Traditionally, the most difficult part of producing the Academy Awards ceremony every year is keeping it on schedule, with the show ending at midnight. Winners' acceptance speeches often run too long, and cutting them off seems mean-spirited. Last night, they were expected to contain statements about representation, diversity, and sexual harassment, so host Jimmy Kimmel made keeping speeches short into a competition of sorts.
The meme-worthy moment happened after Kimmel encouraged nominees to give passionate, but short speeches at the awards show. He joked that whoever gave the shortest acceptance speech would also go home with a $17,999 jet ski which legendary actress Helen Mirren modeled onstage.
Whoever gives the shortest speech at tonight's #Oscars goes home with a brand new jet ski. Sam Rockwell has already given it a shot. https://t.co/exBwXiE7dz pic.twitter.com/2H3wzFXVbk
— ABC News (@ABC) March 5, 2018
At the end of the broadcast, the jet ski was given to Mark Bridges, who won the Oscar for Best Costume Design (for Phantom Thread) and gave a speech of only 36 seconds. That also came with a free stay at a Days Inn in Lake Havasu, and a life vest.
Costume designer Mark Bridges wins the jet ski for the shortest speech of the evening. https://t.co/lJd891ISOk #Oscars pic.twitter.com/HQI5x8TuOa
— ABC News (@ABC) March 5, 2018
You'll see jokes passed around about this everywhere in the next few days. -via Mashable