CHATTER AWAY: Overnight Open Thread

The New York Times reports

There are some fundamental truths in the world: The sky is blue. The grass is green. The Oscars red carpet is —— champagne-colored. Jimmy Kimmel, this year’s host, joked at the unveiling on Thursday that the color change — the first time in more than six decades that the academy’s arrival rug will not be red — had been prompted by Will Smith slapping the comedian Chris Rock across the face onstage at last year’s ceremony.

“I think the decision to go with a champagne carpet rather than a red carpet shows just how confident we are that no blood will be shed,” he said. Oscars organizers said they wanted the rug to be mellow, like a beach at sunset. The 50,000-square-foot rug, which was created in a color chosen by the academy, is the latest in a trend of colorful carpets sweeping premieres, galas and award ceremonies across the country.

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