In December 2000, director Steven Soderbergh was asked to comment on the forthcoming Oscar ceremony -- at which two of his films (Erin Brockovich and Traffic) would contend for the best picture award. "I see it as a terrific party," he declared, "with a great door prize."

[Soderbergh is among few directors to have eaten an Oscar: Ocean's Eleven producer Jerry Weintraub once threw Soderbergh a pre-Oscar party catered by Wolfgang Puck, replete with a gigantic cake topped by an edible Oscar.]

[As a result of wartime shortages, the Oscars handed out at Academy Award ceremonies during World War II were made of wood -- albeit gilded wood. The Academy dispensed original Oscars again only after the war had ended.]