The Oscars Hope You Don't Actually Care About Movies That Much

Last year’s Oscars were the lowest-rated in history, and in an attempt to draw in more viewers, the Academy will reportedly no longer present eight categories live during its broadcast.

According to a memo obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, those categories — documentary short, film editing, makeup/hairstyling, original score, production design, animated short, live action short and sound — will be awarded inside the Dolby Theatre an hour before the live telecast begins. They’ll be recorded and then edited into the subsequent live broadcast, presumably so that producers have the ability to trim and condense winners’ acceptance speeches in the interest of saving time.

The memo claims that the change is being made “in order to provide more time and opportunity for audience entertainment and engagement through comedy, musical numbers, film clip packages and movie tributes.” Reaction on social media, however, was swift and unfavorable; it turns out the few people who do still watch the Oscars care about the actual nuts and bolts of filmmaking and want to make sure the people responsible for making their favorite movies great actually get their moment in the sun.

The holy grail of the Oscars has become this imaginary ABC viewer who is eagerly waiting for there to be fewer awards, no old people, no artsy movies, a super-fast pace, and Spider-Man. And I guess the Academy is going to chase that mirage right over the edge of a cliff.
— Mark Harris (@MarkHarrisNYC) February 23, 2022

Definitely keep chasing viewers who don't like the Oscars by alienating viewers who do like the Oscars, you brilliant brilliant minds.
— Joe Reid (@joereid) February 22, 2022

I love acceptance speeches. I love craftspeople being honoured for what they do. Production design is the category I’m most excited about this year (except for Best Actress because anything could happen!!) I want to see all of the awards #AcademyAwards
— Melanie Lynskey (@melanielynskey) February 23, 2022

(UNBELIEVABLY ANNOYING FILM NERD THREAD OH GOD I'M SORRY)
Dear @TheAcademy — with the utmost respect, this is a dumb and disrespectful move. https://t.co/gnpJh3GDzS
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) February 23, 2022

As many pointed out on Twitter, the decision to trim down acceptance speeches in certain categories to make more room for hokey comedy bits about pizza or selfies is not going to win back any viewers. All it will accomplish is alienating existing ones. The solution to getting more people to tune in to your movie awards show is not to hand out fewer movie awards.

Of course, there’s always the chance that if the backlash is loud enough, the Academy will walk back the decision. As the memo notes, “Moving forward we will assess this change and will continue to look for additional ways to make our show more entertaining and more thrilling for all involved, inside the Dolby Theatre and watching from home.”

The 94th Academy Awards are slated to take place on Sunday, March 27.