Robert Osborne to 'Meet & Greet' on Oscar Red Carpet 2/22

Academy Award nominees and presenters will be greeted on Oscar's red carpet on Sunday, February 22, by film historian, television host and Hollywood Reporter columnist Robert Osborne, Academy President Sid Ganis announced today. Red carpet guest arrivals are expected to begin at approximately 3 p.m. PT and conclude at the start of the Oscar telecast at 5 p.m. PT.

"Robert is the king of Oscar's red carpet," said Ganis. "He adds even more excitement and glamour as he welcomes our guests. He's superb!"

Osborne's red carpet celebrity chats will be audible to the other arriving guests as well as to the bleacher fans on the opposite side of the carpet. It will be his fourth stint on the red carpet for the Academy.

In addition to writing a column for The Hollywood Reporter, Osborne is the prime-time host of Turner Classic Movies and a frequent host of Academy events in New York and Los Angeles. He also is the author of the Academy's new book, "80 Years of the Oscar," the official history of the Academy Awards, and hosts Robert Osborne's Classic Film Festival in Athens, Georgia.

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.