First Lady Michelle Obama was Oscar® nights biggest surprise when she announced the Best Piccture winner from the White House. INSIDE EDITION has details on how the top secret mission was organized.
INSIDE EDITION is learning more about that jaw-dropping surprise of the Oscars® —Michelle Obama’s live satellite appearance from the White House.
She said, “I am so honored to help introduce this year's nominees for Best Picture.”
The first lady wore a smoke gray gown by Naeem Khan. Behind her were military escorts assigned to the White House for social functions. Her appearance was kept top secret right up to the moment Jack Nicholson shocked everyone at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre.
KCAL reporter Serene Branson told INSIDE EDITION, "Michelle Obama is so cool and that was really neat. What a great opportunity for her to bring politics and Hollywood together."
The producers of the awards telecast are now revealing they made a secret trip to Washington two weeks ago to get final approval from Mrs. Obama.
Producer Neil Meron said, "We flew to Washington."
Producer Craig Zadan then replied, "On a private jet."
Meron chimed in and said, "It was very hush-hush and we went to the White House to work out the final details."
Nicholson was holding a second envelope with the Best Picture winner in case anything went wrong with the live satellite transmission. She was handed the winner's envelope by the chairman of the accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Backstage afterwards, Ben Affleck said he couldn't believe the Oscar® announcement was made by the first lady.
He said, “I was just asking these two guys outside, 'Was that Michelle Obama?' The whole thing kind of overwhelmed me at the time, but in retrospect, it was very cool.”
