"Ellen explains the unpredictability of the Oscar nomination process (with video)

Think Progress:

Sometimes, the vote count doesn’t always tell the whole story. Watch it here and here.

Ellen: You know, I tried to figure it out, there’s no rhyme or reason to who’s going to win, or how they figure these things out. Because, you know, you can’t — Jennifer Hudson. Jennifer Hudson’s here tonight. Look at that. I tell you. Jennifer Hudson was on American Idol, America didn’t vote for her, and yet she’s here with an Oscar nomination. That’s amazing. That’s incredible.

And then, Al Gore is here, America did vote for him, and then — [applause] Very complicated.