"All the names were predicated on the stars not crossing the picket line," Cates said. "We did book the show with that understanding."

Now the pressure is on show writers -- Hal Kanter, Buz Kohan, Jon Macks and Bruce Vilanch -- who are working 13-hour days to script that witty banter between celebrities.

"No writing was done prior to yesterday," Cates said. "We are behind in the writing."

Host Jon Stewart, who arrives in Los Angeles on Saturday, also has his work cut out for him.

Cates told reporters that "The Daily Show" host was still assembling his team and that penning Stewart's pre-recorded bits in time would challenge the host's quick-witted crew, who already work on tight news deadlines.

This highly political year could very well produce some fiery acceptance speeches, but Cates sounded unmoved by the possibility of the Oscar podium becoming a soapbox for winners.

"That 45 seconds is yours to do with what you want," he said, adding that as long as it's tasteful and brief, it's no problem.

Ganis stressed that the production is "full steam ahead" and movie fans won't be disappointed.

"The bad news is past us now," he said.

The show includes more than 31 presenters -- "Superbad" stars Seth Rogen and Jonah Hill among them -- while performers include Amy Adams, who will sing the "Happy Working Song" from "Enchanted," and Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, who will sing their nominated song "Falling Slowly" from the film "Once."

Cates has a few other surprise guests who he plans to announce in the coming days.

This so-called Plan A show is far more traditional than the strike-proof Plan B, which Cates joked would have been "the most exotic and interesting clip show in the history of television."

"There's a little part of me that would have liked to have done that show," Cates said.

Ganis couldn't have disagreed more.

SOURCE

ETA: The full list from Awards Daily:

At a press conference held at the Academy’s headquarters today (Thursday), Cates and Ganis announced the presenters scheduled to date, including all four of last year’s winners in the acting categories—Alan Arkin, Jennifer Hudson, Helen Mirren and Forest Whitaker—as well as Amy Adams, Jessica Alba, Cate Blanchett, Josh Brolin, Steve Carell, George Clooney, Penelope Cruz, Miley Cyrus, Patrick Dempsey, Cameron Diaz, Colin Farrell, Harrison Ford, Jennifer Garner, Tom Hanks, Anne Hathaway, Katherine Heigl, Jonah Hill, Dwayne Johnson, Nicole Kidman, James McAvoy, Queen Latifah, Seth Rogen, Martin Scorsese, Hilary Swank, John Travolta, Denzel Washington and Renee Zellweger.

Cates and Ganis also announced the performers of the nominated songs. Amy Adams will sing “Happy Working Song” from “Enchanted” (music by Alan Menken and lyric by Stephen Schwartz). Also from “Enchanted” (and written by Menken and Schwartz) will be “That’s How You Know,” sung by Kristin Chenoweth and Marlon Saunders, and “So Close,” to be performed by Jon McLaughlin.

 Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova will perform their nominated song, “Falling Slowly,” from the motion picture “Once,” and Jamia Simone Nash will perform “Raise It Up,” from “August Rush,” with the IMPACT Repertory Theatre of Harlem, headed by Jamal Joseph, who shares the song’s music and lyric credit with Charles Mack and Tevin Thomas.

Also scheduled to return to the Oscar telecast team will be writers Hal Kanter, Buz Kohan, Jon Macks and Bruce Vilanch.

Second-time Oscar show host Jon Stewart will also bring on several writers to work on the telecast.