Once again, it’s the television show, not the actual event. As we close in on the Oscars, angst focuses on numbers. On numbers of people who might or might not watch the event.
We know the story on the Super Bowl: biggest TV audience anywhere anytime for anything. Major music awards shows, the Grammys and the CMAs have pulled down record ratings. But the Oscars? Been waning lately on TV. Who wants to watch this year? That’s a bigger question on the minds of Hollywoodites than the awards themselves. Everybody wants to be noticed. And the fear is nobody will notice.
Fact is, there’s just not enough TV show biz in snippets from a dozen or so movies to attract watchers. How many scenes could you show from “Avatar?” And no matter how many you did show, how could they capture the effects of the big screen. Even with wide-screen and surround-sound at home. So who wants to watch a non-spectacle show when everybody’s used to pizazz?
As A.O. Scott puts it in the NY Times, “That question is the one that most preoccupies the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, which administers the awards, and ABC, which broadcasts them. No effort has been spared to secure your attention, whoever and wherever you are. There are two funnyman hosts, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin, to appeal to baby boomers and “30 Rock” fans; a slew of attractive presenters, including some of the “Twilight” pack to pander to the teenagers and tweens; shorter speeches, no embarrassing performances of nominated songs, and 10 nominees for best picture.”
Wow! Doesn’t your heart just jump up in your throat at the prospect of “no embarrassing songs?” Is that true? Could they really mean that? Has nobody out there heard that even the Super Bowl uses music. It’s a whole show in itself during halftime. There are people who’d never watch a regular-season football game, but would show up for the show. The Who at halftime, with a spectacular light and sound show grabs-em even if they hate sports.
So the Oscars will cut out the music? To some of us, judging by the ratings, that’s the best part. But ego, not necessarily talent, will out.
*Film – Huge Film (‘Avatar’), Small Film (‘Hurt Locker’) – Big Stakes – NYTimes.com.
