http://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Best-picture-screwup-provide-one-of-Oscar-s-10961493.php
Best picture screwup provides one of Oscar’s memorable moments
Updated 11:22 pm, Sunday, February 26, 2017
La La Land Thought They Won Best Picture. They Didn't.
Media: MediaOS VideoSunday night’s Oscar ceremony will probably be remembered for nothing but its last five minutes, which saw the most colossal and embarrassing screw-up in Oscar history. Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway announced the best picture winner, “La La Land,” and the producers got up and started making their acceptance speeches. Best actress winner Emma Stone was tearing up with joy.
But then, after several speeches, one of the ABC show’s producers interrupted the festivities: Dunaway, handed the card by a confused Beatty, had read out the wrong name. The winner, in fact, was “Moonlight.” It took a moment for the audience to absorb the news. But it was no joke. It was a massive error, the kind that people will be talking about for years.
It seems that Beatty may have been handed the wrong envelope, a duplicate envelope indicating Stone as the best actress winner for her performance in “La La Land.”
“I opened the envelope and it said, ‘Emma Stone, “La La Land.”’ That’s why I took such a long look at Faye and at you,” Beatty explained with a shrug. “I wasn’t trying to be funny.”
Cast and crew of 'Moonlight' accept the Best Picture award onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Cast and crew of 'Moonlight' accept the Best Picture award onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
'La La Land' producer Jordan Horowitz holds up the winner card reading actual Best Picture winner 'Moonlight' with actor Warren Beatty and host Jimmy Kimmel onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
less'La La Land' producer Jordan Horowitz holds up the winner card reading actual Best Picture winner 'Moonlight' with actor Warren Beatty and host Jimmy Kimmel onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at
... moreThe cast of "Moonlight" and ""La La Land" appear on stage as presenter Warren Beatty (C), flanked by host Jimmy Kimmel (L) shows the winner's envelope for Best Movie "Moonlight" on stage at the 89th Oscars on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
lessThe cast of "Moonlight" and ""La La Land" appear on stage as presenter Warren Beatty (C), flanked by host Jimmy Kimmel (L) shows the winner's envelope for Best Movie "Moonlight" on stage at the 89th Oscars on
... moreDirector Barry Jenkins and the cast and crew of 'Moonlight' accept the Best Picture award onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
lessDirector Barry Jenkins and the cast and crew of 'Moonlight' accept the Best Picture award onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood,
... moreActors Faye Dunaway (L) and Warren Beatty speak onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actors Faye Dunaway (L) and Warren Beatty speak onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
US actress Emma Stone delivers a speech on stage after she won the Best Actress award in "La La Land" at the 89th Oscars on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
US actress Emma Stone delivers a speech on stage after she won the Best Actress award in "La La Land" at the 89th Oscars on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Casey Affleck accepts Best Actor for 'Manchester by the Sea' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Casey Affleck accepts Best Actor for 'Manchester by the Sea' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Brie Larson speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Brie Larson speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Leonardo DiCaprio speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Leonardo DiCaprio speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Director Damien Chazelle accepts Best Director for 'La La Land' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Director Damien Chazelle accepts Best Director for 'La La Land' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Amy Adams speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Amy Adams speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Writer/director Kenneth Lonergan (C) accepts Best Original Screenplay for 'Manchester by the Sea' from actor/director Ben Affleck (L) and actor/producer Matt Damon (R) onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
lessWriter/director Kenneth Lonergan (C) accepts Best Original Screenplay for 'Manchester by the Sea' from actor/director Ben Affleck (L) and actor/producer Matt Damon (R) onstage during the 89th Annual Academy
... moreWriter/director Barry Jenkins (L) and writer Tarell Alvin McCraney accept Best Adapted Screenplay for 'Moonlight' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
lessWriter/director Barry Jenkins (L) and writer Tarell Alvin McCraney accept Best Adapted Screenplay for 'Moonlight' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26,
... moreSinger Sara Bareilles performs onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Singer Sara Bareilles performs onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Samuel L. Jackson speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Samuel L. Jackson speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor/director Ben Affleck (L) and actor/producer Matt Damon speak onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor/director Ben Affleck (L) and actor/producer Matt Damon speak onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Jennifer Aniston speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Jennifer Aniston speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Singer Sara Bareilles performs onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Singer Sara Bareilles performs onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Scarlett Johansson speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Scarlett