4 photos in galleryIs J Hud an amazing actor? Her recent turn on Smash says no, despite her Oscar. But MY GOD she can sing, and I think almost every Academy member who saw her absolutely kill on “And I Am Telling You I Am Not Going” last night thought, “yeah, I’d vote for that again.” I thought the Oscars telecast was pretty wretched, but CZJ, Shirley Bassey, Adele, Babs, and Hudson were bright spots. It says something that, on a show peopled with casually sexist “jokes,” the women were highlights of the scripted portion of the evening. And what it says is, “keep talking, little man. You’re only hurting yourself.”
Let’s talk about her outfits!
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Comments (67):
I agree on all the bright spots except CZJ. She was the only one who lip synched, and she did it really badly. Also, her dancing was very hesitant.
No wonder her dancing was hesitant! When I saw her up on stage the only thing I could think was “Honey, you are no longer in your thirties. Time to get down off the piano before you fall and break something.” It looked like that was what she was thinking, as well. And I forgive the lipsynching. Lots o’ choreography plus singing equals gasping for air.
That was my take on it. I also wondered why JHud got to stand and sing in a performance dress, the Les Mis cast basically got to stand and sing in performance dress, but SHE had to actually perform in costume with a whole retinue of dancers.
They could have easily done “Class” with her and Queen Latifah or something less choreograph intensive.
Lip synching can be forgiven, but it was so obvious. And if she wasn’t comfortable doing all those moves, she shouldn’t have agreed to do it. I like her, so I’m not trying to bash her. It reminded me a lot of when Katie Holmes was on So You Think You Can Dance, and CZJ is so much better than that.
I didn’t mind the fact that she lip-synced, after all, the dancing and live and she’s 10 years and 2 kids older, etc. but it was how poorly the lip-syncing was… even when she seemed to notice she was off at one point. But still. She’s amazing, and I’ve got my Chicago DVD to relive it. I’m glad she was a part of it.
Honestly? I thought CZJ looked and sounded like a drag queen.
that is an insult to drag queens everywhere
I didn’t know that Natural Wonders was making dresses now.
I like J.Hud’s performing dress more than her red carpet dress. And I didn’t really like her song that much…it was a little too tortured/screamy to me. I think if she would have started softer and built to a roar it might have been more effective.
I totally agree. I felt like the guy in the old Maxell “Blown Away” ads. I liked Shirley Bassey the best, by far. Talk about commanding a room.
I actually gasped out loud when the curtain went up and Shirley Bassey was standing there. LOVE HER.
Oh, good, I thought I was the only one. JHud has a great voice but I just feel like with that song she is so yell-y and screechy.
I never minded the bolero that much! Hey, it gave us something to talk about, anyway.
I think both of JHud’s frocks are crappy and don’t do much for her. Better than that bolero get-up though.
I thought her hair in the red carpet dress looked awful. Way, way too long, and clearly fake.
Yeah, I’m really sick of this hair style in general (same goes for all of the other ladies with this cut, such as Taylor Swift).
The blue dress was lovely on Hudson, though.
Yes! I think I could have really like the red carpet dress if her hair was up and those terrible bangs were gone.
“Keep talking, little man. You’re only hurting yourself.”
I love you so much for this. wtf was that comment about Jessica Chastain’s character in Zero Dark Thirty? That joke was old 30 years ago!
Jennifer looks awesome in that teal. Don’t love the performance dress as much, but NOBODY was paying attention to her dress when she started singing, DAMN!
Too many musical numbers! I hate that they cut the early winners short on their acceptance speeches but gave ample time for these numbers. And the boobs song.
This. So much this. They rushed deserving winners off the stage with shark music, and yet there were 6 minutes available for a song about boobs. Sigh.
I don’t get the bolero thing?
Behold: http://gofugyourself.com/oscar-fug-carpet-jennifer-huds-02-2007
I had forgotten how bad that was. Yikes.
Eeeeeek! No thanks for the memories. The bolero isn’t as bad as the cheap-looking brown dress. What was ALT thinking?!?
I liked the performance dress, not the blue one. but boy was she scretchy and yelly when she was singing. Maybe it was because of the wierd boob squishing when she had her arm up.
I wish she had worn her hair up. The hair plus the aggressive slit plus all the red carpet mugging is giving me major Lea Michele vibes. You’re better than that, Jennifer.
I thought her performance dress was a wee Sexy Chainmail. But, you know, in a good way.
The dress is fine. But Jen herself is looking hot these days. Which is good because Weight Watchers really didn’t need to have all of their eggs in Jessica Simpson’s basket.
(No knock on either about their weight. Just saying obvs J-Simp is not really a feasible spokesperson for the moment for a diet plan that advises prego people not use it.)
