20 Devastating Oscars Moments Hidden In Plain Sight
12. The Infamous Snow White Number Ends A Producer's Career
The 1989 Oscars went down in flames in record time by featuring what remains the consensus-worst opening number in the show's history.
The brutal 11-minute sequence is an elaborate song and dancer number revolving around Snow White, portrayed by actress Eileen Bowman, as she arrives in Hollywood.
It's got terrible costumes, a bunch of ageing celebrities being trotted out (even Vincent Price!), and a duet between Bowman and Rob Lowe where they sing a reworked version of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Proud Mary." Sure, why not?
And while this number was an undeniable car crash the likes of which the Oscars hasn't witnessed before or since, it had a lifelong impact on the career of producer Allan Carr.
The relentless criticism of the 1989 opening was so vocal and sustained that not only was Carr replaced as producer for the 1990 Oscars, he never produced another film or theatrical show.
And to make matters worse, Carr died barely a decade later without mounting any sort of redemption story.