by Kate
9. March 2010 06:10
not so much
Along with the standard betting on Oscar Odds, come the much more interesting and novel side bets. Here are some of them:
Betting has been placed on the likelihood of a winner of a major award, Best Actress or Best Actor, shedding a tear. Last year there was a 4/1 payout and bettors in favour of the stiff upper lip ended up cleaning up when, despite Kate Winslett’s voice getting a little wobbly for a moment, she managed to keep the tears well contained.
In 2010 the focus seemed to be on the dresses worn by the female contingent. You could bet on the name/manufacturer of the dress worn by the Best Actress. The deceased Alexander McQueen was at the top with 7/4 to be the name worn by the winning leading lady.
The odds were in favour of Sandra Bullock winning Best Actress, but she wore McQueen to the SAG Awards so the question was would she dare to wear the same designer twice? Instyle Magazine predicted that Bullock would be best in Armani Prive. In the end she won the Oscar but wore a Marchesa gown.
More tears were betted on this year in the category of ‘Best Male Actor to cry during his acceptance speech’ at 3/1.
There was an 8/1 payout if anybody dropped their Oscar on stage during handover, and another one for any actor who was unfortunate enough to trip and fall. If any actor or actress said the words "Tiger Woods" in their speech, they were looking at 10/1. There was a 12/1 payout for anyone breaking the record for longest speech (held by Greer Garson at 5 minutes and 30 seconds), at a 12/1 payout.
Lastly, any nominated actress to be photographed in a Janet Jackson-style wardrobe malfunction would be paid off at 14/1 while a streaker appearing on stage during the ceremony (fully nude) would pay a solid 100/1.
It seems the events that go on in the imaginations of the Academy Award viewers and bettors are more exciting than the actual show.