Lackluster event benefits from the “Avatar effect”

Mar 9, 2010 10:34 GMT  ·  By
Millions tune in to see the 2010 Academy Awards broadcast, but ceremony continues to be tedious
   Millions tune in to see the 2010 Academy Awards broadcast, but ceremony continues to be tedious

Though critics and movie fans alike thrashed the Academy Awards ceremony saying it was both too long and too tedious, ratings went up this year by 14 percent, totaling nearly 41 million viewers for the entire event, as Variety informs. The surge in ratings is mostly due to the fact that, this year, nominees for Best Picture were double in number, including “Avatar,” officially the biggest selling film in the history of cinema.

This year marked the expansion of the Best Picture category to include no less than 10 nominees, which, obviously, means more exposure for more films. The nominees for the 2010 edition was an eclectic mix, including James Cameron’s blockbuster and cinematographic milestone “Avatar,” the low-budged war drama (and winner) “The Hurt Locker,” low-budget faux-documentary alien story “District 9,” the animation “Up” and the Nazi-filled “Inglourious Basterds.” Having so many critically and commercially appreciated films nominated translated in higher ratings for the broadcast.

“It actually may not be quite that simple, but the expansion of best-picture hopefuls from five to 10 is likely accountable for this year’s surge to a five-year ratings high. The Oscars telecast on Sunday moved back above the 40 million-viewer mark for just the second time in five years, growing for a second straight year following the show’s ratings valley in 2008. Other factors may have been at work, too, including an economy that has contributed to more moviegoing. Auds also seem to be gathering around the television set more these days for big events,” Variety further explains of the surge in ratings.

“The improved Oscar ratings continue a strong season for event television. Not only did last month’s Super Bowl deliver the largest audience for any program on record (106.5 million), but the Grammy Awards hit a six-year high (25.9 million), the American Music Awards drew its largest aud in seven years (14.2 million), and the CMAs and Golden Globes were up as well. Many believe the inclusion of some popular pics such as ‘Avatar’ – the all-time leader in North America box office receipts – and some that that might not have otherwise been nommed, including ‘District 9’ and ‘Up,’ were part of the Oscar conversation,” the movie publication says.

With all this, it’s worthy to note that the awards ceremony itself was not even half as good. Dragging on for over three hours, it featured lame jokes, awkward moments and predictable segments in what can only be described as the worst Oscars ceremony in history, some reviewers say.