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There are a few things that you can count on during the Oscars broadcast: Someone – a presenter, winner, host – will say something outrageous, a winner will talk beyond their acceptance speech limit, and people will point out who was left out of the “In Memoriam” section. This year, some of the notable exclusions included Michelle Trachtenberg, Tony Todd, and Shannen Doherty. Trachtenberg’s absence was especially noticeable because she died the day before Gene Hackman’s body was found and he was included.
Before Doherty passed away last July, she hosted a popular podcast called Let’s Be Clear. After her death, her mother, Rosa Doherty, took over as host in order to continue Shannen’s legacy. Since then, a rotation of guest hosts have come on to talk about a different topic that they want to “be clear” about. This week, Tori Spelling hosted a shortened episode that was released on March 30. She also hosted a regular-sized ep that dropped on March 31 that talked about her experience doing conventions. Tori’s first episode was dedicated to how her longtime friend Shannen deserved to be in the Oscars’ “In Memoriam” segment.
Spelling remembered her “lifelong friend,” who died in July 2024 from cancer, on a March 31 episode of the late actress’ Let’s Be Clear podcast. In the special 20-minute tribute, Spelling reacted to Doherty being left out of the “In Memoriam” segment at the 2025 Oscars earlier this month.
“I have to say it was shocking, truly shocking,” she said. “Because to me, I discovered Shannen as a fan on the big screen. While she was so iconically known for her TV roles, which I want to honor her and go through her career today, but it’s really the big screen where her career just thrived. And she just lit up the big screen going back to when she was a kid.”
She continued: “So I know that was heartbreaking. I saw the headlines. I saw the fans that were so outraged on her behalf. I couldn’t believe it. Honestly, when the ‘In Memoriam’ stopped and she hadn’t been included, my heart dropped. It sank. And it sank because I was like, ‘What? It’s such a miss.’”
Acknowledging that “there’s so many people in the entertainment industry” to mention during the segment, Spelling, who worked with Doherty on Beverly Hills, 90210, said she was still disappointed.
“I don’t know what the rules are there — how people are picked and not picked,” she admitted. “But I just think when someone so iconic to fans across the world passes and they’re not remembered for their legacy and the great work they did, I just think it’s shocking. And it personally felt a little triggering to me because this is the third person that I love that has been left out of the ‘In Memoriam.'”
“The year my dad passed, I remember he was left out of it,” she said of her producer father Aaron Spelling, who died in 2006.
“And then, ironically, the year that Luke Perry passed, he was left out of it,” Spelling continued, referring to the sudden 2019 death of her and Doherty’s former 90210 costar. “But it’s not like Shannen could have been an oversight. It just felt for all of us watching that loved her and loved her work, it felt like not only was she robbed, but we were robbed.”
Doherty died on July 13, 2024. She had originally been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 breast but entered remission in 2017, only to be diagnosed with stage 4 in 2020.
I really appreciate that Tori is so committed to her friend’s memory. Her tribute is really, really sweet. I lost my friend from Stage IV breast cancer a few weeks ago. It’s devastating to watch a loved one lose their hard-fought battle with any disease. I’d be fiercely protective in this situation, too. That said, TV was the genre that Shannen was most known for, so at least she was included in the Emmys’ tribute. Joan Rivers was famously included in the Emmys’ tribute but not the Oscars’ one.
Since they are always so controversial, I looked up how the honorees of the “In Memoriam” segments are selected. It’s made by an executive committee that relies on a combination of popularity and contributions to the big screen. Some other big names who were left out over the years include Anne Heche, Leslie Jordan, Paul Sorvino, Abe Vigoda, Jessica Walter, and Tom Sizemore. I’m no expert, but I think an easy solution here would be just to figure out how to cut time from something else in order to add an extra minute to the memorial segment.
So anyone associated with BH90210 are left out? Did they not join the union or something?
This year Alain Delon was left out. He was a such icon, so unforgivable
Surely the Cesars didn’t?
Because they worked primarily on tv?? If her Dad was not included, I think there is even less chance of the actors being included. But they are included in other memorials. The absence of someone like Paul Sorvino strikes me as worse because he did work in film and he probably was not included in the Emmy’s memorial. I don’t think it is a slight against 90210, i think it’s a matter of which memorial makes more sense.
Doherty memorably appeared in Heathers. Perry appeared in Fifth Element. They have film in their resume. So did Spelling as producer.
Agreed. Performers are usually memorialized in the awards ceremony most closely related to their medium. Nothing to see here.
yet every single year TCM gets it right, gets everyone in and is very respectful
the oscars always blow it somehow. please just pay TCM to do it for you.
TCM is the best they feature a comprehensive tribute including those who work behind the scenes.
Came here to say EXACTLY this! At this point the Academy Awards should be ASHAMED that they can’t be bothered to MATCH the energy & dedication of TCM’s yearly “In Memoriam”
Cut out the stupid so-called “comedy” that leads to people being insulted. Easy fix.
Sorry but I don’t feel bad when people like Shannon Doherty don’t make the Oscars memoriam. I don’t think just because you were in a few movies you automatically get in. She was so well known for tv work that many would struggle with naming 1 or 2 movies she was in. It would be a huge deal not to be mentioned at the Emmys.
There’s a simple explanation. Not everyone that is in entertainment is a member of the “Academy” that runs the Oscars. It’s a pretty exclusive group, and membership is usually a reward for a significant career in film. Not television. Their in memoriam segment highlights their members, famous and not so much, which is why there is an uproar every year about people being left out. And I’m sorry if I sound like a b*tch for saying so, but you can’t compare Gene Hackman’s career to Michelle Trachtenberg’s.
p.s. I’m not endorsing how they pick their members, which skews very male and very white.
I still love that she had the sass to write down who she did NOT want at her funeral. Before she passed.
She is my Gen X hero. I loved watching her on 902010 and tried so hard to copy her style and haircuts in my 20’s.
The in memoriam segments on the Oscars are always controversial. But at the end of the day Hollywood is just another High School clique of the worst kind.
What a great move!
When my grandmother passed I discovered that she’s added a clause/note in her will telling my (estranged) father he got nothing with the legal version of ‘he knows what he did’. Outstanding work grandma.
I hope I’m the sort of person who can leave a mark with my character when I’m gone like both of those ladies.
I would much rather have an iffy skit or dumb extended joke get cut and have the Oscars make time to honor all who have passed, rather than only some.
@Rosie — So sorry you lost your friend to cancer, I lost a dear friend to breast cancer a few years ago, it was devastating. I often feel her presence as I fight my own battle with it.
Thank you so much, Jaded. Sending you all of the good vibes as you fight your battle. <3
Rosie, truly sorry for the loss of your friend.
Thanks, Therese! <3