The murmurings of the industry that blamed low award show ratings on the pandemic is turning into a bit of a pandemic. It turns out the glitz and glitter of celebrities is no longer having the star power it once had. The Oscars are predicted to show up with only one-sixth of the viewership they held twenty years ago. It’s leading some analysts to wonder how much longer the live event can go on before going belly up.
A quick survey of the reasons that industry insiders are offering for what could be wrong reveals that most are clueless as to the paradigm shift happening across the country. Tired excuses like hosts not connecting, viewers leaving the box office, etc, are all mental bandaids meant to soothe everyone who is hurting from a loss in interest. Are they true to some extend? Sure! But when you got to the doctor and say “I’ve lost 80% of my health,” you don’t expect mundane answers as to what is going wrong.
In reality, what is most likely changing is that Hollywood’s bubble has turned into an even more inoculating barrier against mainstream beliefs. Hollywood has moved into positional beliefs and movements that are farther from the average viewer; it’s harming the wanderlust that one existed. The excitement of movie stars has worn off. Yes, Tom Holland is a superstar and there are certainly more like him. But how many? It doesn’t seem to be the same as it once was when people were interested in the lives, fashions, and drama of superstar lives.
The Oscars got lower TV ratings last year than the National Dog Show, said the Hollywood reporter @brooksbarnesNYT. "That is a humiliation." Listen to his full chat with @nicsperling and @brooksbarnesNYT on what to expect at Sunday's ceremony: https://t.co/0kJTBgVRfd
— The New York Times (@nytimes) March 27, 2022
While it may be fun to see some celebrities get a bit of comeuppance by giving each other awards while nobody watches, the truth is that it may be a canary in the coal mine. Do movie stars need to reconnect with their audience at large? Does this represent a danger to the entertainment industry?
Whatever is going on, it would not hurt if stars began to reach out a little bit more to the fans that follow them. Perhaps this is a relationship in need of repair if awards ceremonies are to return once more.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. And, as always, keep checking out That Park Place for all the latest information on news that should be fun.
I am not going to watch any movie that wins an Oscar. Like movies that get 100% critic rating they are sure to be boring, distressing, mean and/or preachy. If the only reason I am watching is to see what movies to avoid, I can do that by seeing the “won an Oscar” on my streaming service.
Disney should know why. Their attempt at political neutrality failed spectacularly. No one trusts Hollywood with their movies, their predatory actors and producers.
Dogs are way more exciting than the Oscars or the nominated movies.