45th NAACP Image Awards

Actor and comedian, Anthony Anderson was the host of the 45th NAACP Image Awards broadcasted live on TV One, and it was the first time the red carpet was live. The awards were presented over two days, the second day

culminating with the live awards broadcast. Dennis Haysbert, best known for the Allstate commercials was the voice and announcer for the broadcast.

Anthony was looking good. He opened with a light monologue, no dancers or huge stage production. He teased actor and comedian Kevin Hart about his height (of course) and being everywhere right now because his career has never been hotter.

Anthony then accused the actors from Africa and Europe about taking all the roles in Hollywood.

He introduced the first presenter of the evening, Vin Diesel. Vin announced the nominees for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture, and the award went to Lupita Nyong’o for 12 Years a Slave.  She thanked fellow nominee, Alfre Woodard and said she will hold onto her for life for being an incredible mentor and actress.

Anthony came back and said hello Oprah, “I just feel like I know you.” None of the comedians can resist bothering Oprah.

The next category was Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture, and the Image Award went to David Oyelowo for Lee Daniels’ The Butler.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series was up next. It was a packed category, but the Image Award went to the very pregnant, Carrie Washington. It’s her fifth Image Award win and her ninth nomination. And how appropriate for her to receive her statue from her Scandal lover, Tony Goldwyn.

Idris Elba, star of Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom introduced a small tribute to the film. Maybe it was meant to be longer because there seems to be a slight technical snag.

The next category was Outstanding Drama Series, and the Image award went to Scandal. It’s Carrie Washington and cast of Scandals’ year. Shonda Rhimes, screenwriter, director, and producer couldn’t be there, so Carrie wanted to make sure she read the speech that Shonda wanted word-for-word from her cell phone.

The next category was for Outstanding Talk Series, and the Image Award went to Steve Harvey. He beat out Oprah in this category. He wasn’t there to pick up his award, probably because he thought Oprah would take it, so the presenters accepted for him.

Next up was a special tribute to actor Forest Whitaker. He received the 2014 NAACP Chairman Award to honor his body of work. The words of wisdom he left with the audience were, “the greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.”

Oprah Winfrey was the next presenter for a tribute to a true hero, Nelson Mandela. Oprah said she built her school for girls in South Africa in his honor. She said she now has 154 girls from her school in college.  She ended her speech by saying she misses Mandela dearly, and he will always be her hero. Steve Wonder performed in his honor. He started off slow but had the audience on its feet in the end.

Sherri Shepherd and Arsenio Hall announced the nominees for Outstanding Comedy Series, and the Image Award went to Real Husbands of Hollywood. Kevin Hart thanked BET for taking a chance on the show.

The broadcast took a moment to honor all the talent we lost over the last year. It’s always a surprise who we lost and how many we lost.

Lorraine C. Miller,  President of the NAACP and Dennis Haysbert came out together to induct two people into the NAACP Hall of Fame. Paris K.C. Barclay, director, producer, and President of the Directors Guild of America and Cheryl Boone Isaacs, the First Black President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Each was honored with a video highlighting their accomplishments, and the Hall of Fame status.

Ed Asner, Louis Gossett, Jr., and Ben Vereen joined forces in honor of Roots, which they all starred in, to honor 12 Years a Slave for continuing the dialogue.

Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture was the next award and it was another jam-packed category, but the Image Award went to Angela Bassett for Black Nativity. She could not be there, so the presenters accepted for her.

Tyler Perry then came to the stage to pay a quick tribute to Lee Daniels’ The Butler, just before the Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture Image Award went to Forest Whitaker for Lee Daniels’ The Butler.

Kevin Hart took the podium, but not before Anthony brought out a stool for him to stand on because again, he’s short. Kevin was there to announce the winner for the Outstanding Motion Picture, and the Image Award went to 12 Years a Slave.

Now for the Entertainer of the Year Award, the final award of the evening. Anthony announced the winner, and the Image Award went to Kevin Hart. Go, Kevin! It really is his year. His star is rising. He was missing that his mother wasn’t there to see his win. She passed away a while ago, but he said, “Mom I know you’re smiling on me.”

Nothing outrageous happened during the 45th NAACP Image Awards, and when the broadcast is live, they don’t want anything outrageous to happen. There were not a lot of performances, but it was another win for the NAACP.

See You Next Year!

Tanya Hart

http://www.aurn.com/HollywoodLive/