PriceWaterhouseCoopers, among the world's larges auditors, tax advisers and services companies, was thoroughly roasted at the 90th Oscar awards this year, becoming the butt of many a joke for its envelope fiasco last year.
The company, which is responsible for keeping the finalists at Oscars under wraps till they are announced at the awards ceremony, had mixed up the award for the best picture, which was given to "La La Land" instead of the correct recipient -- "Moonlight". Hollywood found the mix-up so outrageous that the act was dubbed "envelopegate".
Host Jimmy Kimmel on Sunday began his monologue at the Academy Awards 2018 by taking a swipe at last year's Best Picture mix-up.
"I do want to mention: This year, when you hear your name called, don't get up right away," he joked.
"Last year about a week before the show, the producers asked me if I wanted to do some comedy with the accountants. After I said 'no', they did some comedy on their own," he said to guffaws from the elite audience of Hollywood and the cinematic world.
This year, he said, the Academy's accounting company told him that their focus would be on the envelopes.
"I have to ask, what was your focus in the other 89 years?" Kimmel, who hosted the show 2nd year in running, said.
Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway, who read out "La La Land" instead of "Moonlight" as Best Picture winner last year, once again presented the top honour this year. It was won by "The Shape of Water".
Beatty and Dunaway took note of their previous unintended gaffe, with Beatty saying: "Thank you. It's so nice seeing you again."
"As they say, presenting is lovelier the second time around," Dunaway added.
Before the "Bonnie and Clyde" co-stars came on stage, Kimmel introduced them by quipping: "This is the home stretch. Nothing could possibly go wrong. What happened last year was so much Waterhouse under the bridge."
The jibe continued when Best Picture winner Guillermo del Toro took the stage to receive the award from Beatty and Dunaway and checked the envelope and then waved out to the audience saying it was correct.
In January, the Academy unveiled a new set of guidelines to against a mix-up happening again.
One of the key changes was visible on Sunday as awards were being presented. The envelopes featured big gold letters on a dark envelope giving the category, as opposed to last year's envelope, which were red and had smaller gold lettering.
--IANS
rb/hs
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