The Slap still stings

Smith blow dominates plans for Oscars year on from row

- TOM BRYANT

UNPRECEDENTED flash floods and torrential rain have made it one of the wettest months on record in Los Angeles.

But while tomorrowy's forecast for the Oscars looks mercifully clear, there are other storm clouds assembling on the horizon.

Walking the streets by the Dolby Theatre where the ceremony takes place, the incident known as "The Slap" is still the gossip of the day.

"Hell, I'd have slapped Chris Rock too if he'd insulted my wife, laughed Jason Gooch, 45, in the LA LA Land gift shop, in Downtown Hollywood, near the red carpet.

Yes, even 12 months on, Will Smith's manhandling of Chris Rock after the comic joked about wife Jada's alopecia still looms large in everyone's memory.

Not least for the Academy. A "crisis-team" is ready to be deployed should something unthinkable happen.

"It is our hope that we will be prepared for anything," Academy chief executive Bill Kramer said.

"Because of last year, we've opened our minds to the many things that can happen at the Oscars." Bosses have been deliberating over how, and indeed if, they should reference last year in the broadcast tomorrow night.

They will look to Jimmy Kimmel, pictured above, who is back as host for the third time, to provide the answer.