Police arrest 21 Oscar crashers

Would-be Oscar gala crashers proved as welcome at Sunday’s Academy Awards ceremony as ”Lord of the Rings” competitors at the podium. Tight security made the Kodak Theatre harder to infiltrate than Mount Doom. According to the Associated Press, Los Angeles police arrested 21 attempted trespassers at Sunday’s show. At least two were caught in a backstage loading dock area, bearing forged badges and a video camera, said Academy spokesman John Pavlik. (”They were never in the auditorium,” he told AP.)

Those arrested were probably cited for misdemeanor trespassing and released, police spokesman Dan Cox said, though he added, ”There may be other charges.” If the obscure wannabes have any consolation, it’s this: See, you CAN get arrested in this town.