The Oscars
If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It

Academy Awards Producer: Gil Cates

Are the Oscars becoming a mockery from without, or from within? Much has been said about 'the disconnect' of this years nominees with the public. So, yes, maybe there will be less attention on the awards this year from the mainstream public. But if the point of the Oscars are to connect with the mainstream, then the Academy should join forces with the Blockbuster and People's Choice awards to create one giant award show, perfectly aligned with the publics' taste in cinema. The frontrunners for best picture will be great films, that everyone can say they enjoyed, like The Wedding Crashers and War of the Worlds and Star Wars. All of these films certainly have some merit, but since when is the Academy supposed to fall in line with the box office results.

So naturally, the members of the Academy do not buy into this disconnect having some great importance. They are still interested in nominating films that define the time; that are artistic and technical achievements of the highest levels. So why then is the producer of the Academy Awards, Gil Cates, listening to the cries from the outside? Why is he succumbing to the notion that it matters whether or not the Academy awards films that do not represent the public as a whole? He's trying too hard to be a little too inclusive. Not following? Well let me backtrack a little...

Remember last years Academy Awards? No. Well, let me remind you. Last year, Mr. Cates decided--in an effort to cut down on time, so as to keep viewers interested--to give away some awards without having the winners come up on stage; instead they would accept their award from their seat with a microphone stationed nearby. How this saved time, I have no idea. It only seemed to delegate certain awards as being less worthy of being presented on stage. So, this year, in an effort to cut down on time, Cates has another ingenious plan. Here's a quote from the story on Movie City News:

"For this year's 78th Annual Academy Awards, which also marks Cates' 13th turn as producer, he has abandoned that plan but is introducing a new one, which he said was "not quite as dramatic as last year." Nominees in some categories will be led to seats in the third and fourth rows during commercial breaks so they can be seen on camera as their names are read. Nominees in other categories will be rotated into the featured seats during commercial breaks. Those in the affected categories will be notified by letter before the show."

So, okay. At least he's not denigrating some of the awards by leaving them off the stage, but does anyone else find this idea anything other than completely ridiculous? Anybody who watches the show, understands that its a lengthy process; with lots bills to pay and tons of awards to be handed out. Sure the show is long, but any true fan (and that is who watches the Academy Awards--not the box office generators) likes it that way!

I swear, the next thing he'll spring on us will be to allow the public to vote for one best picture nominee...just to keep them interested.