Marc Shaiman to the New York Times: "I Plan on Being the Adam Lambert of the Academy Awards"

As reported earlier, Oscar®-nominated composer Marc Shaiman will serve as music director for the 82nd Academy Awards, telecast producers Adam Shankman and Bill Mechanic announced today.

"With Marc on board, we are sure to have some great musical and, hopefully, hysterical moments," said Mechanic.

"Marc was my inspiration and musical partner on ‘Hairspray' and he has been responsible for some of the most memorable moments in Oscar history, like Will Ferrell and Jack Black's comedy numbers," said Shankman. "He's a genius! And he'd be the first to tell you!"

The New York Times questioned Shaiman on his feelings regarding his upcoming stint and how he plans on being "the Adam Lambert of the Academy Awards." 

In an excerpt from the New York Times, Shaiman reveals:

Q: Are there any fat satirical targets that you're already eyeing?

A. It's still a little early. The shelf life of pop culture is so short, who knows what we'll want to be thinking about in March? Until the movies are nominated and you know what the tone of the films are, there's just so much you can do in advance. But I am trying to think of what words rhyme with "Precious."

To read the full interview in the New York Times, click here.

Shaiman is a prolific music composer who has earned five Academy Award® nominations. He received Original Score nominations for his work on "The American President" (1995), "The First Wives Club" (1996) and "Patch Adams" (1998), and he received nominations in the Original Song category for "A Wink and a Smile" from "Sleepless in Seattle" (1993) and for "Blame Canada" from "South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut" (1999). Shaiman has also been nominated for four Emmy® Awards, three of which were for his work on Oscar telecasts. He won the Emmy in 1992 for co-writing Billy Crystal's "Oscar Medley" for the 64th Academy Awards. Shaiman's other film credits include "The Bucket List," "Bee Movie," "Hairspray," "A Few Good Men," "Sister Act" and "City Slickers."

The 82nd Academy Awards nominations will be announced on Tuesday, February 2, 2010, at 5:30 a.m. PT in the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2009 will be presented on Sunday, March 7, 2010, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center®, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is the world's preeminent movie-related organization, with a membership of more than 6,000 of the most accomplished men and women working in cinema. In addition to the annual Academy Awards - in which the members vote to select the nominees and winners - the Academy presents a diverse year-round slate of public programs, exhibitions and events; provides financial support to a wide range of other movie-related organizations and endeavors; acts as a neutral advocate in the advancement of motion picture technology; and, through its Margaret Herrick Library and Academy Film Archive, collects, preserves, restores and provides access to movies and items related to their history. Through these and other activities the Academy serves students, historians, the entertainment industry and people everywhere who love movies.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.