Cuba Gooding Jr.'s Spirited Acceptance Speech Takes the Number One Spot on 'VH1's 20 Greatest Oscar(R) Moments'

Cuba Gooding Jr.'s Spirited Acceptance Speech Takes the Number One Spot on 'VH1's 20 Greatest Oscar(R) Moments'

VH1 Counts Down the Greatest Moments in Academy Awards(R) History, Premiering Thursday, February 14 at 9:00 PM*

NEW YORK, Feb. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- As hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide prepare to watch the 80th Annual Academy Awards, VH1 is counting down the most dramatic, outrageous, and unexpected moments in Oscar history. Earning the number one spot is Cuba Gooding Jr.'s over-the-top acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actor for the film Jerry Maguire in 1997. Gooding was so exuberant, he even drowned out the orchestra trying to "play him off" the stage.

"VH1's 20 Greatest Oscar Moments" premieres Thursday, February 14 at 9:00 PM and features new interviews with Oscar nominees and presenters, past and present, such as Sylvester Stallone, Jennifer Garner, Tatum O'Neal and more. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is notoriously restrictive in allowing the use of clips from past telecasts but VH1 has secured the use of many beloved Oscar moments that have rarely been seen since their original airing for this countdown.

   Moments include:    -- Onstage streakers - In '74, a naked man ran across the stage, flashing      a peace sign and his piece.    -- Chair Leapers - In '99, Roberto Benigni made his walk to the stage ten      times more challenging by climbing over the seats and heads of fellow      celebrities.    -- Impromptu Kissers - In '03, Adrien Brody got an Oscar and perhaps an      even better award when he surprised presenter Halle Berry with a giant,      passionate kiss.    -- Historic Achievers - In '02, Halle Berry became the first African      American woman to win Best Actress-and cried while she dedicated her      speech to all the black actresses who had come before her.    

The countdown will also cover some of the most glamorous and most celebrated fashion moments (hello, Cher), unexpected Oscar dates (remember Madonna and Michael Jackson?) and hosts who shined as well as a full preview of this year's major Oscar races in anticipation of the big night on February 24th.

   Viewers can go online to VH1.com for more information.    The complete list of "VH1's 20 Greatest Oscar Moments" is attached.   

"VH1's 20 Greatest Oscar Moments" is a production of VH1. Warren Cohen serves as supervising producer with Ali Jacobs as coordinating producer. Tara Wilson and Shelly Tatro are executive producers for VH1.

VH1 connects viewers to the music, artists and pop culture that matter to them most with TV series, specials, live events, exclusive online content and public affairs initiatives. VH1 is available in 90 million households in the U.S. VH1 also has an array of digital channels and services including VH1Classic, VH1 Soul, VH1 Mobile, VH1Games and extensive broadband video on VH1.com. Connect with VH1 at VH1.com.

   * all times ET/PT     Contact: Lori Bogin/VH1            212-846-7131            lori.bogin@vh1staff.com     Number#    YEAR OF       NOMINEE        MOMENT       DESCRIPTION OF MOMENT              ACADEMY              AWARDS     1.        1997     Cuba Gooding  Best Actor in a   Kept talking, even                         Jr.          Supporting Role   over the orchestra                                      Jerry Maguire     during his acceptance                                      (1996)            speech for Best                                                        Supporting Actor for                                                        Jerry Maguire.     2.        1973     Marlon Brando Best Actor in a   Sent Sacheen                                      Leading Role for  Littlefeather in his                                      The Godfather     place when he won                                      (1972)            Best Actor for The                                                        Godfather, in order                                                        to protest the                                                        treatment of American                                                        Indians.     3.        2003     Adrien Brody  Best Actor in a   Kissed Halle Berry                                      Leading Role for  during his acceptance                                      The Pianist       for Best Actor.                                      (2002)     4.        1974     Streaker      Host              Host David Niven,                                                        after recovering from                                                        the nude streaker who                                                        ran across stage,                                                        made a statement and                                                        the audience roared                                                        with laughter.     5.        1977     Sylvester     Co-presenter:     Boxer Muhammad Ali                        Stallone      Best Actress in   surprised presenter                                      a Supporting      Sylvester Stallone on                                      Role              stage claiming he was                                                        the real Apollo                                                        Creed. They jokingly                                                        sparred on stage a                                                        bit before Stallone                                                        said, "although I                                                        might not win                                                        anything tonight, I                                                        will still remember                                                        this night forever to                                                        be standing next to a                                                        100% Legend."     6.        1998     James         Best Director     Accepting Best                        Cameron       for Titanic       Director award and                                      (1997)            said "I'm king of the                                                        world."     7.        1985     Sally Field   Best Actress in   Memorable Speech:                                      a Leading Role    "You like me, you                                      for Places in     like me."                                      the Heart (1984)  Elizabeth Taylor was     8.        1970     Elizabeth     Presenter of      the originator of                        Taylor        Best Picture      over the top red                                                        carpet bling thanks                                                        to her appearance at                                                        the 1970 Oscars,  at                                                        which she sported a                                                        69-carat pear shaped                                                        Cartier diamond.     9.        1974     Tatum O'Neil  Best Actress in   Youngest Person to                                      a Supporting      win an Oscar at age                                      Role for Paper    10.                                      Moon (1973)     10.       1995     David         Host              Iconic Uma/Oprah joke                        Letterman                       in opening monologue.     11.       1972     Isaac Hayes   Performer         Performs the theme                                                        song from "Shaft,"                                                        emerging from a cloud                                                        of smoke, decked out                                                        in chains, and riding                                                        a piano rather than a                                                        motorcycle.     12.       1986     Cher          Fashion Tribute   Cher has used the                                                        biggest red carpet                                                        stage of all to make                                                        some of her most                                                        daring fashion                                                        statements.     13.       2000     Trey Parker   (Fashion)         Dressed up in drag                        and Matt                        and strolled down the                        Stone                           red carpet.  The drag                                                        mimicked dresses worn                                                        by Gwyneth Paltrow                                                        and Jennifer Lopez at                                                        past award                                                        ceremonies.     14.       1991     Madonna and   (Pairing)         Arrived at the Oscars                        Michael                         together.                        Jackson     15.       2004     Jack Black    Performed Best    Together they sang                        and Will      Song              "You're Boring" at                        Ferrell                         the Oscars.     16.       2000     Angelina      Best Actress in   Jolie had a major                        Jolie         a Supporting      public display of                                      Role for Girl,    affection for her                                      Interrupted       brother, James Haven                                      (1999)            Voight.     17.       2006     Jennifer      Presenter         On her way to the                        Garner        Best Sound        podium, Garner almost                                                        trips and falls.                                                        When she reaches the                                                        podium, she says, "I                                                        do my own stunts."     18.       1999     Roberto       Best Actor in     Leapt over seats                        Benigni       a Leading Role    while accepting Best                                      for Vita e        Actor for Life is                                      Bella, La         Beautiful.                                      (1997)     19.       2002     Halle         Best Actress      First win for                        Berry                           African-American                                                        woman, emotional                                                        acceptance speech.     20.       1998     Matt Damon    Best Writing,     Their win put the                        and Ben       Screenplay        young duo on the map.                        Affleck       Written Directly                                      for the Screen                                      for Good Will                                      Hunting (1997)  

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Source: VH1

CONTACT: Lori Bogin of VH1, +1-212-846-7131, lori.bogin@vh1staff.com

Web site: http://www.vh1.com/

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Profile: International Entertainment