'And the Presenter Is...', OSCARS to Keep Names A Secret

The Huffington Post reports that in a total reversal of years past, the list of starry Oscar night presenters will be kept a well guarded secret. Leslie Unger, a spokeswoman for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, says none of the superstar names will be announced before the February 22nd telecast.

Oscar producers Laurence Mark and Bill Condon are looking to break tradition in the hope it will lure potential Award night viewers by keeping the star power a complete secret until showtime.

Unger gave a statement yesterday, January 14th that,  "There will be fantastic movie stars that appeal to a whole range of movie lovers and fans of our show. We're just not going to tell you who they all are."

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2008 will be presented on Sunday, February 22, 2009, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world's preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than 6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In addition to the annual Academy Awards - in which the members vote to select the nominees and winners - the Academy presents a diverse year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies.