What to Expect From the Oscars Telecast (And What We'd Change)

"My general reaction to the Oscars in recent years is that the speeches have tended toward too careful and the ceremony drags in certain stretches. But those are qualities I accept as part and parcel of awards shows! Celebs are going to thank their teams and loved ones regardless of how rote that starts to sound to the viewing public, and they're going to be overly cautious because fear of social media has sanded the edges off so many famous people."

"What really doesn't work for me, and what leads to an awards-show doom loop, is when fear guides choices about the ceremony itself. The Oscars should not feel apologetic, and they should not veer anywhere near what Nate Bargatze did with his running donation gag at the Emmys."

The 98th Academy Awards ceremony airs this Sunday on ABC and Hulu with Conan O'Brien returning as host after receiving praise for last year's performance. While O'Brien's hosting provides a strong opening, the overall success of the telecast depends on multiple factors including which films win, the quality of acceptance speeches, and production decisions regarding clip packages and musical numbers. Recent Oscar ceremonies have shown mixed results, with acceptance speeches becoming increasingly cautious and certain segments dragging. Critics note that fear-driven production choices create problems, as the ceremony should feel confident rather than apologetic. Additionally, the Academy announced that starting in 2029, the Oscars will move from network television to YouTube, marking a significant shift in how the awards are distributed.

Read at Vulture