An Oscars producer has denied deliberately censoring a kiss between Javier Bardem and Josh Brolin from the Academy Awards telecast. The "No Country for Old Men" co-stars appeared onstage on Sunday, February 27 to present a trophy together, greeting one another by dancing and exchanging a kiss.
Home viewers did not see their embrace as the cameras cut to an extended shot of Bardem's wife Penelope Cruz in the audience - a move which sparked speculation TV bosses wanted to hide the actors' clinch. But Bruce Cohen, one of two producers for the show, is adamant he would have been thrilled to broadcast the smooch, insisting it would have made a "great TV moment". He tells AfterElton.com, "It (the dance and the kiss) was unscripted, and the plan in the (outside broadcast) truck was always to cut to Penelope in the audience applauding Josh's and Javier's introduction, so that is what happened, just as they were starting to dance.
He adds, "Josh and Javier's moment (I saw them start to dance, but, to be honest, I have no idea if they kissed - that's the first I've heard of that) would have made a great TV moment, but since no one knew it was coming, we cut to the gorgeous Ms. Cruz as planned. By the time we cut back from her close-up, Josh and Javier were walking to the podium."
Home viewers did not see their embrace as the cameras cut to an extended shot of Bardem's wife Penelope Cruz in the audience - a move which sparked speculation TV bosses wanted to hide the actors' clinch. But Bruce Cohen, one of two producers for the show, is adamant he would have been thrilled to broadcast the smooch, insisting it would have made a "great TV moment". He tells AfterElton.com, "It (the dance and the kiss) was unscripted, and the plan in the (outside broadcast) truck was always to cut to Penelope in the audience applauding Josh's and Javier's introduction, so that is what happened, just as they were starting to dance.
He adds, "Josh and Javier's moment (I saw them start to dance, but, to be honest, I have no idea if they kissed - that's the first I've heard of that) would have made a great TV moment, but since no one knew it was coming, we cut to the gorgeous Ms. Cruz as planned. By the time we cut back from her close-up, Josh and Javier were walking to the podium."
