8. Ellen Degeneres Vacuumed The Aisles And Debuted An “Oscar Carrier” (2007)
During one segment of the 79th Academy Awards in 2007, DeGeneres rolled a vacuum cleaner into the front rows and began jokingly cleaning the floor while interacting with audience members seated near the stage. The image quickly became one of the most surreal visuals of the evening, with the host vacuuming around tuxedos and designer gowns inside the Kodak Theatre. Later in the show, DeGeneres introduced another gag: a baby-carrier-style sling designed to hold an Oscar statuette so winners could keep their hands free.
The prop, which she jokingly called an “Oscar carrier,” was presented as a practical solution for actors who suddenly found themselves juggling a trophy, speeches, and interviews after winning. The jokes landed with polite laughter, but the odd mix of household props and red-carpet glamour created one of the night’s more awkward moments in viewers’ eyes.