Johansson speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Musician John Legend performs onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Musician John Legend performs onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Musician John Legend (C) performs onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Musician John Legend (C) performs onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Host Jimmy Kimmel speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Host Jimmy Kimmel speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Host Jimmy Kimmel speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Host Jimmy Kimmel speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actors Javier Bardem (L) and Meryl Streep speak onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actors Javier Bardem (L) and Meryl Streep speak onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Director Kristof Deak (at microphone) and producer Anna Udvardy (2nd R) accept Best Live Action Short Film for 'Sing' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
lessDirector Kristof Deak (at microphone) and producer Anna Udvardy (2nd R) accept Best Live Action Short Film for 'Sing' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26,
... moreActors John Cho (L) and Leslie Mann speak onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actors John Cho (L) and Leslie Mann speak onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Producer Joanna Natasegara (L) and director Orlando von Einsiedel accept Best Documentary Short Subject for 'The White Helmets' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
lessProducer Joanna Natasegara (L) and director Orlando von Einsiedel accept Best Documentary Short Subject for 'The White Helmets' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on
... moreActors Salma Hayek (L) and David Oyelowo speak onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actors Salma Hayek (L) and David Oyelowo speak onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Wide view of stage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Wide view of stage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actors Riz Ahmed (L) and Felicity Jones speak onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actors Riz Ahmed (L) and Felicity Jones speak onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actors Michael J. Fox (L) and Seth Rogen speak onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actors Michael J. Fox (L) and Seth Rogen speak onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actors Michael J. Fox (L) and Seth Rogen speak onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actors Michael J. Fox (L) and Seth Rogen speak onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Editor John Gilbert accepts Best Film Editing for 'Hacksaw Ridge' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Editor John Gilbert accepts Best Film Editing for 'Hacksaw Ridge' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
(L-R) Co-directors Byron Howard and Rich Moore and producer Clark Spencer accept Best Animated Feature Film for 'Zootopia' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
less(L-R) Co-directors Byron Howard and Rich Moore and producer Clark Spencer accept Best Animated Feature Film for 'Zootopia' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on
... moreArt director Sandy Reynolds-Wasco (L) and production designer David Wasco accept Best Production Design for 'La La Land' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
lessArt director Sandy Reynolds-Wasco (L) and production designer David Wasco accept Best Production Design for 'La La Land' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February
... moreActors Jamie Dornan (L) and Dakota Johnson speak onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actors Jamie Dornan (L) and Dakota Johnson speak onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Director Alan Barillaro (L) and producer Marc Sondheimer accept Best Animated Short Film for 'Piper' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
lessDirector Alan Barillaro (L) and producer Marc Sondheimer accept Best Animated Short Film for 'Piper' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in
... moreMusician Sting performs onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Musician Sting performs onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Hailee Steinfeld walks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Hailee Steinfeld walks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Engineer/astronaut Anousheh Ansari (L) and former NASA scientist Firouz Naderi accept Best Foreign Language Film for 'The Salesman' on behalf of director Asghar Farhadi onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
lessEngineer/astronaut Anousheh Ansari (L) and former NASA scientist Firouz Naderi accept Best Foreign Language Film for 'The Salesman' on behalf of director Asghar Farhadi onstage during the 89th Annual Academy
... moreNASA physicist Katherine Johnson (C) is surrounded by US singer and actress Janelle Monae (L), US actress Taraji P. Henson (2ndR) and US actress Octavia Spencer (R) as they present on stage the Best Documentary Feature award at the 89th Oscars on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
lessNASA physicist Katherine Johnson (C) is surrounded by US singer and actress Janelle Monae (L), US actress Taraji P. Henson (2ndR) and US actress Octavia Spencer (R) as they present on stage the Best Documentary
