O/U Set at 1.5 for Times Trump is Mentioned on Stage at Oscars

• Trump’s name has been given an over/under of 1.5 to be mentioned at the 2019 Oscars
• For the first time since 1989, there won’t be a host for the Oscars
• Lady Gaga, Glenn Close, and Mahershala Ali are most likely to criticize Trump

The 2019 Academy Awards are right around the corner. As per usual, the award-winners are likely to do a lot more than just the typical, teary-eyed thank you speeches. Some will present inspirational speeches while others will use their platforms to call-out aspects of society, such as diversity in Hollywood, the #MeToo movement or the President of the United States.

Odds on the latter are set with the over-under set at 1.5 times Donald J. Trump will be mentioned. Let’s take a closer look if it’ll go over or under the number:

How Many Times Will Trump Be Mentioned on Stage?

The Drama with Kevin Hart

One of the interesting twists with this prop is that for the first time since 1989, the Oscars won’t have a host. Kevin Hart was initially invited to host the Oscars by the Academy and he accepted. However, the next morning his euphoria turned into a black cloud as a few of his former homophobic tweets – from over a decade ago – came to light.

The Academy asked him to make a public apology but Hart noted that this wasn’t the first time these tweets had come up and that he had previously apologized for them multiple times. He eventually relented and apologized again but the Twitter mob still wouldn’t let it go. Even an appearance on Ellen – who publicly lobbied for him to host – wasn’t enough. On Wednesday, Hart officially pulled out and the Academy has announced that there won’t be a host this year.

However you feel about this, the only positive way through it is to talk about it. Thank you for being here, @KevinHart4real. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/FVKZ6FIQAx

— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) January 4, 2019

That’s crucial to this prop because had there been a host, we’d likely hit the over in the opening monologue alone. We know that few are spared in the opening monologue and Trump would have been the butt of at least a joke or two. That would leave us needing to hit one more at some point throughout the evening. However, absent of a host, we’re leaving it up to the award winners to mention the President a couple of times.

Is Betting the Over Easy Money?

With the actors having to do the legwork, the question is who is likely to win? We know that Hollywood is most closely associated with the leftwing perspective of politics, so many people in the audience won’t be big fans. But who actually wants to push their political views and use their shining moment to do so?

Of course, someone like Meryl Streep is an ideal candidate because she’s won many times, made many speeches and has ripped the President before. However, she’s only up for Best Supporting Actress and she’s a longshot, so you can cross her off the list.

Meryl Streep’s #GoldenGlobes speech on Donald Trump has everyone talking https://t.co/4h17inAJWU pic.twitter.com/0UHXUnL9pg

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) January 9, 2017

Mahershala Ali is a prime candidate as he’s the heavy favorite to win the Best Supporting Actor award and he previously criticized Trump’s travel ban at the SAG Awards. Lady Gaga is one who is likely to be critical of the President too. She criticized him just last night at the National Board of Review gala.

While many thought she was the favorite for the Best Actress award, Glenn Close’s win at the Golden Globes has moved her in the favorite role at the Oscars. Close is also not a fan of Trump and might use her platform to let everyone know.

On the men’s side, Rami Malek and Christian Bale don’t stand out as people who will be critical, but you never know. Bradley Cooper could possibly if he wins either the Best Actor or Best Director award, but seems unlikely. Spike Lee would surely be critical as he’s done many times on CNN and elsewhere, but he’d have to pull a stunning upset over Alfonso Cuaron for Best Director.