Posted on 02/26/2007 1:59:46 PM PST by fight_truth_decay
ABC's telecast of "The 79th Annual Academy Awards" was up a tick from last year's performance, though it still ranks as one of the lower-rated broadcasts of the event.
The Oscars earned a 14.0 rating among adults 18 to 49 (39.9 million viewers), according to ABC's fast national Nielsen ratings. Last year's show earned a 13.9.
ABC noted the show was the most-watched entertainment broadcast of the season and that Oscar's 18-34 rating was its highest in five years.
The telecast won the night for ABC, which also aired a Barbara Walters Oscar special, which earned a 6.0.
The other networks largely aired repeats against the traditional heavy ratings draw.
Due to an overrun of NASCAR, Fox came in second with its field of animated comedy repeats.
CBS was third, with the second episode of "The Amazing Race: All Stars" dropping a bit from its premiere to a 2.9, followed by repeats of procedurals.
Fourth-place NBC had a season-low "Grease: You're the One That I Want" (1.5), followed by a "Crossing Jordan" repeat, and then a "Jordan" original (2.2).
The CW came in fifth with repeats.
(Editor: Horowitz)
However their lead in gave the age group tuning in as: Oscar Viewership on Par Highest 18-34 rating in Five Years ...guess those over 34 to 49 fell asleep.
It's too long and it starts too late on the East Coast and ends WAAAAY too late on the East Coast, so all I get to see are the crappy award. At least put the good entertainment up front. I would've appreciated the Dreamgirls numbers when I was still awake.
They need to start it earlier. Say 7 central or even 6:30.
As of this writing I still don't know who won what and like you....who gives a rat's derrier! :) Just a bunch of people who pat each other on the back so they can feel important. How many award shows are out there anyway? The Oscars USED to be big when Stars were Stars. But today? These are personalities and nothing more. No more Stars in Hollywood. We quit watching and caring a long, long time ago. Best thing we EVER did.
There hasn't been a decent host since Billy Crystal nor a great host since Johnny Carson. Arguably, the best was and remains Bob Hope.
Only four of the Oscars go to 'stars' (actors).
I'm just surprised that there are that many homosexuals. Whooda thunk it?
I noticed that the ratings DIPPED later in the evening. Not a good sign.
Here's how they could improve the broadcst
The only categories they really need to show are best picture, director, actor, actress, supporting actor, supporting actress, animated film, song, musical score adapted screenplay and original screenplay. If you add that to the song performances, tributes, honorary awards and stuff from the host, it would still be enough to fill 3 hours.
Give the editing, sound, sound effects editing, "documentary," short film, visual effects, etc etc in a smaller ceremony the night before, just like at the Emmy's.
Last couple years I've been observing how long it is between the Oscars and the time I find out what actually won Best Picture - just by osmosis via FR, Drudge, and whatever people around me choose to talk about. Last year it was around 3 weeks before I heard - which tells me that nobody really cared. As I've heard about Ellen's pacing the aisles but not who won this year, I'm not expecting much from this year's winner either.
No I don't watch much TV at all.
Yeah, I hate the way they wait until 8:30 Eastern to start the damn thing, especially after 10 hours of previews. And you'd think the network would want the darn thing to end by 11 eastern. Grr.
YAWN..... I never watch this mutual lovefest of Hollyweird airheads, but if I'd even been tempted then the thought of watching the coronation of Albore for his scientific fraud would have been enough to keep me away.
Does this mean FOX came in second with a rerun of cartoons??? ;)
...Gore thanked "all the talented people" in the movie industry "who've been part of the mission to inspire a successful response to the climate crisis," which was the focus of his film An Inconvenient Truth.
Then, apparently warming to sidekick Leonardo DiCaprio's invitation to make "a major, major announcement," the former vice president produced a sheet of paper and seemed to be about to declare his candidacy for the 2008 presidential race — but was cut short by a swell of music. He was being played offstage by the orchestra.
He made another return trip to the stage with filmmaker Davis Guggenheim when An Inconvenient Truth was named best documentary.
"My fellow Americans," Gore began again, then stopped himself.
It was all a joke, of course. But the leisurely pace of the broadcast — three hours and 52 minutes — was no laughing matter.
"....too often bordering on the dull, even dreary.
The Oscarcast almost ground to a halt during a back-and-forth session when film composer Ennio Morricone received a lifetime achievement Oscar and delivered his remarks in Italian, which presenter Clint Eastwood dutifully translated. It ate up three full minutes. It seemed so much longer.
One suggestion for making the Oscarcast seem livelier in the future: Use subtitles.
Or, please, just liven it up.--FRAZIER MOORE Associated Press
I believe the overnight ratings focus primarily on the large urban areas. If that's true, the final numbers will probably be the lowest ever once the heartland comes in.
When I was younger, everyone watched, everyone wanted to know who won what, everyone discussed it the next day.
These days, as far as I know no one watched, and for sure no one discussed it, I find it hard to imagine anyone cared.
So I find the idea that the ratings are "on par" suspicious; on par with last year, when no one watched it either?
Its a different world now, we've got a hundred channels instead of three, and Hollywood is more out of touch with normal Americans than ever in its history. Or maybe its me thats out of touch. But if it was the only thing on, I'd listen to the stereo. In fact, its rare if anything Hollywood offers, on TV or at the movies, beats whats on my stereo.
My brother calls the Oscar show the Gay Superbowl.
Chris Rock called it that. The year he hosted!
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