... moreActor Dev Patel speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Dev Patel speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actors Charlize Theron (L) and Shirley MacLaine walk onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actors Charlize Theron (L) and Shirley MacLaine walk onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Emma Stone in the audience during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Emma Stone in the audience during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Host Jimmy Kimmel speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Host Jimmy Kimmel speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Viola Davis accepts Best Supporting Actress for 'Fences' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Viola Davis accepts Best Supporting Actress for 'Fences' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Mark Rylance speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Mark Rylance speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Host Jimmy Kimmel (R) speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Host Jimmy Kimmel (R) speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Vince Vaughn speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Vince Vaughn speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actors Sofia Boutella (L) and Chris Evans speak onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actors Sofia Boutella (L) and Chris Evans speak onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Host Jimmy Kimmel speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Host Jimmy Kimmel speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Sound re-recording mixer Kevin O'Connell accepts Best Sound Mixing for 'Hacksaw Ridge' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Sound re-recording mixer Kevin O'Connell accepts Best Sound Mixing for 'Hacksaw Ridge' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
AMPAS President Cheryl Boone Isaacs speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
AMPAS President Cheryl Boone Isaacs speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Sound editor Sylvain Bellemare accepts Best Sound Editing for 'Arrival' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Sound editor Sylvain Bellemare accepts Best Sound Editing for 'Arrival' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor/singer Auli'i Cravalho performs onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor/singer Auli'i Cravalho performs onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Composer Lin-Manuel Miranda performs onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Composer Lin-Manuel Miranda performs onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Producer Caroline Waterlow (L) and director Ezra Edelman accept Best Documentary Feature for 'O.J.: Made in America' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
lessProducer Caroline Waterlow (L) and director Ezra Edelman accept Best Documentary Feature for 'O.J.: Made in America' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26,
... moreActor/singer Auli'i Cravalho performs onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor/singer Auli'i Cravalho performs onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Dwayne Johnson speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Dwayne Johnson speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actors Janelle Monae, Taraji P. Henson and Octavia Spencer walk onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actors Janelle Monae, Taraji P. Henson and Octavia Spencer walk onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson appears onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson appears onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Costume designer Colleen Atwood accepts Best Costume Design for 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
lessCostume designer Colleen Atwood accepts Best Costume Design for 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in
... moreMakeup artists Giorgio Gregorini, Alessandro Bertolazzi and Christopher Nelson accept Best Makeup and Hairstyling for 'Suicide Squad' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
lessMakeup artists Giorgio Gregorini, Alessandro Bertolazzi and Christopher Nelson accept Best Makeup and Hairstyling for 'Suicide Squad' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center
... moreActors Kate McKinnon (L) and Jason Bateman speak onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actors Kate McKinnon (L) and Jason Bateman speak onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Mahershala Ali accepts Best Supporting Actor for 'Moonlight' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Mahershala Ali accepts Best Supporting Actor for 'Moonlight' onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Mahershala Ali (R) accepts Best Supporting Actor for 'Moonlight' from actor Alicia Vikander onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
lessActor Mahershala Ali (R) accepts Best Supporting Actor for 'Moonlight' from actor Alicia Vikander onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood,
... moreActor Meryl Streep in the audience during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Meryl Streep in the audience during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Singer/actor Justin Timberlake performs onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Singer/actor Justin Timberlake performs onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Singer/actor Justin Timberlake performs onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Singer/actor Justin Timberlake performs onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Alicia Vikander walks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Actor Alicia Vikander walks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Host Jimmy Kimmel speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
Host Jimmy Kimmel speaks onstage during the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California.
It could have been a printing error, or maybe there’s an intern who is not going to be back next year. In any case, it made for excruciating live television: The “La La Land” producers were put in the position of having to hand their Oscars over to the “Moonlight” producers.
“Even in my dreams this cannot be true,” said an astonished Barry Jenkins, once he reached the stage. “But to hell with dreams! I’m done with it. This is true.”
