Oscars to be shorter and include Popular Film category Published By Alexandra Heilbron on Aug 09, 2018


Oscar statuettesIn light of the fact that this year's Academy Awards ran almost four hours and was the least-watched Oscars to date, the Academy has announced they are shortening the broadcast to three hours.

In order to achieve that, select categories will be presented live, but during commercial breaks. Those categories will be edited together and aired later during the broadcast.

Since most of the movies nominated are low budget films seen by only a small amount of movie lovers, they're adding a category that will celebrate popular films that have been seen by a wider audience.

The Academy Awards have also marked an earlier airdate for the 2020 ceremony -- February 9. This year's ceremony took place on March 9, 2018.

What else do you think would make the Academy Awards more watchable?

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Comments & Discussion

  • Kurt - 8/9/2018 9:09:09 AM
    It's about time they did something to make that show better. Nominate the movies people actually watch and not crap like the one about the water monster. I can't believe that one over Get Out.
  • Michelle - 8/9/2018 11:05:45 AM
    Celebrities should keep their political views to themselves!!!
  • Jeannieb62 - 8/9/2018 11:24:10 AM
    When we recall former Award nights, it's the crazy things said or done during speeches that get attention...kind of like the best wedding stories are the things that went wrong and we laugh at later. To the suggestion about keeping political views out, then the Academy must set the example and get all politics out of their decisions--their own internal politics and world politics. I say that none of the suggestions above will make any difference as long as the reputation remains that the Academy Awards are rigged and politics determine who gets the prize. We have known for a long time that there are strong mechanisms at play behind the scenes to aggressively promote someone to the Academy and "buy" or create momentum to get their star awarded. I have also understood that the Academy members are lazy and do not watch everything--that itself should be a must and a cause for recusal by a member. If they can't put in the required work then recuse yourself from voting. Hand it over to someone who will. In the end, the best artist, the best performance delivered that year must get the prize. End of story.
  • GLADYS MOLLY - 8/9/2018 11:24:51 AM
    I don't watch the awards for the entertainment, so, cut that our all together. I get my entertainment for so many other places. Also, I don't want an opening monologue. Again, cut out the entertainment. And, the show should only be 2 hours long, at max.
  • Ann - 8/9/2018 11:38:53 AM
    Shorter opening monologue,no politics,shorter speeches,put winners at the front so it doesnt take them so long to get on the stage (stop kissing and hugging everyone along the way do that after).
  • Scotty - 8/9/2018 11:55:52 AM
    Eliminate rubbish categories like “best foreign short” or “sound editing” and put more popular categories up like “Best Fantasy”, “Best Horror”, “Best Sci-Fi” Etc. That way popular movies can get the recognition they deserve while traditional Oscar movies get theirs.
  • Bryce - 8/9/2018 5:10:05 PM
    Keep politics out ! Stop the ongoing which hunts with the objective of ending someone’s career !
  • Pietro Antoni De Vita - 8/9/2018 5:15:48 PM
    The minor categories should be handed out before the show begins, perhaps at the Governor's Awards sometime in November. Critics and voters would have seen all films by then before they are released nationwide.
  • Jean - 8/9/2018 7:32:14 PM
    Stop with songs-this is not the Grammys! Show the movies
  • Grandma Moses - 8/10/2018 10:13:27 AM
    Too much feminist propaganda. Too much diversity propaganda. Women and people of colour are well represented and get more than their fair share of accolades and financial success in the movie business. Let talent triumph over political correctness and let the best achievements triumph over all.
  • Dusty Ayres - 8/11/2018 10:21:43 PM
    Good to see that the Academy members nominated way, way too many films that haven't been seen by most of the population (and neglected most of the Marvel Universe movies plus any other sci-fi/fantasy film that was popular and made money, or any other popular film), but there doesn't have to be a Popular Film Category, just have the most popular film(s) of the year nominated (for example, The Avengers should have been nominated [and won] ) Best Picture of 2012 instead of what did win that year, and Irron Man should also have won Best Picture of 2009 instead of what won that year.) The nomination (and win for Best Picture of) Lady In The Water and the nomination of Get Out is a great sign that the Academy recognizes sci-fi and horror are worthy of Best Picture honors; let's hope that this continues. There's an article I'd love to post about this that was published by The Grid back in 2014; I plan to post it here as soon as I can.
  • Angel - 8/15/2018 12:32:25 PM
    All of the above! I haven't been able to enjoy the Oscars for a long time because I am finding it all long-winded and I can't even enjoy them as I haven't been able to see half, and now about 3/4, of the movies. I'm not saying the films and actors/actresses are not worthy, but so are many others.
  • GD - 8/23/2018 1:43:03 PM
    They are pandering and it won’t work.

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