Less than a month after it announced the addition of a feel-good “Popular Film” category, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has decided that maybe it was such a good idea after all. Or maybe the fans did it for them.
Most of the press releases said the category would be scrapped, but Deadline says that’s not entirely the case:
Oscars: Academy CEO Dawn Hudson Says Board Is Still Committed To “Principle” Of Including Audience-Friendly Films, Was Surprised At The Backlash – Interview https://t.co/cwEWOsNUf3 pic.twitter.com/SnJcrnEhb6
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) September 6, 2018
From the Deadline post:
Despite today’s announcement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences that the new category for what had been referred to as “popular” movies was being “postponed” and not presented for this year’s Oscars, Academy CEO Dawn Hudson assures Deadline that the Board of Governors are still committed to the basic principles of it. “The Board governors are committed to this principle of just slightly widening the scope of films that we’re honoring for excellence. So we’ll continue that study.
One the motivating factors for the Academy to make some changes was that this year’s Oscar broadcast had the lowest television ratings in quite a long time. A frequent complaint from most viewers for years is that the broadcasts are too long. Adding a category or two doesn’t seem like the answer. The Academy did say it would also televise fewer awards but that seems like a solution that will just end up making some of the rank and file unhappy.
Many think that getting rid of the overdone production numbers during the broadcasts would help. Do we really need to hear every nominated song to appreciate the eventual winner?
Can I get an “Amen!”?
As many have pointed out, the notion that a film can’t be both popular and good is offensive to many. Making everyone happy here is a daunting task for the Academy.
Let’s get rid of the songs though.
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