The Academy Awards only received 32 million viewers this year, which may not sound that bad until you consider it’s the lowest number since Neilsen began compiling data on the show.

The reasons? Let’s see, could it be that this year’s Oscars were about as lackluster as they come. All the glitterati were on their best behavior. No political rants like those of Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins or Richard Gere. (Well, maybe one, but it was tame.) No truly inspiring acceptance speeches like that of Mickey Rooney from the ‘82 Oscars. No nothing. It just lay flat with nothing to intrigue, inspire or enrage the viewer. And let’s not even talk about the Rock presenting an Oscar. What!?!

Or, could it have been the movies that were nominated themselves? It seemed to me films which should have been nominated were largely snubbed. I mean, where was American Gangster, Charlie Wilson’s War and Atonement? (I was pulling for Michael Clayton, in spite of the fact it probably wasn’t Oscar-worthy.)

There were two notable exceptions to the banality. One was when a group of our troops from Iraq announced an Oscar. The other was when they let Marketa Irglova come back out and give her acceptance speech. That never happens.

Let me leave you with one of my favorite Oscar moments from years past. It happened during the 46th Academy Awards in 1974. You may remember The Streaker…

Article Tags: 2008 Academy Awards | Movies | Oscars
Filed under: Personal Opinions, Television Marketing