Q: Would someone explain how Ted the bear from the movie “Ted” walked out on stage at the Academy Awards, climbed on the stool and carried on a conversation with actor Mark Wahlberg? If it was done with smoke and mirrors, it certainly looked real to me.
—Sandra Finney, Atlanta
A: The presentation with Ted, a computer-generated bear, was filmed over a four-week period leading up to the Oscars, which aired Feb. 24. Tippett Studio, the visual effects company that created the bear for the movie, used a set that was built to match the Academy Awards stage and the lighting and cameras in the Dolby Theatre, where the Oscars were held. Since Ted and Wahlberg were to present winners in the categories of Sound Mixing and Sound Editing, they filmed 10 different outcomes. There was an unexpected tie for Sound Editing between "Skyfall" and "Zero Dark Thirty," so Oscars director Don Mischer went live to Wahlberg "without anyone at home knowing," Tippett Studio wrote on its website.
Q: In the paper on Feb. 22, it stated it was the final episode of the season for “CSI: NY.” Why is that?
—Mary Ruth Parham, Lilburn
A: "CSI: NY" wrapped up its ninth season with that episode to make room on CBS' schedule for "Golden Boy," which debuted at 10 p.m. Feb. 26. The new show will move to its regular timeslot of 9 p.m. on March 8, according to TV Guide.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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