THE Academy Awards show has a history of getting into censorship scrapes.In 1970, network bigwigs got nervous when an X-rated film got nominated for Best Picture, and they insisted that only a completely sex-free, clean-language clip from “Midnight Cowboy” be shown.
In 1974, a streaker stunned audiences when he ran across the stage buck naked as David Niven stood on the podium. Some critics accused Oscar brass of staging the streak to liven up an otherwise tedious show.
In recent years, network censors have been on the lookout for actresses who wear dresses that threaten to expose a breast or a too-high thigh.
Such stars as Cher, Minnie Driver and Geena Davis have worn eye-popping gowns that made censors nervous. In such cases, technicians were on standby to cut to a head shot in case things got too revealing.