[John Vause, Cnn Anchor:] Welcome. You're watching a special edition of NEWSROOM L.A. on Hollywood's biggest night, the 89th Academy Awards. Hello. Great to have you with us. I'm John Vause.
[Amara Walker, Cnn Anchor:] I'm Amara Walker. Thank you very much for being with us. It is moment for the Oscars that everyone is talking about.
[Vause:] Everybody it seems. It all happened in the last few moments of Sunday's ceremony, all live on television. The musical"La La Land" was announced as best picture winner, but it wasn't.
[Walker:] The acclaimed drama "Moonlight" was the actual winner. A "La La Land" producer told the stunned crowd, there's been a mistake. "Moonlight" won and this is not a joke. Let's more from our Stephanie Elam.
[Vause:] She's at the governor's ball in Hollywood. Stephanie, this is what everybody will be talk about right now.
[Stephanie Elam, Cnn Correspondent:] Everyone is talking about it, no doubt about it. What is sad about this is here you have folks from "La La Land" that thought they won. It takes the shine away from them. This was a major upset that "Moonlight" won. This little movie made in 25 days for $1.5 million up against this behemoth. The fact they won is a huge deal. In case you missed the moment everyone is talking about, take a look back at how it all went down.
[Unidentified Actor:] And the Academy Award for best picture You're awful. Come on. "La La Land." We lost, by the way. I'm sorry. There's a mistake. "Moonlight"," you guys won best picture. This is not a joke. This is not a joke. I'm afraid they read the wrong thing. This is not a joke. "Moonlight" has won best picture. "Moonlight"," best picture.
[Elam:] And everyone thought it was some sort of joke but like the cruelest joke ever to play on anyone in that situation, on the biggest, biggest award of the night. Adding to the confusion, Emma Stone, who did win best actress, she was backstage and this is what she had to say.
[Emma Stone, Actress:] We are so excited for "Moonlight." I think it's one of the best films of all time. I was pretty beside myself. I also was holding my best actress in a leading role card that entire time.
[Elam:] To clear things up, we did zoom in on the envelop envelope, being held by Warren Beatty. It does say lead actress or actress in a lead role. You can see that on there. He did say that on there. What I also learned is there are always two cards that are printed. They both have sets of the right answers of who did when. That is because when one is on stage reading the card the celebrity is up there reading it, another has the card to make sure they are reading the right thing. That's where they realized the discrepancy. How did this did a third card show up? I don't know but I know what Emma Stone is saying she could have her card and there could be another card. Getting more clarity now. It is still the story everyone will be talking about for probably the next 24 hours.
[Walker:] I think. It's confusing but it seems like there are multiple prints of the same card or something like that. Stephanie, thank you.
[Vause:] All right. Let's bring in our panel. Joining us, five-time Golden Globe nominee, Actress Marilu Henner; entertainment journalists, Segun Oduolowu and Samantha Schacher. [Laughter]
[Walker:] Also with us, Fandango correspondent, Alicia Malone; and TV writer and comedian, Louis Virtel. Let's start with you, Louis, How in the world does this happen? It was so painful to watch.
[Louis Virtel, Tv Writer & Comedian:] Every single second of that video is horrifying. It starts with him clearly knowing he has the wrong envelope then she says will you read the right thing already? Then it turns into a stranger running on stage and yelling somebody is lying or whatever that was. I am shocked. I have seen that video with Alicia five or six times. Every time I have to swallow the biggest gulp ever because it is so strange and unprecedented.
[Alicia Malone, Correspondent, Fandango:] It makes me feel so ill to watch it. It is sad "Moonlight" didn't get the big moment as they deserved, but good on the producer for "La La Land" for bringing the cast up.
[Vause:] Good old Bonnie and Clyde. They have done it again.
[Marilu Henner, Actress:] Oh, my gosh, Warren looks like is someone going to save me, should I just keep going? He says best picture. Why didn't he stop it? I want someone to interview warren to see what he was thinking. Your heart is pounding anyway. Everybody is dying to hear what comes out of your mouth next. He's a director, he should have stopped it and said, hey, I don't have the right card here.
[Henner:] Yeah.
[Vause:] Apparently, Fay Dunaway turned up at the governor's ball and is refusing to talk about it.
[Virtel:] Of course, she is.
[Walker:] I feel bad for "Moonlight." I know social media is talking about this. But this was their moment and, right now, not as many people are talking about "Moonlight" but more about this crazy mix-up.
[Samantha Schacher, Entertainment Jouranlist:] Most I've read are in response to "Moonlight" and this moment rather than this film that highlights addiction and one struggle with their sexuality. You're really missing out on this moment. Yes, we talked about the fact that because of this controversial moment it could bring attention to the film but I would have much rather had the moment that "Moonlight" deserves. They would have gone up and send their award and all of the questions would have been about the films, actors, directors.
