Peter Gabriel Pulls Out of Oscars
Friday, February 13, 2009 10:30:00 AM PT, E! Online

Peter Gabriel won't be in your—or anyone else's—eyes come Oscar night.

The singer has pulled out of performing his Best Song nomination on the awards show after producers, in one of their many concerted efforts this year to increase telecast ratings and otherwise shake things up, limited him to just 65 seconds on stage.

His nominated tune, "Down to Earth" from Wall-E, clocks in at just under six minutes.

"I'm an old fart and it's not going to do me any harm to make a little protest," Gabriel said in a video posted to his website. "But the ceremony should be fun and I'm looking forward to it."

In his place, Gabriel said he hopes the Soweto Gospel Choir would step in to perform the highly condensed version of the song, expected to be part of a medley with the other two Best Song nominees, A.R. Rahman's "Jai Ho" and "O Saya," both from Slumdog Millionaire.

"I do think it's a bit unfortunate," Gabriel said of producers' decision to shoehorn the songs into one performance. "The songwriters, even though they're a small part of the filmmaking process, we still work bloody hard and I think deserve a place in the ceremony as well."

Despite his decision not to take the stage, Gabriel will still be in attendance at the 81st Annual Academy Awards Feb. 22. The Academy has yet to comment on Gabriel's withdrawal.

I just finished watching a documentary from 4 or 5 years ago called "Born Into Brothels" which really touched. More than any of the movies I've seen lately. It was about the whores of Calcutta & what their kids face.

Hugh Jackman is awful. I watched 10 minutes & switched to real life. I also saw James Bond disparage America in the 50's. LOL It's the most of this crapfest I've watched since Chris Rock hosted.

No, not really. I love Nadal especially when he kicks Federer's ass.

I used to watch them> Maybe because that's all that was on back then? LOL

Batman was tough.

Some Guy wrote on Feb 22^nd, 2009 at 9:07pm:

again, this makes no sense. this movie was mildly entertaining but not oscar worthy.

unless, of course, everything else sucks.

SAL movie of the year... every year.

I caught the end of the show whilst talking on the phone & I gotta say, Oscar sucked! The stage was way to low, Jackman's thick accent was impenetrable at times, 5 men/women to give out the awards was odd & then they showed stills & scenes of previous winners w/o emphasizing this year's nominees. Badly done.

Voodoo Scrounge wrote on Feb 23^rd, 2009 at 5:28am:


Honorary oscars are lifetime achievement awards for the likes of Orson Welles and Stephen Spielberg. What has Ledger achieved to warrant one - dying prematurely?

If he shouldnt have won best supporting oscar, then he sure as hell didnt deserve an honorary one. By that yardstick, theyd be giving out dozens of honorary ones every year for dead people. If sentiment helped win him the Oscar, then its less a big deal than if he'd won an 'honorary' award. I dont think it's a waste at all. I'm sure his family consider it a worthy tribute.

Glad 'our Kate' won one at last.

lotsajizz wrote on Feb 23^rd, 2009 at 7:08am:



ditto. the academy is a political party dominated by the same lame types that are found in the recording industry. a triumph of commerce over art. fortunately this year they got it right with ms winslet with a nice performance in a vehicle designed to get her an award. mr penn a worthy winner. no suprises here movies involving causes that are dear to the academy the holocaust and gay rights and a nod to a feel good film whose market hollywood seeks capital and viewers from. the real hollywood on vivid display with brad pitt and ms jolie as a nominees. certainly my steamy poo is more worthy than any "performance" by him except his hilarious real life character in burn after reading. ms jolie nominated for her role but not mr eastwood for two films. do these people have souls?

Political, indeed. One would think gay marriage was the #1 issue of the day.

You DO have an eye for talent Mr. Gazza!