Host Jimmy Kimmel tried to make light of the situation saying, “Personally, I blame Steve Harvey for this,” referring to Harvey’s error when he named the wrong Miss Universe in 2015.
But producer Jordan Horowitz showed that he and his “La La Land” crew aren’t sore losers, announcing onstage, “I’m gonna be really proud to hand this to my friends for ‘Moonlight.’”
“Let’s just remember, it’s just an award show,” Kimmel said. “I knew I would screw this show up. ... I promise I’ll never come back.”
But it was the worst way to lose an Oscar, and the worst way to win one. And it provided an embarrassing spectacle broadcast throughout America and the world: We can’t even get the Oscars right.
Aside from that horrible moment of devastation, it was actually a good night for “La La Land.” (Though to say that calls to mind the old joke: “Aside from that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?”) It was the big winner, picking up six Academy Awards, including best director, best score and best actress. It went into the night nominated for 14 categories, tied with “Titanic” and “All About Eve” for most nominations.
It was also a good night for African Americans, with black artists winning in both supporting categories and for best adapted screenplay. And with a film made by and about African Americans, “Moonlight,” taking the best picture prize. This is a big shift from last year, when no black actors were nominated in any of the acting awards.
Casey Affleck won best actor for his performance in “Manchester by the Sea,” as a man whose life has been derailed by grief and calamity. The film also picked up a best original screenplay prize for the script by Kenneth Lonergan.
Stone, in her acceptance speech, called it “a confluence of luck and opportunity.” She thanked her director, Damien Chazelle, who minutes before had won his own Oscar. At 32, he became the youngest winner for best director.
The relative dominance of “La La Land” was expected. What was also expected going into the night was that President Trump would be the night’s main topic of conversation. Many of the stars in the auditorium wore blue ribbons, in honor of the American Civil Liberties Union, and emcee Kimmel kicked things off early: His first Trump reference came 61 seconds into his opening monologue, and he mentioned the president by name two minutes later.
In total, Trump was referenced 14 times from the stage Sunday night, and it can be safely said that no American president has ever been the subject of more scorn at an Academy Awards ceremony. At one point, Kimmel alluded to Trump tweeting “during his 5 a.m. bowel movement.”
Yet, the serious commentary that was expected was largely absent. There was no equivalent of Meryl Streep’s Golden Globes speech, in which she went after then President-elect Trump directly. Instead, Kimmel’s jokes aside, there were only a few scattered moments. The Mexican actor Gael Garcia Bernal spoke out against building walls between people, and Jenkins, in winning the award for best adapted screenplay for “Moonlight,” addressed marginalized communities and said, “We have your back for the next four years.”
Most dramatically, but predictably, the best foreign film victory of “The Salesman,” from Iran, brought about a statement from its director, Asghar Farhadi. In a statement read by a spokesman, Farhadi said, “My absence is out of respect for the people of my country and those of (the) other six nations who have been disrespected by the inhumane law that bans entry of immigrants into the United States.”
Viola Davis (“Fences”) won best supporting actress with an emotional and beautiful spoken speech, which began with her talking about her calling as an actress. “I became an artist, and thank God I did, because we are the only profession that celebrates what it means to live a life.” Davis, in all of her acceptances on the way to this one, has not been afraid to talk about the artist’s life and to assert its value within the culture, and in the most passionate terms. Each time, it’s a nice moment of self-revelation.
Mahershala Ali won best supporting actor for his role as a sympathetic crack dealer in “Moonlight.” He thanked his teachers and his professors, who taught him that “it’s not about you, it’s about these characters. You’re in service to these characters.”
“Zootopia” won best animated feature, and best animated short went to Pixar’s “Piper.”
But in the end, the whole night will go down in history as a footnote, and those last five minutes will be remembered for as long as anybody cares about the Oscars. What happened Sunday was jaw-dropping, as rare as a triple play or a perfect game in baseball. No one who saw it will ever forget it.
Indeed, Sunday night is the one night it would have been nice to be a fly on the wall at the Governor’s Ball. The gossip must have been flying.
Mick LaSalle is The San Francisco Chronicle’s movie critic. Email: mlasalle@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @MickLaSalle
