For an Oscar ceremony to stand out in the history books, it has to be both weird and wonderful. That could be the winning formula for Sunday night's live telecast on ABC, aka the Barbenheimer Oscars.
You've probably seen at least one of the best-nominated films, based on box office totals – more than $1.4 billion worldwide for “Barbie,” nearly $960 million for “Oppenheimer.” Thanks to these massive successes, the 2024 show hosted by Jimmy Kimmel is expected to be a mix of joyous pop-culture moments (in the spirit of “Barbie”) and serious statements (like the prestige drama “Oppenheimer”).
Plus, there are two Marvel superheroes up for a statuette (but not for their work in a Marvel movie), 10 first-time nominees (more on that later), and a “Barbie” nominee who will sing “I'm just Ken.” To prepare you for the Oscars, here are the answers to some burning questions.
Nobody watches the Oscars anymore, do they?
Not exactly. Excluding the NFL games, the Oscars actually took place. the most watched primetime TV show of 2023 with approximately 19.4 million viewers.
That seems like a lot. But for context, overall awards show audiences have plunged in the era of endless streaming choices. The lowest-rated Oscars took place in 2021 and attracted approximately 10.4 million viewers. The most-watched Oscars were in 1998, when more than 55 million people watched “Titanic” win best picture.
Yet in today's fragmented television landscape, there's no reason to disdain nearly 20 million viewers. In fact, it's a win worthy of the NFL, considering that regular-season NFL games averaged nearly 18 million viewers in 2023, according to ESPN.
Why is the ceremony being broadcast earlier this year?
Because the eyes. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. EST, instead of the usual 8 p.m. in recent years. After the show ends around 10:30 p.m. (or later), ABC plans to air a new episode of “Abbott Elementary.”
The earlier start time increases the chances that viewers will stay awake for the entire show instead of going to bed, even if the proceedings reach the dreaded four-hour mark. The longest broadcast of the Oscars was in 2002 and lasted 4 hours and 23 minutes, far too long.
Will there be historic firsts?
If Lily Gladstone wins the best actress award, she will become the first Native American to win an acting Oscar in any category. And if John Williams, 92, wins the statuette for best original score for “Indiana Jones and the Clock of Destiny,” he will be the oldest winner ever.
Although it seems extremely unlikely, “Oppenheimer” could score the most wins for a single film (a title now shared by “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” “Titanic” and “Ben-Hur” with 11 wins each. ) if he lands 12 or 13 Oscars among his 13 lucky nominees.
Who will present?
Dozens of actors, directors and singers will take the stage to announce the winners. The list includes the funny Melissa McCarthy, John Mulaney and Ramy Youssef of “Poor Things,” legendary veterans like Rita Moreno, Al Pacino, Forest Whitaker and Jessica Lange and, for younger viewers, new generation stars like Bad Bunny, Ariana Grande. and Zendaya.
Which actors are nominated for the first time?
Half of them, including Cillian Murphy and Emily Blunt (“Oppenheimer”), Da'Vine Joy Randolph (“The Holdovers”), America Ferrera (“Barbie”), Lily Gladstone (“Killers of the Flower Moon”) , Jeffrey Wright and Sterling K. Brown (“American Fiction”), Sandra Huller (“Anatomy of a Fall”), Danielle Brooks (“The Color Purple”) and Colman Domingo (“Rustin”).
Which actor has won the most nominations without a win?
Give the participation award to Bradley Cooper, who now has a total of 12 nominations for his acting, writing and producing. Four of them are for best actor (“Silver Linings Playbook,” “American Sniper,” “A Star Is Born” and, now, “Maestro”) and one is for best supporting actor (“American Hustle”).
Five-time nominee Annette Bening has been nominated four times for best actress (this year's “Nyad” and “The Kids Are All Right,” “Being Julia” and “American Beauty”) and once for best actress in a supporting role (“The Grifters”). ).
It would be an emotional moment if either won, but that's unlikely given current predictions. Hey, it’s an honor just to be…. nevermind.
Which actors have already won an Oscar?
