TV SPOTLIGHT

TURNER CLASSIC MOVIES’ DAVE KARGER ALL ABOUT OSCAR, ALL MONTH LONG

On 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 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.

“ALL OF US AT TCM HAVE BEEN SO PLEASED TO HEAR, ESPECIALLY OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS, HOW MUCH THE NETWORK IS A COMFORT TO THEM. SO MANY PEOPLE TELL US THAT THEY HAVE THE CHANNEL ON ALL DAY LONG.”

Let’s get in the time machine and spin the dial to 1952. What imagery and circumstances of that year’s Oscar ceremony rings a bell with your knowledge of film history? Five Oscars were awarded to The Bad and The Beautiful, yet The Greatest Show on Earth won for Best Picture of the Year. As hokey as Charlton Heston’s acting was, I will always love Betty Hutton and Gloria Grahame in TGSOE. She makes me laugh and smile every time viewing and enjoyed her so distinct talent. Glad Gloria won best supporting actress for The Bad and The Beautiful. No nomination for Lana Turner as best actress but Kirk Douglas got one for best actor . . . huh!

Well, that as you may know was one of the early televised Oscar ceremonies, so the glamour quotient was certainly heightened. I’m not sure The Greatest Show on Earth stands the test of time as a deserving Best Picture winner, and it is bizarre that The Bad and the Beautiful won so many Oscars without a Best Picture nomination. And I’ll never understand why Singin’ in the Rain only managed two measly nominations. I can only guess it’s because An American in Paris had done so well just the year before.

Wow, that’s right. As it relates to Turner Classic Movies and programming, and this is just my thought, maybe go into the times of these films and why it changed from “motion picture musical or comedy” and “best dramatic score” to “original score” from The Academy over the years? I have collected film scores for 50 years now, from Lost Horizon to Giant. Thoughts on this category for the awards?

It’s been so interesting to see how the original score category has evolved over the decades. And these days so many adventurous scores are often in the mix thanks to composers like Nicholas Britell, Jonny Greenwood, and Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. This year I expect Hans Zimmer to win for Dune, which would be his first Oscar win in 27 years.

It’s been a pleasure. If you will please tell Alicia Malone I have a crush on her and the very best to the rest of your crew at TCM. Also, if there is anything else, you’d like to say about yourself and your love for classic films, now is your chance.

All of us at TCM have been so pleased to hear, especially over the last two years, how much the network is a comfort to them. So many people tell us that they have the channel on all day long. We’re so glad to be able to keep people company!

31 Days of Oscar kicks off on March 1 on TCM. tcm.com/31days