
At the beginning of the year, we heard that the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences had decided to move ahead with a plan to put on the Academy Awards without a host, a choice that seemed like the only reasonable outcome given how much trouble it was to find anyone willing to host the Oscars. Today (via The Hollywood Reporter), ABC Entertainment boss Karey Burke confirmed that the Oscars will go on without a host, allowing âthe presenters and the movies [to] be the stars.â As we noted in January, this will only be the second time this has happened ever, with the last Oscars ceremony without a host being the disastrous 1989 show that opened with an extremely long Snow White/Rob Lowe musical number.
Burke isnât concerned, though, and in fact she believes that going without a host will actually be a boon for this yearâs Oscars. For starters, she says that the fact that everyone is concerned about whether or not the show will be another disaster has at least kept it âin the conversation,â and it means that âpeople really careâ about the Academy Awards on some level. Thatâs questionable, but even if the show is awful, thereâs another good thing about going without a host: No terrible host gags that drag on for way too long! Burke says ABCâs âmain goalâ for the Oscars is to kept it from running as long as last yearâs four-hour telecast, and she has promised to hold the show to âa brisk three hours.â
Three hours is still a long time, though, so hopefully itâs not too bad.