ABC NOW FEARING A MASS TUNEOUT (The Brokeback Oscars Effect)

NY Post ^ | 2/1/06 | DON KAPLAN

[jimbo123]

"Brokeback Mountain" and a slew of other arty, less-widely seen Oscar-nominated flicks are expected to take the polish off ABC's ratings for the Academy Awards this year.

With no big-budget films like "Titanic," "Gladiator" or "Lord of the Rings: Return of the King" in this season's crop of nominees, ABC may be staring down the barrel of one of the lowest-rated Oscar telecasts in recent memory when it airs on March 5, say TV-industry analysts.

[durasell]

That's right, almost forgot about that role. Lester Bangs is one of those writers who is better as an "idea" than a reality. His writing actually sucks.

I didn't see the Capote movie, but intend to. I've heard that it portrays Capote as he was...

[sportutegrl]

At least LOTR3 had an audience. I read an article where the Academy figured that they couldn't keep ignoring the LOTR movies and had to nominate Return of the King.

[McGavin999]

The Hollywood elite don't care. They think the Oscars are their little award ceremonies and they can do what they want. Well, that's true, but when they stop being watched all those free designer dresses, all that loaned jewelry, all the freebies stop because it's no longer in their interests to have their wares connected to people the public is disgusted with.

Oh yeah, and have I mentioned that those million dollar salaries start to go away when people don't know or care who you are?

[GOPJ]

Gay indoctrination and terror apologism.

It's like the third grader who gets attention by always disagreeing with everyone. Us: "Cookies are good" Brat: "NO they're not, I hate cookies". Society: "terrorists are dangerous". Hollywood: "terrorists are fine"

[Right Brother]

Are you accusing them of fudging the box office numbers?

I heard they're packing the seats everywhere the movie is shown.

[mel]

Cinererella was indeed excellent movie, it gave real insights in what it was like living in depression. I don't see how people made it really.

[vollmond]

Philip Seymour Hoffman played Capote, but he's been turning in brilliant performances for years. He was the spoiled kid in Scent of a Woman and the yuppie in the Talented Mr. Ripley and the male nurse in Magnolia.

Don't forget Brandt in "The Big Lebowski"!

[diamond6]

LOL!!!

[mystery-ak]

That about sums up 3hrs of the Oscars.....

[hispanarepublicana]

"Walk the Line's" nominations might be the only thing that keeps me flipping over to it, or at least looking up the winners the next day.

[Senator Goldwater]

"My understanding is that the majority of those who have seen this movie in the theater have snuck in through the back door."

Back door being the operative words.

[demkicker]

This is a brilliant time for some other network to counterprogram the heck out of the Oscars. Usually the other channels, nets and cable go into rerun mode

I don't think it matters. People TIVO or rent movies with their remotes, through the mail or go to movie rental stores and find something much more decent to watch than the frikin Academy Awards.

We often TIVO and store movies and t.v. programs to watch when nothing to our liking is on A&E, the History Channel, the military channel, Court TV, Fox News, HBO, etc.

[TheBigB]

I haven't watched the Oscars since they snubbed Pamela Anderson for "Barb Wire."

[linda_22003]

Will they have recipes? (mmmmmm, escargot......) :)

[mel]

Sometimes I wonder if these people many of whom have no post high school education are simply spewing garbage from their mouth because they feel it is what is expected from them by their peers. I wonder if the absolute truth be known if in reality, some of these so called "stars" are more conservative than they say. I just don't see how one industry could have that nut cases in it.

[alarm rider]

Unless there is something exiciting on the food channel, I plan to watch the paint dry.

[linda_22003]

And he was excellent in "Capote", which is not about the life and times of that author, but specifically about the Smith/Hickock murder case and the writing of "In Cold Blood". It was terrific and he should get the Oscar.

[durasell]

I'll see it after the Oscars. Capote was a really misunderstood guy.

[Kieri]

This is a brilliant time for some other network to counterprogram the heck out of the Oscars. Usually the other channels, nets and cable go into rerun mode. If I were FOX, I would do something huge and capitalize baby!!!!

Just for the uber-sarcasm factor, I'd LOVE to see Fox do a "Best of the Worst of American Idol" special! Bring out William Hung (sp) and the others who should be shot if they ever try to sing another note. People would LOVE it!!