Honorary Oscar recipient Spike Lee thanked Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs for “bringing some flavor up in here” as he accepted his award from presenters Denzel Washington, Samuel L. Jackson, and Wesley Snipes. During the course of his ebullient 17-minute acceptance speech (the benefits of not having to worry about a live telecast), Lee talked about his upbringing, New York City’s summer of 1977, pre-gentrified Brooklyn, and paid tribute to his grandmother, an art teacher in the Jim Crow south, for paying his way through film school. Lee saved his most pointed statements for last, when he issued a direct challenge to the film industry to improve their diversity and hiring practices.  
 “To all the people out there who are in a position of hiring,” Lee said, “you better get smart. Because your workforce should reflect what this country looks like.” 
 Lee addressed his remarks to an audience of industry influencers. He continued: “It’s easier to be the President of the United States as a black person than be the head of a studio. Or the head of a network. Let’s leave Oprah out of it. She doesn’t count.”  Lee was joined in the evening’s honors by legendary actress Gena Rowlands, who was presented her honorary Oscar by Cate Blanchett and Laura Linney, as well as her son, filmmaker Nick Cassavetes. Rowland told a howler of a story about working with Bette Davis and paid tribute to her late husband and frequent director John Cassavetes.

Meryl Streep and Jane Fonda were on hand to present the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award to Debbie Reynolds, awarded for her career-long commitment to charity work. Reynolds was unable to attend the event because she’s recovering from surgery, so the award was accepted by her granddaughter (and Carrie Fisher’s daughter) Billie Lourd, who is an actress in her own right, currently starring on Fox’s Scream Queens.