E! stays with Oscar all day

By Times staff

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 25, 2001

Coverage from AP Oscar Nominees list Best picture Oscars 2001 A.D. When the Gladiator meets the Tiger tonight, the traditions of the academy will prevail. Inside Oscar's arena Ever wonder what it would be like to be a member of the Academy on a night like tonight? Wonder no more. Here's an insider's look. Famous last words Winning an Academy Award is easy compared to figuring out what to say after your name is announced. And the winners are . . . Check the Oscar predictions by St. Petersburg Times film critic Steve Persall, academy member Ed. Cassidy and readers who entered the Times Oscar Contest, predicting the winners as well as picking their favorites. And for those of you keeping score at home tonight, there's room to pencil in your vote. Speaking of winners, we'll announce the winners of our Oscar contest in Thursday's Weekend section.

Broadcast of the 73rd annual Academy Awards begins at 8 tonight on WFTS-TV Ch. 28, and is bound to go past midnight.

Among the televised coverage:

E! Entertainment Television devotes the entire day to Oscar coverage, starting with celebrity profiles on the half-hour from 7 a.m. to noon, then six hours of Countdown to the Red Carpet. At 6 p.m., E! continues with celebrity arrivals at the Oscars. For night owls, E! comes back at midnight with a few hours of post-Oscars programming.

The WB (locally, WTTA-Ch. 38), has an hour of Oscar preshow activities starting at 7 p.m.

Barbara Walters does her traditional pre-Oscar special at 7 p.m. on WFTS-Ch. 28 with actors John Travolta and Kelly Preston, comedian/actor Ben Stiller and his parents Anne Meara and Jerry Stiller, and singer Faith Hill.

And more Oscar coverage

See Monday's St. Petersburg Times for Steve Persall's report on the Oscar show, plus our annual look at Oscar fashion. In Tuesday's Times, Ed. Cassidy will have some awards of his own to hand out from inside the ceremony and the parties.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.