Oscars 2017: Recap & Top 10 Best Highlights

oscars top 10 highlights, Best Moments from the Oscars, Best Moments from the Academy Awards

A billboard showing Oscar host Jimmy Kimmel and an Oscar statue seen in preparation for the 89th Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland Center on February 23, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Getty)

Something interesting always happens at the Oscars, and tonight was no exception! Jimmy Kimmel hosted the celebration live from the Dolby Theater in LA, where Hollywood’s top stars gathered to celebrate the end of awards season.

Read on for the top highlights and moments from the 89th Academy Awards.


1. Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling” Intro

Justin Timberlake opened tonight’s Oscars with a performance of “Can’t Stop the Feeling!”. Everyone got in on the action, including his wife, Jessica Biel, who clapped along to the song from the animated film “Trolls.”

“Can’t Stop the Feeling!” was one of five songs nominated for Best Original Song at this year’s ceremony. The others included “How Far I’ll Go”, “The Empty Chair”, “City of Stars”, and “Audition.”


2. Jimmy Kimmel’s Jokes

“The country is divided right now, I’ve been been getting advice that I need to say something to unite us… Let me say something. I can’t do that. There is only one Braveheart in this room and he’s not going to do that either.”

“Mel, you look great. I think the Scientology is working. I really do.”

“I, for one, would like to thank President Trump. Remember last year when it seemed like the Oscars were racist?”

“What a wonderful year for movies. Black people saved NASA, and white people saved jazz.”


3. Performance by ‘Moana’ Star Auli’i Cravalho

Moana star Auli’i Cravalho blew everyone away with her song, “How Far I’ll Go.” Lin-Manuel Miranda started off the song before handing it over to Cravalho.

The actress was just 14 when she was cast to voice Moana alongside Dwayne Johnson, and is 16 today. She was born in Kohala, Hawaii, and is of Filipino, Kobe, Chinese, Irish, Native Hawaiian, Portuguese, and Puerto Rican descent.


4. Viola Davis’ Acceptance Speech

Viola Davis’ acceptance speech had everyone in tears at tonight’s Oscars.

“I became an artist because we are the only profession that celebrates what it means to live a life,” she said.


5. Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spener, and Janelle Monae Welcomed Katherine Johnson Onstage

Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monae brought Katherine Johnson onto the stage this evening.

Johnson is a mathematician who inspired the movie Hidden Figures, which recognizes her contribution to the space race in the 1960s. Henson described the 98-year-old woman as “a true NASA and American hero.”


6. Asghar Farhadi Boycotts the Oscars

Asghar Farhadi won tonight’s award for Best Foreign Language Film but chose not to attend to protest President Trump’s travel ban. In his place, engineer Anousheh Ansari, the first Iranian to go into space, accepted the award.


7. Jimmy Kimmel Pranks Hollywood Tour Bus at the Oscars

Jimmy Kimmel pranked a group of people on a Hollywood tour by bringing them to the Oscars.

The tourists were told they were going to see a gallery of celebrity dresses and gowns, but instead, they walked into the Golby Theater, and were introduced some of Hollywood’s biggest names.


8. Sara Bareilles’ Performance During the ‘in Memoriam’ Tribute

Sara Bareilles performed during tonight’s emotional ‘In Memoriam’ tribute.

Michael De Luca and Jennifer Todd, the Oscars 2017 producers, said in a statement, “Sara’s unique artistry will honor those we’ve lost in our community, including familiar faces and those behind the scenes who have enriched the art of moviemaking.”


9. Jimmy Kimmel Taunts Matt Damon… A Lot

One of the funniest parts of the evening was Jimmy Kimmel’s incessant taunting… naturally, it was aimed at his fake arch-nemesis, Matt Damon.

During his opening monologue, Jimmy said, “Tonight, in spirit of healing and bringing people together, I would like to bury the hatchet with someone I’ve had issues with. I would. Matt Damon,” Jimmy began during his opening monologue. “I’ve known Matt for a long time now. I’ve known Matt so long, when I first met Matt, I was the fat one, okay? It’s true. And we’ve had problems. He’s a selfish person. Those of you who have worked with him know this. But Matt did something very unselfish and I want to commend him for it.”


10. ‘Moonlight’ Wins the Oscar for Best Picture After Mix Up

Tonight, La La Land won the award for Best Picture… and was then told that it was a mix up, and that Moonlight had actually won.

It seems that Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway received the wrong card– they received the previous one which said Emma Stone won Best Actress.

Kimmel tried to cover up the massive mistake, joking that he blamed Steve Harvey for the mix up.