Turner Classic Movies has released its annual Obituary Video. These are always very classy and they always cover a lot more people than ever make it into the "In Memoriam" reel that's shown at the Oscars. To those who always ask, "Why doesn't the Academy let these guys do their reel?", I would like to make three points, none of which answers that question.
One is that the TCM reel is usually a work-in-progress. Today is 12/17. At least a few more people from the world of motion pictures will leave us before New Year's Day. As you'll note, there are moments left open in this video. I assume that's done deliberately and they expect to go back in and insert more clips as others pass away and also as fans react and say, "Hey! You left out So-and-So!" (Internet chatter suggests they already fixed one clip which was not of the person identified.)
Also, the package shown at the Oscars has to be edited to allow for applause. When they show their montage at the next Oscars, the audience will clap for Jerry Lewis and for Roger Moore and Martin Landau and several others. TCM can get through those guys in three seconds apiece. And my third point is that even the TCM reel gets complaints of "You left out So-and-So" that they don't correct. All that said, here it is…