Two things can dominate a news cycle over all else: Hollywood and the president. So what are the odds of both holding two of their biggest announcements — Oscar nominations and the State of the Union — on the same day? Today’s newspapers are filled with articles analyzing yesterday’s presentations separately, but perhaps they’re better looked at side to side. Granted, Mo’Nique didn’t go on quite as long as President Obama, but there were still surprising overlaps.
| |
 Oscar Nominations Press Conference |
 State of the Union Address |
| Purpose |
To set the agenda for the next month in Hollywood politicking |
To set the agenda for the next year in Washington politicking |
| Presenters |
President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Tom Sherak and 2010 Oscar winner Mo'Nique |
2008 election winner, President Barack Obama |
| President's Tie |
Black |
Blue |
| Guests |
400-plus members of the international media |
400-plus members of Congress; the Justices of the Supreme Court; the Joint Chiefs of Staff; the Cabinet; Kathy Proctor, a 55-year-old student at Forsyth Technical Community College; Diego Vazquez, a college freshman; Gary and Robert Allen, roofers; the family of Christina Taylor Green; Al Franken. |
| Dress Color of Choice |
Mo'Nique: silver-gray |
Michelle Obama: dove gray |
| TV Audience |
Fans of movies, people wondering where their usual eight-thirty morning-show cooking segment went |
Fans of democracy, people wondering where NCIS: Los Angeles went |
| Categories |
Ten (Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Screenplay, Best Foreign Film, Best Animated Film, Best Director, Best Picture) |
Eight (Cooperation, Research and Innovation, Education, Infrastructure, Spending, International Conflicts, Governmental Reform, the American Dream) |
| Length |
Five minutes |
An hour |
| Interruptions for Applause |
One-ish |
Around 70 |
| Refrains |
The King's Speech |
"Win the future." |
| Snubs |
Christopher Nolan, The Town |
Anti-health-care Republicans, gun control |
| Surprises |
Javier Bardem |
Doubling our exports?! |
| Zuckerberg Shout-outs |
The Social Network's eight nominations |
"We're the nation of Edison and the Wright Brothers, of Google and Facebook." |
