adams as she frog-marches down the red carpet firing line of reporters? (“Marchesa. Nervous. … Marchesa. Nervous. … Marchesa. Nervous.”) Try bouncing over to “Countdown to the Red Carpet: The 2014 Academy Awards” (E! 2:30pm) or “TVGN Live with ET at The Oscars” (TV Guide 3pm). Between ABC, E! and TV Guide Network, you should get every angle on every star showing up that evening.

Of course, if this year’s selection of Oscar-nominated films doesn’t float your boat, you could always flee to Turner Classic Movies. The network will be hosting an all-day marathon of past Best Picture winners. Things get started bright and early with Oliver! (TCM 5am), followed by My Fair Lady (TCM 8am), The Bridge on the River Kwai (TCM 11pm), Lawrence of Arabia (TCM 2pm), Ruggles of Red Gap (TCM 10:45pm) and Top Hat (TCM 12:30am). Now there’s some movie love for ya.

And for those dyed-in-the-wool fans, don’t forget to tune in again Monday, March 3, for “Fashion Police” (E! 10:30pm). There, host Joan Rivers and pals will recap the fashion do’s and don’ts from the 2014 Academy Awards red carpet. (Marchesa? Who would have known?) It’s the perfect “cool down” for the movie-loving, celeb-worshipping, fashion-ogling fan in all of us.