The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences had its annual Oscars Luncheon today and, as always, it was a joyous time for those in attendance. Of course, those nominees who didn’t arrive also made news as well. Emma Stone, Adam Driver, Olivia Colman and, thankfully, Nick Vallelonga, were not in the house. Neither was Kendrick Lamar who, surprisingly, has not been booked to perform his nominated song “All The Stars” on the telecast yet.
Who did make the trek to the Beverly Hilton to hear embattled (well, he should be embattled) Academy President John Bailey give the annual welcome speech? Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, Regina King, Barry Jenkins, Spike Lee, Glen Close, Amy Adams, Rachel Weisz, Paul Schrader, Melissa McCarthy, Kevin Feige, Alfonso Cuaron, Rami Malek and Sam Elliott, among others. As always, smiles abounded (except for Lee who continues to make his disgust for Peter Farrelly and “Green Book” an open secret).
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While the nominees were on a high, the host-less telecast looms. There were a few big takeaways that were revealed today.
John Bailey told the nominees the Board of Governors promised ABC a three-hour telecast. It was delivered as a threat to remind them to get to the podium quickly and keep those speeches short. Cause the show is gonna end at 3 hours no matter what.
Some members of the Board of Governors think having certain awards given off air and then edited for broadcast is a great thing. And it will be five to six categories that, assuming this happens again, the plan is for it to rotate every year. And, no, they don’t seem to care that someone will tweet the winners out before its broadcast (don’t get me started on that one).
The fact Lamar isn’t booked yet is eye-brow raising. The fact Disney chairman Bob Iger was supposedly recruited to help confirm him, more so. Perhaps someone needs to call his record company, Interscope.
The Academy is clearly playing with fire. Not only do they have a telecast without a host, they have one where awards won’t be handed out in a traditional manner which may confuse or even turn off viewers. Throw in the fact that “Roma,” a movie many viewers haven’t seen, will likely dominate the telecast and the ratings could plummet (the huge drop in Super Bowl ratings may look miniscule compared to the Oscars). And this with massive, “popular” hits such as “Black Panther,” “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “A Star is Born” nominated for Best Picture. If the Academy isn’t worried, they should be.
Today was a happy day, though. At least for the nominees.
The 91st Academy Awards will air on Feb. 24 live on ABC at 5 PM PT, 8 PM ET.