I like both of her dresses [can't comment on her performance, didn't watch], but I don’t like the uber-long hair. I’d like to see her with shoulder length and maybe not so flat-iron straight.
Photo #4, like Mila and Kristen in Forgetting Sarah Marshall:
“You’re so pretty.”
“Really? Oh, no, you’re TOTALLY pretty.”
I much prefered J-Hud in her metallic/nude perf. dress. Nothing against the blue r/c dress but blue on african/american skin doesn’t do much for me.
Yes, CZJ lip-synced her song but dayum she’s still got the moves…10 YEARS LATER!??! That she can still basically pull off that routine in (almost) its original form was really commendable in my estimation.
Shirley Bassey had me standing up fist-pumping by the end of Goldfinger. What a great voice she still has..in her mid-seventies..?? She stole the show!
Sadly, Babs’ voice has really changed over time. I applaud her for getting out there, esp. with her infamous stage-fright and all, and that song is an all-time movie classic. But please, Fug Girls, what was going on with her styling? I’d love a post on that from you. Couldn’t get a very good look at her dress (presume it was DK, as ever..) but my god they made her look old with that ridiculous long blonde hair. I wonder who signed off on that?
Thank you, thank you for that subtle but unmistakable commentary on the host’s “jokes.” Ugh.
What I think it says is “Keep talking, little man, and we’ll STILL laugh because we’re the ones with the memorable performances tonight, we know you’re not being snide but are in fact crass in general about everything; it’s about time we all felt secure in our equality here, and it’s about time we learned to take a damn joke because we have bigger things to worry about than if one of your silly jokes hit a nerve.”
The thing is there ISN’T equality there. The amount of female vs. male nudity in film is worth noting, as is the fact that his irritating “boobs” song featured three topless rape scenes. I won’t go into a rant about sexism in general, but to say that Hollywood isn’t an inherently sexist institution is ignorant, plain and simple.
I agree, Hollywood is completely sexist and a lot of movies make me want to tear my hair out because they’re so blatantly sexist and offensive and they foment aggressiveness toward women.
But the jokes still don’t bother me, I felt the were satirical and shouldn’t bother anyone who isn’t particularly oversensitive about it. But that’s just me. No name calling necessary. Cheers.
Ditto with broadcast TV. Every darn CSI and NCIS begins with a dead, tortured, naked anonymous female body.
I did not like JHud’s blue dress as the fit was a bit too snug and made me focus on her normally non-existent tummy (not intending to start pregnant rumors). Still, she should have gone up a size.
In her defense, the performance outfit was a better fit in the mid-section but a tad tight at top, but she may have wanted to give her boobs the spotlight, which brings me to Seth MacFarlane.
I like that his humor (as tasteless and offensive as it can be), as far as I can see, often is subversive, pointing out stereotypes, absurdities, and the ill, even sick way, we treat each other, as a way to have us look at ourselves even as we laugh about what may be uncomfortable. This came across to me tonight, in the George Clooney joke, the Chris Brown/Rihanna Joke, and others, but it may only be because I am a fan of his TV cartoon sitcoms.
In each of his series…Family Guy, American Dad, and The Cleveland Show…he often makes sure there is an underlying thought about racism, homophobia, sexism and the belittling ways we treat each other. That they get laughs is subversive (in that they can get folks to say, “hey do I really do that”) if the offense is not too great (that is, of course, dependent upon each person’s own sense of propriety).
I know everyone does not appreciate his humor, banal, and for very good reason. On the whole though, I think Seth is one of the few straight guys who does television geared toward straight men that points out that we (and guys in particular) need to look at this stuff. His banality is his entry point to the sometimes sick mind of guys. I think comedians like him need to do it in a way that is accessible to the folks that really aren’t looking to be challenged on this stuff, that is, in a way that is funny to them.
I get that folks don’t think it was appropriate for the Oscars, but that is largely on the producers who hired him to bring in a bigger male 18-34 audience to a program that is skewed demographically toward women and gay men. Undoubtedly, was hired partly because he offends.
Perhaps I cut him too much slack, but I do get his humor, and I believe he mostly delivered funny jokes at The Oscars tonight.
I am sick to death of her screaming at me. Enough.
‘No one ever admits, out loud, that Jennifer Hudson never would have gotten that role if she hadn’t been heavy at the time.” ~ post on TWOP.
The ladies killed it in the performances. I am not a fan of JHuds stringy hair, the blue dress is ok but the slit is quite aggressive. Picture 3?? OUCH!
The blue dress is pretty, but I don’t love it and I think her extra straight (and long) hair is hindering more than helping it. I almost like the performance dress more just for its simplicity. And I agree, she did seem a bit “yell-y” during her performance– she’s a got a great voice, but I kind of wanted ear plugs.