[Segun Oduolowu, Entertainment Journalist:] And for the movie, it's a horrible blow on the biggest night, the biggest stage. You're getting your just due. As a viewer at home
[Oduolowu:] Yeah. You can't script this!
[Henner:] Memory is tied to adrenaline which is why everybody remembers the highs and lows of their life. Because of it this will be one of the most memorable moments in history and "Moonlight" will be brought up every year as the little engine that could and also the movie that
[Vause:] Louis, this movie, "Moonlight," that cost $1.5 million to make walked away with three awards, including best supporting actor for Mahershala Ali, who is the first Muslim to ever win an Academy Award.
[Virtel:] It is thrilling in every way. When you talk about best pictures, and I'm thinking back years and years, there's never any weird themes. I can't think of an entirely non-white cast. As long as we can have movie where we can have worlds of non-white people that don't feel like they have to establish a relationship with a white character to feel relevant that is awesome. It is awesome for many reasons.
[Walker:] Alicia, were you surprised that Casey Affleck won over Denzel Washington?
[Malone:] Yeah. It surprised me. Denzel won the SAG award, the Screen Actors Guild award and the winner of that award goes onto win the Oscar, plus that performance in "Fences." He is fierce and can go from being terrifying to charming in a blink of an eye. Casey Affleck's performance was understated. It was more about keeping your emotion in and he has the controversy. I felt it would harm his chances. So I was surprised to see Casey Affleck win for best actor.
[Oduolowu:] How do we know Denzel didn't really win?
[Vause:] Casey Affleck did take the crumbs out of his beard. David, best supporting actress.
[Schacher:] Viola Davis' acceptance speech is an exact mirror of how she acts. She speaks with her heart on her sleeve and her role in fences, flawless. She jumps out of the screen. You're captivated the moment you see her ton screen. Well-deserved win for her. With Casey Affleck, even though he won the Oscar, people are upset because of the sexual harassment allegations.
[Oduolowu:] There's a cloud over it. In response to Viola Davis, this is like a long she has deserved an Oscar for a long time. She does incredible work. She will continue to do incredible work.
[Walker:] She told Stephanie Elam she felt like she might get snubbed again.
[Oduolowu:] You have to prepare. Again, the idea of the Academy Awards aren't being judged Yeah. But for Viola to win first of all, she was amazing in that red dress. Her speech was flawless. But I hope that it is the spring board for an actress that deserves more and bigger things to come. You know, in the same way I hope for my dear friend, Octavius Spencer. Let's seeing these ladies as more than these characters of, oh, strong black woman. Let's her play an alien hunter. Let's start to see them cast outside of
[Vause:] Without being judged here, because "La La Land" had 14 nominations. It was a tie for the most nominations ever. I think it walked away with four Academy Awards at the end of the day. Marilu, what happened?
[Henner:] I think people wanted to spread the love. I also feel like they started to really evaluate each character. Once they really went to fill out their ballot that story
[Vause:] Maybe that self-indulgent
[Walker:] Yeah. "La La Land", we both saw it and didn't exactly enjoy it. I sort of fell asleep and had to wake myself up. Samantha, explain to us
[Vause:] Did you like "La La Land?"
[Schacher:] I loved "La La Land." I don't think it should have been nominated for best picture.
[Walker:] Not nominated?
[Schacher:] It was a fantastic film. I do think it was a great escapism from the volatile political climate we are all in right now. However, when you compare that film to a "Moonlight," to a "Lion," I just don't see the comparison. I didn't fall asleep. I think the right picture
[Walker:] Eight to 10 nominations.
[Schacher:] Emma Stone did a fantastic job. She was also singing and dancing. A lot of rehearsal time involved. I do think the best actress nomination should have gone hands down. That was the most captivating performance.
[Vause:] Alicia, how unlucky was Nicole Kidman to be nominated in a year? Nicole Kidman, I thought was truly Yeah.
[Malone:] You can tell she brought to much of her personal story she is so emotionally raw. I thought he did an awesome Australian accent. He did a really good job. Nicole Kidman has been turning out performance after performance a long time. I hope more people see "Lion" because that is another film deserving of
[Walker:] I loved that film. Do you feel like it was snubbed this year Louis?
[Virtel:] "Lion?"
[Walker:] Yes.
[Virtel:] I go back and forth on "Lion." I knew when he was scrolling on google earth that he was eventually going find his home. There was less suspense than there should have been. I think the biggest stuff of the night was Isabel In the history of best actress winners, routinely, they are the most vulnerable performance of the year. She in that movie is so stony and so stoic and so hilarious. I was really rooting for her.
[Oduolowu:] If she walked in her right now with a sign that said I'm Isabel
[Vause:] OK. We have to squeeze in a break, guys.
[Henner:] She has been around for a long time.
[Walker:] All right everyone. Up next
[Vause:] She is going places.
[Walker:] Up next, as expected, U.S. President Donald Trump came up repeatedly during the Oscars. We are going to look at the political humor and commentary from Hollywood's big night. Stay with us.