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Oscar viewership improves - now what?
So it seems the much-speculated on ratings for the Oscars have improved this year. According to this story, 36 million people watched the show, an improvement from last year’s record low numbers.
Some naysayers will carp and point out it’s still one of the less-watched telecasts, but any improvement in this era of declining viewership for all kinds of TV shows has to be seen as some sort of victory.
Truth be told, I think all the talk about the ratings is a bit overblown, but I’d like to use that as a launchpad to ask (and answer) a few questions.
Did you like what you saw this year and will that encourage you to tune in next year? I of course, watch every year, and I’m already on record as saying this was one of the best shows in recent memory. Roger Ebert calls it the best ever.
Should Hugh Jackman return as host? I say yes, absolutely, if he’s willing. If not Hugh, then who?
Should the show keep some of the innovations it tried this year, such as having former winners address the nominees instead of playing the clips? Or presenting the awards as kind of a narrative? I’d like to keep at least some form of addressing the nominees going. It threw me at first, but that turned out to be a breath of fresh air that made for great TV.
All I would ask is that Gil Cates, who has produced a lot of the shows in recent years, stay away. He was notorious for rushing the nominees through their speeches, which I think makes the show stiff and awkward. As other commenters have pointed out, letting the nominees have their moment made for more entertaining viewing.
What do you think?
Permalink | Comments (2) | Post your comment | Categories: Oscars Sunday Night
Comments
By SRCputt
February 24, 2009 6:35 PM | Link to this
Host suggestions I’ve read that I would like to see: Nathan Lane (who did well on the Tonys), and Ricky Gervais (who was hilarious on the Emmys this year). Given how great they were presenting, I’d also happily watch the tag team of Steve Martin and Tina Fey. And after this year, clearly Bill Maher should never get the gig. He was terrible presenting the documentary awards.By SRCputt
February 24, 2009 6:27 PM | Link to this
Cates should be retired. I think the best shows lately have been when someone new tackles the show like what happened this year. I’d hire a different new producer every year. I think the addressing will continue, and that’s fine with me. The Oscars want to be different from the many other shows. Judging from the nominees’ reactions, this was the first time I’ve seen genuine “it’s a pleasure just to be nominated” moments.