Golden Globe winner and Oscar-nominee Jan Sterling, who has died in 2004, was not shown during the "In Memoriam" segment. Many viewers of the show were flabbergasted and shocked.
Each of the 5 Best Picture nominees share a common themes of ambition and success: Million Dollar Baby (2004) (Maggie and boxing); The Aviator (2004) (Howard Hughes and film-making/engineering); Finding Neverland (2004) (J.M. Barrie and writing); Ray (2004) (Ray Charles and music). Sideways (2004) (Miles & Jack and resolving a mid-life crisis)