I thought that, in general, the sound mixing of the musical performances was not very good, and several of the singers were too loud. Because Hudson has a huge voice, this made her screaming painful to hear. I have a new appreciation for the Grammys now; it’s obviously difficult to get the balance right for a live telecast.
The dress is … odd and okay, but I hate her blue shoes.
JH’s dresses were unremarkable, IMHO. But when a singer’s on stage, I’m not so much looking at their dress and I am focused on their voice. JH did not impress me much, lots of yelling and over-extending. SB was the best (and she looked pretty darn good, too). Babs hit some beautiful notes and the song is a classic. I love Adele but the theme to Skyfall is an awful song. CZJ … I never did understand the Oscar she won for Chicago. Tune in to the Tony Awards to see this kind of thing done right.
What greatwhitenorthchick said. Exactly.
But what about J Hud’s shoes? Her terrible, terrible royal blue shoes that clashed with her gown? Did I say terrible yet?
That is what I came to the comments to say! THE SHOES ARE A MONSTROSITY! Any outfit will look terrible because of them!!
Why wasn’t Moulin Rouge included in the tribute to musical movies? It came before all of the ones highlighted last night. And who wouldn’t have loved to see a Nicole Kidman/Ewan McGregor reunion? “Come what may….”
Good Question! It would have been great to see a Nicole/Ewan duet.
She wore hot pink lipstick with the blue at the VF party, and the whole thing clicked together.
I thought her performance was incredible. She was amazing, so she gets a pass from me.
Not feeling either of these. Both dresses are fine on their own, and Jennifer is looking great these days, but she can carry off much richer colors. Neither one is doing much for her.
The guy on the far left of the first photo wins the night for me. That facial expression is epic. I’ve no idea what was going on, but I like to think Helena Bonham Carter and Jennifer Lawrence were doing pre-game shots together.
Noel! Ha.
“Walking is totally overrated.”
Not based on every single person, even the ones without glass cuts in their feet, either staggering or waddling in their skin-tight skirts onto the stage, Meryl Streep picking her dress out of her buttcrack after treading on it, and the culminating moment of the Best Actress taking a faceplant up the stairs. I applaud JHud for admitting she can’t walk in non-slit formalwear, since nobody else would.
I love a well-deployed “whilst.”
I just have to say I am a lady and I thought Seth crushed it last night. But then again I am a huge Family Guy fan and like his sense of humor. I don’t feel the least bit offended by him as a lady but maybe it’s just cause I think he’s hilarious. I think I’m more offended by all these people calling it sexist. Maybe to you but don’t lump me in with you please!
A few of them were pretty offensive (the boobs song topped it; see bex’s excellent comment above). But most of them were just so … dated. Like the ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ joke – same old “women are nagging harpies, amirite?” crap that we can easily get from any subpar sitcom nowadays.
Neither dress wowed me, but I liked both. Count me in with those who’d like to see her wearing better hair.
The 1st dress is FINE… It’s fun and she looks good in it, but it doesn’t wow me! The performance dress is simple, yet beautiful in a great metallic color, and she rocked it! ½ FAB!
OMG, that 2nd pic is HILARIOUS! GFY Jessica, I dare you to go as her for Halloween this year and replicate the dress, the hair and that face expression all night! FUN!!!
CZJ is turning into Carol Channing. I said this on Facebook last night and I stand by my statement. It was just…odd.
J-Hud wanted to remind everyone that THAT song wins awards. I’m sure if they make a Dreamgirls TV show, someone will win an Emmy for singing that song. It’s just a fantastic song designed for an insane voice. And hell yes they’d vote for her again.
my only issue with the slit is that it was in the front of the dress verses in the back or up one of the legs (usually the left). WHO started that trend of putting them there? I hate it
I wish she’d been a little less matchy-matchy accesories wise. She didn’t even match WELL.
I laughed out loud at the Real Housewives voice over bit. Good lord! Make it happen.
So glad some people feel ho hum about last night like me. I had no idea who Seth was and the first 15mins or so were so dull. I thought he’d never stop. But he did pick up and has a great voice.
As for the music, Bassey and Streisand were far and away the best even though they’re well beyond their prime. Hudson screamed from behind a mask, Adele was just so mediocre from behind another mask, CZJ just ho hum and miming (can’t they choreograph to suit the singing for crying out loud?) and Norah (yawn) Jones…..I can’t think what she was doing out there.
Her red carpet dress was a glittery blue alligator. Just awful. Performance dress such an improvement.
I really hated her performance to over done & yelly!
“Fitz and Noel.” tee hee
What bothers me about the metallic dress is that in slide #3, I’m pretty sure I can see the front V of her panties and string elastic ’round to the thong. And yes, it’s probably because of the angle/intensity of theater lighting (as opposed to red carpet), but I really don’t want to see Uns on Stage.
Love the gown, dont like the singer. Is it just me or does she seem to scream rather than sing?