Bob Saget was left out of the Oscars‘ In Memoriam segment. The 94th Academy Awards aired this past Sunday night on ABC, honoring the year’s best in film. The night’s biggest winner was Apple TV’s CODA, which took home the ceremony’s highest honor, Best Picture, though it was Denis Villeneuve’s Dune that took home the most trophies by dominating the craft categories with 6 wins. The ceremony wasn’t short on controversy either, as Will Smith stormed the staged and slapped Chris Rock in response to a joke aimed at his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
This past year saw the loss of many beloved figures in the entertainment industry, including Bob Saget, who passed away earlier this year on January 9 while on tour. The comedian is best known for his role as the patriarch Danny Tanner on the hit sitcom Full House, a role he later reprised for Netflix’s sequel series, Fuller House. Beyond that, Saget famously narrated the sitcom How I Met Your Mother as the voice of older Ted Mosby. He also served as a charismatic host of America’s Funniest Home Videos from 1989 to 1997.
As part of a yearly tradition for the Oscars, an In Memoriam segment honored those who Hollywood lost in the past year. This year’s was a bit different than in the past, as it featured in-person testimonials from Tyler Perry, who talked about actor Sidney Poitier’s impact on his life, Bill Murray tributing Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman, and Jamie Lee Curtis praising Betty White. The segment was also more joyful than usual, as a choir controversially danced and sang songs like “Spirit in the Sky” as the deceased were named. While there were a few names left out, the most notable omission was Bob Saget. Watch the In Memoriam segment below:
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Though the Academy hasn’t officially released a statement on the matter, there is one probable explanation for Saget being omitted. Since its inception in 1929, the Oscars have focused on awarding and recognizing accomplishments in the film industry. Saget’s innumerable contributions to the entertainment industry as an actor, comedian, and host mostly fall within the realm of television and are not within the purview of the Academy Awards. Therefore, expected Saget to be recognized at this year’s Emmy Awards.
Even with this possible explanation, the Academy’s decision to omit Saget is still puzzling. Betty White, who was also principally known as a TV entertainer, was tributed during the segment (as she should’ve been). Overall, Saget’s omission ignores his contributions to the medium of film, including as director of the 1998 comedy Dirty Work starring Norm Macdonald, who was another notable exclusion in this year’s In Memoriam segment. This wasn’t the only controversy to come out of the Oscars ceremony and it remains to be seen if the Academy responds further.
