Academy Apologizes for Myers' Intro

April 9, 2001 -- Don't expect Mike Myers to be asked to host the Academy Awards anytime soon.

The Austin Powers star has been criticized for condescending remarks made in his introduction to the sound and sound editing categories during the March 25 Oscar telecast, the Los Angeles Times reports.

The 430-member sound branch of the Academy took exception to Myers' introduction, which all but said, "Who cares who wins this award?"

Myers actually said, "Now, ladies and gentlemen, the award we've all been waiting for! … Julia! OK. Sound and sound editing. … What's in this envelope is going to send shock waves through the industry. Oh, yeah."

It sent shock waves through the industry all right, with Donald C. Rogers, chairmanof the sound branch's executive committee calling Myers' comments "an insult."

"Their families are watching, and it's a moment of great pride," said Rogers. "Being publicly humiliated for being an unrecognizable … name removed all of the joy of the event and was embarrassing to say the least. I spoke to one individual who asked, 'How could our academy do this to us?'"

Robert Rehme, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, issued a written apology to the sound branch, saying, "we will certainly endeavor to see that it doesn't happen again."

Part of the blame must lie with Oscar telecast producer Gil Cates, who knew of the remarks ahead of time and approved them, the Times reports. Cates told the paper, "I apologize if it caused any harm and wouldn't have used it if I knew it would come across the way it did. He thought it would be funny and I thought it would, too, and I was wrong."

Bruce Davis, the Academy's executive director, said, "I think Mike Myers is not the villain here. Those who are comedians are looking for ways to punch up their introductory remarks. Not all of them think it through as carefully as they might."

Myers could not be reached by the Times for comment.