No, nobody acquired slapped at this yr’s Oscars — however then once more, there’s one thing to be stated for just a little little bit of unscripted chaos.
It’s been a wierd couple of years for the Academy Awards: The 2021 ceremony was an ungainly, socially distanced COVID-era affair that sunk to a brand new rankings low (simply 10.4 million complete viewers), and final yr’s ceremony featured an all-time shocker when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock dwell on stage — and noticed an enormous 60 % surge in complete viewership. It’s too early to inform how this yr’s broadcast will do, however I wouldn’t be stunned to see it dip once more, because it was a principally protected, by-the-numbers affair that was woefully quick on buzzy watercooler moments.
The present kicked off in stable if unsurprising trend, with host Jimmy Kimmel actually parachuting in after a short Prime Gun spoof. Kimmel has this internet hosting factor down chilly after two earlier stints as emcee: He used his monologue to work the room, with pleasant jabs at Nicole Kidman and Steven Spielberg, and the temper within the room appeared upbeat as they celebrated a box-office resurgence and a bunch of first-time nominees. A few of Kimmel’s jokes did draw blood (that Babylon crack earned some groans), and all of us knew he’d throw in a number of gags about #TheSlap, too. However his Will Smith materials felt just a little flat and nearly compulsory… to not point out a couple of yr outdated at this level. (It’s not his fault: Twitter already took all the most effective jokes that night time.) His later comedy bits the place he peppered the celebs in attendance with inane questions additionally felt extra schticky than humorous, and a questionable Robert Blake reference landed with a thud.
The set design was immaculate, with the Oscars stage bathed in gilded, Nice Gatsby-style glamour. However the broadcast noticeably lower corners in an effort to scale back the operating time, although it nonetheless ran nicely over three and a half hours. (The Finest Image nominees have been honored with transient montages somewhat than particular person tributes, and a number of other winners have been abruptly lower off mid-sentence.) We nonetheless had time for loads of emotional speeches, although, together with a teary Ke Huy Quan, capping off a outstanding profession rebound by taking dwelling the Oscar for greatest supporting actor for The whole lot In all places All at As soon as. (Having Spielberg and Harrison Ford, who labored with him as a child in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, within the room cheering him on was an attractive full-circle second that solely the Oscars can present.) Jamie Lee Curtis’ supporting actress win additionally echoed properly again by a long time of Hollywood historical past as she nodded to her iconic dad and mom Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh.
However the night time’s huge winners have been principally pre-determined — EEAAO‘s Finest Image win was virtually etched in stone earlier than the night time started — so any sense of suspense was conspicuously lacking. (We’ve already heard variations of the winners’ speeches on all the opposite awards exhibits.) Add that along with a largely bland ceremony, and I wouldn’t blame any viewers whose consideration began wandering across the one-hour mark. It left me plenty of time to ponder mysteries like: Is it even truthful to anticipate the Oscars to achieve the monumental viewership it as soon as reached, with the viewers hopelessly fragmented and social media making a glimpse of movie star an on a regular basis prevalence somewhat than a particular deal with? And the place can I get my very own set of scorching canine fingers?
This yr’s Oscars have been at their greatest once they threw us a curveball, like John Travolta’s voice welling up with real emotion when introducing the “In Memoriam” phase after the passing of his Grease co-star Olivia Newton-John and the vivacious efficiency of Finest Unique Tune winner “Naatu Naatu” from RRR, with dozens of dancers tearing up the stage with colourful costumes and breathtaking choreography. That efficiency might have even impressed a number of viewers to take a look at the film on Netflix — and that’s what the Oscars are all about, proper?
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