[James]

In response to falling ratings. Some awards not to be shown live to reduce length, and Best Popular film category added - I predict Black Panther wins that next year, or A Quiet Place.

Academy Sets Three-Hour Oscars Broadcast, Adds Popular Film Category
By Rebecca Rubin

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences is instituting sweeping changes to the Oscars broadcast as it tries to find ways to bolster ratings for the flagging telecast.

In a message to its membership, the group’s president John Bailey and its CEO Dawn Hudson said the broadcast will now include a new category for outstanding achievement in popular film. The group did not provide details on what movies would be eligible and when the award will first be handed out, but its intent is clear.

At one point in its history, Oscar voters routinely named blockbusters such as “Titanic” or “Gladiator” as the year’s best. That’s changed. Recent best picture victors such as “Moonlight,” “Spotlight,” and the 2017 winner “The Shape of Water” have been firmly ensconced in the arthouse world, whereas well-reviewed hit films such as “Guardians of the Galaxy” or “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” have only been recognized for their technical achievements.

“We have heard from many of you about improvements needed to keep the Oscars and our Academy relevant in a changing world,” Bailey and Hudson wrote in a note to members. “The Board of Governors took this charge seriously.”



The Oscar broadcast has also been slagged as a tedious affair, that is larded with awards and humorous bits that are long-winded without enough of a payoff. To that end, the Academy’s board of governors announced on Wednesday that future broadcasts will be three-hours long.

AMPAS also set an earlier airdate for the 2020 telecast, which will be held on Feb. 9.

The 2018 awards show, which clocked in at almost four hours, was the least-watched Oscars to date. Though it pulled in 26.5 million viewers, the ratings were down 19% compared to the previous year.

To accommodate a three-hour ceremony, select categories will be presented during commercial breaks. Winning moments will be edited and later aired during the broadcast. The Tony Awards has taken a similar approach and the Oscars has already moved certain honors, such as its career achievement and humanitarian awards, to a different night in an effort to keep things moving.

Bailey and Hudson said the group’s board of governors, staff and certain working groups of members have spent the last several months discussing improvements to the show.

https://variety.com/2018/film/news/a...ry-1202899382/

[Smithy]

Are you excited to see Lady Gaga win her first Oscar this year James?

[Oliver_W]

I bet that new category was invented so Black Panther would win an Oscar - it wasn't even the best Marvel movie from that year, let alone the overall Best Picture.

[Oliver_W]

I do agree that it does drag on - not helped by the fact that Jimmy Kimmel was a bit of a humour vaccuum. While the technical awards are interesting and the behind the scenes artists deserve their credit, I think the "primetime" broadcast should just focus on the main awards, with the uncut version available later, and/or streaming in its entirety online.

[Tom4784]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

I bet that new category was invented so Black Panther would win an Oscar - it wasn't even the best Marvel movie from that year, let alone the overall Best Picture.

Lies.

Infinity War wasn't a film, it was half of one.

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by Dezzy

Lies.

Infinity War wasn't a film, it was half of one.

Now I'm curious as to whether any of the recentish two part YA book adaptations had Oscar noms or wins!

[Niamh.]

Black Panther was my Marvel pick of the year up until last week when I saw Antman

[Oliver_W]

Surely though, most popular award should automatically go to the highest grossing movie? Like I said I'm pretty certain this category was made so Black Panther would be able to win something, but the best way to measure how popular something is would be by the money it makes?

FYI:
2018 - Infinity War (so far)
2017 - Last Jedi

[Nicky91]

finally a jurassic world movie winning an oscar what it deserves

[Toy Soldier]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

Surely though, most popular award should automatically go to the highest grossing movie? Like I said I'm pretty certain this category was made so Black Panther would be able to win something, but the best way to measure how popular something is would be by the money it makes?

FYI:
2018 - Infinity War (so far)
2017 - Last Jedi

The award isn't for "most popular", tho.

[Amy Jade]

Mamma Mia 2 deserves it

[ethanjames]

here for mama mia taking it

[Brother Leon]

Congrats Marvel.

[arista]

Yes 3 hours is a better time

[Tony Montana]

Black Panther or Infinity War Please

[Smithy]

Best popular film has now been cancelled

[LeatherTrumpet]

just end this disgusting back slapping USA wankathon for people who read words that other people write who are cleverer than them

utterly vile