tv spotlight
by bill biss
TURNER CLASSIC MOVIES’
DAVE KARGER ALL ABOUT OSCAR, ALL MONTH LONG
O
n Turner Classic Movies (TCM) there is the “Hollywood Name,” the “Dark Alley Man,” the “Silent Type,” the “Bombshell” and the “Dapper Dave.” I’m not talking movie characters but my nicknames for the five hosts of the classic film channel. So, it was truly a joy to talk with host Dave Karger about the return of 31 Days of Oscar, which for the first time on the network is all film winners of the coveted award all month on TCM, and the 2022 Oscar season plus some Oscar history along the way. It’s a distinct pleasure to speak with you about TCM and 31 Days of Oscar. Thank you for taking the time. Nice to meet you as well, Bill! The COVID pandemic and the new-fangled option of home streaming motion pictures loomed large over the motion picture industry over the past two years. Like the old dialogue, “Who’s gonna pay for it, how about that?” What is your take on where the film industry is at in 2022? I think COVID has forever changed the movie business, for sure. From now on, I’d say going to a movie theatre to see a film is going to be the exception for people, not the rule. Between Netflix, Amazon, HBO Max and TCM, of course, almost anything you could want to need to see is available for you at home. But I do think that certain types of films, like superhero movies or horror films, will continue to draw big audiences to theatres. Let’s talk 2022 Oscar nominees briefly. I don’t have a crystal ball but just my gut feelings. Best Picture: West Side Story. Best Director: Ann Campion. Best Actor: Benedict Cumberbatch. Best Actress: I would love if Nicole Kidman won as I think she did a tremendous job of
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portraying Lucille Ball. And I’m just giving a “shout out” for Kirsten Dunst and Maggie Gyllenhaal to win as Supporting and Adapted Screenplay, as I’ve loved their talents since Mona Lisa Smile. Dave, in your opinion, who are you betting on for those categories and nominees? I do think it’s going to be a big night for The Power the Dog. I expect Jane Campion to win for Best Director and Adapted Screenplay, and I also think it will win Best Picture, although Belfast does have a shot to upset it. In the acting categories, my bets are Will Smith, Nicole Kidman, Kodi Smit-McPhee and Ariana DeBose. I’m truly pleased that 31 Days of Oscar is back. How did the five of you plan on who hosts which film and do you round-table together based on genre, categories or favorite Oscar-Winning films? Personally, “I’ll take musicals for $200, Dave.” How does this hosting process work? The 31 Days of Oscar schedule is all devised by our brilliant team of programmers. One of my timeslots is Monday evenings, which this year will feature winners from the first decade of the Oscars, from 1929 to 1939. It’s fascinating to see what kinds of films won Oscars that early on, often visual spectacles like war films or musicals.
