The Oscars Are Adding a New Category For "Outstanding Popular Film" - They Must Be Desperate
The Film Academy just revealed some new changes coming to the Academy Awards and they're all pretty ridiculous.
The biggest change that they are implementing is the addition of a new award category of "Outstanding Popular Film" because I guess they now feel the need to compete with the MTV Movie Awards. Seems like a move made out of desperation.
This category is obviously for films like Black Panther or Avengers: Infinity War, neither of which would ever win a Best Picture nomination but could easily take home a prize for the most popular film.
Just seems like a silly throwaway award that has nothing the do with what the best is. It kind of takes the prestige out of the whole thing. Oh, well. The Academy is obviously looking to evolve for a younger crowd because their ratings haven't been great. Maybe they'll tune in to see what the most popular movie will be! This is the first time a new category has been added since 2001 with the Best Animated Feature award.
President John Bailey and C.E.O. Dawn Hudson also announced that they are shortening the telecast to a firm three hours and they are setting an earlier date for the ceremony itself.
You can read the full letter below with all the details. What do you think about the Academy adding this new Outstanding Popular Film category?
Dear Member,
Last night, the Board of Governors met to elect new board officers, and discuss and approve significant changes to the Oscars telecast.
The Board of Governors, staff, Academy members, and various working groups spent the last several months discussing improvements to the show.
Tonight, the Board approved three key changes:
A three-hour Oscars telecast
We are committed to producing an entertaining show in three hours, delivering a more accessible Oscars for our viewers worldwide.
To honor all 24 award categories, we will present select categories live, in the Dolby Theatre, during commercial breaks (categories to be determined). The winning moments will then be edited and aired later in the broadcast.
New award category
We will create a new category for outstanding achievement in popular film. Eligibility requirements and other key details will be forthcoming.
Earlier airdate for 92nd Oscars
The date of the 92nd Oscars telecast will move to Sunday, February 9, 2020, from the previously announced February 23. The date change will not affect awards eligibility dates or the voting process.
The 91st Oscars telecast remains as announced on Sunday, February 24, 2019.
We have heard from many of you about improvements needed to keep the Oscars and our Academy relevant in a changing world. The Board of Governors took this charge seriously.
We are excited about these steps, and look forward to sharing more details with you.
John Bailey and Dawn Hudson