With new Oscar producers, academy makes a statement

In choosing former studio executive and producer Bill Mechanic and "Hairspray" director-choreographer Adam Shankman as co-producers of the 82nd annual Academy Awards, the academy is clearly carrying on what was started last year with the Laurence Mark-Bill Condon teaming.

In pairing Mechanic -- a veteran exec and producer with wide-ranging relationships garnered from years of experience at studios like Fox (where he was chairman and CEO of Fox Filmed Entertainment), Paramount and Disney -- and Shankman, a creative producer, director and choreographer, the academy has essentially re-created the Condon-Mark dynamic and is clearly looking at that as the blueprint for future academy telecasts.

Although Condon and Mark turned down the opportunity to repeat this year because of film commitments, Condon has said he strongly believes the Oscar telecast works best if it is produced jointly by two producers whose skills complement each other. Last year's show was an innovation in this regard as the job has usually gone to a single producer. It's obviously an enormous task to pull off and certainly new academy president Tom Sherak could have gone in any number of directions, including bringing in past producers like Gil Cates (a 14-time veteran of the job), Laura Ziskin or his old partner at Revolution Joe Roth. Instead, Sherak has decided to build on last year's critical and ratings success by pairing a veteran with strong talent connections and a successful movie musical director at the helm of the mother of all awards shows. Sherak in fact worked closely with Mechanic when both were at Fox.

It will also mark the first time that a judge of a reality TV show is producing the Oscars. Shankman has been a judge on "So You Think You Can Dance," although curiously, the academy's official press release omits that information. For those naysayers in the media who decry the Oscar show's fondness for song and dance numbers, get ready to start kvetching. Shankman's selection is a clear indication the academy Board wants to see more singing and dancing at the Kodak on March 7. It will inevitably get it.

Shankman's credits not only include "Hairspray" and "So You Think You Can Dance" but he also has "Rock Of Ages," "Bob: The Musical" and a "Bye Bye Birdie" remake in development. Additionally, he's producing a couple of 2010 releases: "The Last Song" and "Step Up 3D."

Now that the producers have been selected, a host can be firmed up, and if I were Hugh Jackman I would be waiting by the phone for the offer any minute. Of course if he's not available Shankman can always call on one of his "Hairspray" cast to jump in.

Zac Efron, anyone?

Photo: Adam Shankman at Elle Magazine's Women in Hollywood tribute Oct. 19. Credit: Matt Sayles / AP

Comments

[mck]

roger goodman did an amazing job and he should direct again