Why Lin-Manuel Miranda wasn’t there despite potential EGOT win

The 94th Academy Awards has arrived… and, based on last year’s show, it can only go up from here! The 2021 Oscars — which were plagued by COVID pandemic issues — were the lowest rated in history. The 2022 Oscars on March 27, though, have every opportunity to be better. The show’s already made history, as it’s the first time an all-Black producing team has steered the Academy Awards. Plus, after three years without a host, the telecast has a master of ceremonies — three, in fact, as Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes are guiding the show. (Wanda, by the way, already said she plans to steal an Oscar to make up for the shoddy pay.) What other actors and actresses will earn their statues the good ol’ fashioned way? What moments will fire up social media? Will there be surprises? The Oscars are as unpredictable as ever… Lin-Manuel Miranda announced on March 26 that he would be M.I.A. from the Oscars on March 27 after his wife tested positive for COVID. “Made it to Hollywood… This weekend, my wife tested + for COVID. She’s doing fine. Kids & I have tested [negative], but out of caution, I won’t be going to the Oscars tomorrow night,” he wrote on social media. The “Hamilton” creator added that he will be cheering on “Tick, Tick … BOOM!,” which he directed. Lin, by the way, is up for the best original song Oscar for “Dos Oruguitas” from the Disney film “Encanto.” If he wins, he’ll become the youngest EGOT winner in history (winner of an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony) as well as the 17th EGOT winner ever.

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Two couples make Oscar history…

In 2022, for the first time ever, two couples are nominated in all four Oscar acting categories. First-time nominee Kirsten Dunst is up for best supporting actress for her performance in “The Power of the Dog” while her partner, Jesse Plemons, is a best supporting actor nominee for his work in the same film. The nomination is also Jesse’s first. “I mean, it’s just so crazy to be a couple and have our first nominations together,” Kirsten marveled in an interview with Variety. “It’s like a storybook. You know what I mean? It’s so weird. It’s amazing.” Keep reading to see the other couple…

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…Two couples make Oscar history

Married Hollywood duo Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz also both have a chance to win Oscar gold on March 27. Javier’s up for best actor for playing Desi Arnaz in “Being the Ricardos” while Penelope’s nominated in the best actress category for her performance as Janis Martinez Moreno in “Parallel Mothers.” That makes Javier and Penelope the sixth married couple in history to earn Academy Award nominations in the same year.

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Will Ukraine’s president make an appearance?

One of the biggest questions leading into the Academy Awards: Will Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appear? Earlier in the week, reports indicated the Oscars were desperate to get the actor-turned-politician on the show. There was a belief that he might appear in some facet, whether it was in a livestream or in a prerecorded message. Sean Penn — who’s been working to help Ukrainian refugees through his CORE response organization — even said Hollywood should boycott the Oscars if the president wasn’t allowed to speak. Sean, who’s won two Oscars, vowed to “smelt [my Oscar statues] in public” if the popular Ukrainian leader was snubbed by the Academy, CNN reported.

Samuel L. Jackson gets an Oscar

Samuel L. Jackson finally has an Academy Award. At the March 25 Governors Awards in Hollywood, the honorary arm of the annual Academy Awards, the actor was given a lifetime achievement prize, which was presented to him by pal Denzel Washington. “It is something that will be cherished forever,” the “Pulp Fiction” star said.

Denzel’s still the king

Thanks to his 10th Oscar nomination in 2022 — for his lead performance in filmmaker Joel Cohen’s “The Tragedy of Macbeth” adaptation — two-time Oscar winner Denzel Washington broke his own record to remain the most nominated Black actor in Academy Awards history. Denzel previously took home the best supporting actor Oscar for his work in 1989’s “Glory” and the best actor Oscar for his work in 2001’s “Training Day,” the latter of which made him one of four Black actors to win the prize, along with Sidney Poitier (“Lilies of the Field”), Jamie Foxx (“Ray”) and Forest Whitaker (“The Last King of Scotland”).

Troy Kotsur’s Oscars first

Troy Kotsur — an Oscar nominee in 2022 for his performance as Frank Rossi, a deaf fisherman in New England who works with his teenage daughter, the only hearing member of the family, to run his family fishing business, in “CODA” — is the first deaf male actor to ever be nominated for a best supporting actor Oscar. He follows in the footsteps of his “CODA” co-star, Marlee Matlin, who in 1987 became the first deaf performer period to be nominated for an Oscar. She ended up winning that year for her performance in “Children of a Lesser God.”

Kenneth Branagh makes history

“Belfast” writer, director and producer Kenneth Branagh — who, after much speculation, WILL be attending the Academy Awards, the BBC reported, after finally testing negative for COVID-19 after testing positive following the BAFTAs in London two weeks earlier — notched a place in Academy Awards history in 2022 courtesy of the film’s best picture and best original screenplay nods. He’s now the only person ever to be nominated in seven Oscar categories, having previously been nominated for best director (“Henry V”), actor (“Henry V”), best supporting actor (“My Week With Marilyn”), best adapted screenplay (“Hamlet”) and best live-action short (“Swan Song”), according to Variety. Kenneth is also now one of just three stars who’ve been nominated in all the major Oscar fields — best picture, director, lead or supporting actor, original screenplay and adapted screenplay. He shares the latter honor with George Clooney and Warren Beatty.

Cate Blanchett’s double whammy

Cate Blanchett’s first performance in a film nominated for best picture, 1998’s “Elizabeth,” also earned her the first best actress nod of her career. She made history in 2022 by starring in two of the year’s best picture-nominated films, “Nightmare Alley” and “Don’t Look Up.” Cate previously appeared in seven movies that were nominated for the top Oscar prize. Now, with credits in nine best picture nominees, she’s appeared in more best picture-nominated films than any actress in history, according to Goldderby.com.

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