Ebr717’s Weblog

The 80th Academy Awards were held during a three-hour-plus telecast on Sunday. The host was comedian Jon Stewart and in the short amount of time since the writer’s strike ended, Stewart was able to collaborate with writers and prepare an amazing show. However, according to the ABC News article “Oscars draw record low TV ratings,” the national view tally was down about 1 million viewers from the previous record low, which was in 2003.

This could be a result of the type of movies nominated for awards. The movies this year appealed to a different type of audience. Unlike this year’s films, many of the previous winners were blockbuster hits. There is a huge difference between this year’s nominated movies and previously nominated moves such as “Titanic” and “The Departed.” An Entertainment Weekly interview with executive director of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Bruce Davis, explored some of the theories behind the low ratings. “Some of these movies are just too difficult for a mass audience, frankly,” said Davis. Movies like “There Will Be Blood” and “No Country for Old Men” feature themes and settings different from that of a typical Hollywood blockbuster.  According to ABCnews.com, only one movie among the five nominated for best picture, breakout comedy “Juno,” crossed the $100 million box office market domestically. 

In terms of the future of the Oscars and the publicity and marketing angle from here on, the Oscars has come to a crossroads and will have to make a decision whether it’s going to recognize big popular pictures or films that appeal to smaller audiences. Choosing the second option could lead to a smaller Academy Awards audience. It becomes a question of whether it is the goal of the Academy to produce a profitable television show or to recognize the best film work of the year regardless of ratings. “If we simply wanted to do a television show, we would cut out all the awards that didn’t go to actors and directors. We know that a one-hour show like that would attract a larger audience, but we’re not doing that,” said Davis. I completely agree with Davis in preserving the “integrity” of the Oscars. I think for most people the annual Academy Awards is chance for people to get together with their friends and enjoy predicting who will win each category. Do I see every single movie nominated? No. But I do enjoy watching these nominated films and I also enjoy watching the people that created them receive the recognition they deserve at the Oscars.  I will continue to tune in to a program that does just that.