The 85th Annual Academy Awards offered a surprise twist on Sunday- they recruited the efforts of the first lady to present the award for Best Picture.

Michelle Obama announced the Best Picture Oscar nominees and winner -Argo- live via satellite from the White House after she was introduced by actor Jack Nicholson.

Hawk Koch, the president of the Academy, said the idea was hatched by Harvey Weinstein and his daughter Lily.

Oscar show producers Craig Zadan and Neil Moron told The Hollywood Reporter that after they agreed to the idea they pitched it to the first lady who told them, "Yes, I think it's a great idea. We watch movies all the time at the White House. Let's do it."

Zadan and Moron said the idea was kept top secret and only a few members of the production staff knew about the surprise. Obama's participation was even kept off of the show's run sheets so the idea would not be leaked. Two days before the ceremony, the Academy announced that the Best Picture category would be presented by Nicholson with Dustin Hoffman, not the first lady.

Kock, Zadan and Meron said they flew to the White House for a secret meeting with the first lady's staff to discuss details. Zadan said the planning of it was like the movie concept in Affleck's film Argo: "It was a C.I.A. mission, it was so complicated."

"We didn't even want anyone to know where we were going," Zadan said.

Once they secured the first lady the producers then approached Bucket List actor Nicholson, who agreed to introduce her. They arranged for Nicholson to hold an envelope with the winner's name in it as a back-up just in case something went wrong with Obama.

Watch the video below of Obama announce Best Picture winner Argo.

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The Oscars 2013, Oscars, Oscars 2013, Michelle Obama, Ben Affleck, Jack Nicholson