20th Time’s the Charm!

This is the most amusing Oscar’s story I’ve heard in a long time:

Apparently sound mixer Kevin O’Connell has been nominated for an Academy Award 19 times, and has never won. This year he’s up for a 20th time for his work on the film Transformers. The best part? Apparently there are some other sound mixers who are really jealous of his “success.” Last year’s winner, Michael Minkler (Dreamgirls), had these kind words to say backstage:

“I think Kevin should just like maybe go away with 19 wins and just call it a record and that would be the end of it. We work really, really hard at what we do, all of us do in our craft. And if we, you know, stumble upon an award like this, you know, if somebody is willing to honor us with something like this, we are so grateful. And I just wonder what Kevin’s trying to do out there by trying to get an award by using sympathy. And Kevin’s an okay mixer but enough’s enough about Kevin… I just think that maybe he should take up another line of work.”

While Minkler was sharing his oh-so-kind/drunk words, Kevin was being rushed to the hospital, where his mother was dying. This guy is a greek tragedy waiting to be written.

So I’ll be rooting for Kevin tonight, though I’m not sure I’ll be rooting for him to win, or to continue his streak, further ensuring him a place in history.

Read an interview with Kevin O’Connell on Entertainment Weekly