Oscars Are Near and Brimming with Controversy

This year’s Oscars are a few days away. After casting off eight categories from the live telecast, the changes sparked controversy. Intending to boost the ratings after a total slide on 2021’s COVID-19 pandemic-affected ceremony, the Academy Awards made an announcement last month. Eight of the less popular awards will be given out before the live telecast begins.

Surprising as it is, only the clips of the untelevised 8 awards will be shown during the live telecast. These awards excluded from the live broadcast are makeup and hairstyling, film editing, original score, production design, documentary short subject, sound, and animated short and live-action short film.

This new change fueled a blowback from certain movie industry groups, certain guilds, and current nominees like Jane Campion and Steven Spielberg. A week after the announcement, more than 70 renowned film professionals have submitted a petition letter.

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Watch the 94th #Oscars Live Sunday, March 27th 8e|5p on @ABCNetwork. pic.twitter.com/lAkTKpNleh

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 15, 2022

This is to reverse the new plan while arguing that it might result in “irreparable damage” to the reputation of Oscars. Assuming it would somehow derogate some of the nominees to having the status of “second-class citizens.” Some of them who signed the letter are Oscar winners Kathleen Kennedy, James Cameron, Guillermo del Toro, and Steven Spielberg.

Moreover, sources told Variety that members of the music industry are asking the score nominees to boycott. And not attend the ceremony in protest of the new move. Calls to directors are also ongoing to defend the artists in all of the excluded categories.

Meet the fourth slate of presenters for the 94th Academy Awards. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/f4knFAf02I

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 15, 2022

While this is the major change that added fuel to the controversy, some minors are also along the way. This year there would be a #OScarsFanFavorite film. In addition, all nominees and attendees should have COVID-19 vaccines.

Other Oscars Changes

While the exclusion of the eight categories sparked outrage, the AMPAS CEO Dawn Hudson and President Rubin had an explanation. In the interest of shedding the light on the changes, they explained how the affected categories will have a rightful presentation on Oscar night. It also includes where the nominees will be sitting.

Looking for something to watch this weekend? Catch up with the films nominated for Best Picture. #Oscars pic.twitter.com/0HuDvkXmnd

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) March 12, 2022

According to the pair, all attendees should be inside the Dolby Theater at 4 p.m. Which is opposed to the first announced schedule of 5 p.m. for the ABC broadcast. Considering that the red carpet will be happening outside, the major stars are to comply with the scheduled time arrivals. This is to avoid a rush inside or empty carpet. Run also assured that “most attendees of the Oscars love coming early anyway.”

Meanwhile, the audience will endure a four-hour show. Adhering to the schedule time of the viewers at home that should fit in the three hour time frame.

Hudson said, “So after 11 o’clock, the viewership on the East Coast goes down, and you measure viewership up until the last commercial break.”

“This is way granular, but if your last commercial break is after 11 o’clock or way after 11 o’clock, now you’re just absorbing all that declining audience and it impacts your entire ratings, which impacts your advertisers for the next.”

This year’s Oscars will also get a seating makeover complying with the COVID safety protocols. There will be seat arrangements of only a maximum of 800 in the Dolby than the normal. Seat rows will be taken off from the orchestra section to adhere with the social distancing.

Regina Hall, Amy Schumer, and Wanda Sykes will host the 94th Academy Awards. It will be on-air on March 27.