There was a time, not long ago, when award season was pretty cool. Even if you never saw most or even any of the nominated films, you made sure to sit down in front of your TV and watch The Academy Awards.
I remember how much I enjoyed watching the Oscars as a child. I would stay up late to see all the glam and laugh at the jokes that were way over my head. As an adult, I attended and even hosted Oscar gatherings, complete with nominee-themed dishes. True, I didn’t have children and more time on my hands, but times have changed.
I wouldn’t use a precious night out without the kids on an Oscar party (save of course for an ACTUAL Oscar party. Call me, Wolfgang Puck!), and I doubt my kids will care much about watching the awards.
I am not alone in my ho-hum feelings about the Oscars. Although they were up slightly in 2023 from recent years, viewership of the Academy Awards has been on a steady decline for more than 20 years.
According to Statista.com, more than 46 million people tuned into the Oscars in the year 2000. By 2020, that number was almost half. In recent years, it’s been less than an average Monday Night Football Game.
You could blame it on overexposure. We see these celebrities all the time. There is nothing special about seeing them on Oscar night.
You could blame the overabundance of content. There is too much to watch, and not enough time to sort through the crap and discern what is good.
I don’t know.
I do know that the debate over Margot Robbie’s Oscar snub, will probably end up being a bigger story than who wins Best Picture (which will be Oppenheimer).
(https://twitter.com/Sargon_of_Akkad/status/1749868540394435042)
Before I wrote this, I had to Google when the Oscars are going to air. I’ll save you the trouble and tell you they will be on March 10 on ABC.
Maybe I’ll skip it, or maybe I’ll return to my roots and make some movie-themed dishes.
I agree with this but I think the Oscars were in a decline even before the overexposure and 24 hr news cycle.
Unless you are receiving the award or are related to someone receiving an award, no one gives a damn about 80% of the categories. Back in the day we put up with Original Score because we wanted to see who nailed best Actor/Actress and which movie won the Theatrical Superbowl.
But then the ceremony started getting longer and longer. And the snubs got more blatant. and they always manage to forget someone significant when they do Look Who Died Last Year tribute.