Three of this year's contenders can boast of winning Hollywood's biggest prize. Robert De Niro, nominated in the supporting actor category for “Killers of the Flower Moon,” won in the same category for “The Godfather Part II” and took home best actor honors for “Raging Bull.”
Jodie Foster, nominated as a supporting actress for “Nyad,” has already won two best actress awards, for “The Silence of the Lambs” and “The Accused.” And if Emma Stone, nominated for best actress in “Poor Things,” wins Sunday night, she'll have bookends, too, given her previous win for “La La Land.”
What's going on with Iron Man vs. Hulk?
In a fascinating twist for superhero fans, Robert Downey Jr. and Mark Ruffalo from the Marvel Cinematic Universe are competing for Best Supporting Actor. Downey is the favorite for his understated turn in “Oppenheimer,” but Ruffalo also received critical praise for his comedic talent in “Poor Things.”
For those deep in Marvel history, it's not just Downey's Iron Man and Ruffalo's Hulk that represent the franchise. Best Actor nominee Jeffrey Wright voices the Watcher in Marvel's animated series “What If…” on Disney+. (I thought we were going to miss this one, didn't you?).
What are the possible upheavals?
Many categories seem like a lock, but there is always an air of suspense around some of the biggest competitions.
Although Cillian Murphy of “Oppenheimer” appears to be in the lead for best actor, the Irish star may find himself cheering the surprise victory of Paul Giamatti, who played the professor we love to hate in “The Holdovers.”
The race for best actress also appears to have tightened between Lily Gladstone of “Killers of the Flower Moon” and Emma Stone of “Poor Things,” who have become good friends with matching friendship rings. reports People.
Gladstone even told the magazine that they were called the “Infinity Stones.”
Why shouldn't you take a bathroom break during the best song performances?
Because it’s such a strong and varied field. Becky G will sing “The Fire Inside” from Eva Longoria's directorial debut, the comedy-drama “Flamin' Hot.” It's written by Diane Warren, who is celebrating her 15th song nomination. Last year she received an honorary Oscar.
The haunting “Wahzhazhe (A Song for My People)” from “Killers of the Flower Moon,” written by singer-songwriter and Osage Nation member Scott George, will be performed by George and the Osage Tribal Singers. Jon Baptiste will sing “It Never Went Away,” which he co-wrote for “American Symphony,” the Netflix documentary about a year in Baptiste's life as his career soars and his wife battles leukemia.
This leaves the two songs very different from “Barbie.” The melancholy ballad “What Was I Made For?” will be performed by Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell, and the comedic pop anthem “I'm Just Ken” will be sung by Ryan Gosling (who, it's a good bet, might find a way to bring Barbie, aka Margot Robbie, on stage during the number).
What will Jimmy Kimmel do?
Last month, Kimmel released a Barbie-themed Oscars promo video featuring Kate McKinnon, America Ferrera and a screaming Ryan Gosling that knocked it out of the comedy park.
Confidently entering his fourth time as host, Kimmel told the Associated Press that he would not clutter the show with pre-recorded comedy bits. But expect him to be irreverent and maybe land a political jab or two.
As he joked to the AP: “I probably shouldn't tell you this, but I'm going to walk all the candidates to the border and we're going to see if we can't sort it all out Sunday night.”
Who is a Michigander to encourage?
Born in Lansing and raised in Potterville, Sam Davis is the cinematographer and producer of the nominated documentary short “Nai Nai and Wai Po.”
This is director Sean Wang's funny and poignant tribute to his aging grandmothers, who are best friends and roommates. Disney+, which is streaming the documentary, describes it as a love letter to grandmothers as they “spend their twilight years dancing, stretching and farting away their sorrows.”
Davis also helped co-produce, film and edit the 2019 winner in the same category, “Period.” End of sentence.” Recently, he wrote to the Free Press about his Oscar plans. “I just called my father, who still lives in the Lansing area, to invite him to join me at the ceremony , so he will be present with me. “, he wrote. “And my mother, sister and extended family will be watching from my home in the Lansing area.”
Family support? This is pure Michigan.
Contact Detroit Free Press pop culture critic Julie Hinds at jhinds@freepress.com.
96th Academy Awards
7 p.m. Sunday. (preceded at 6:30 p.m. by a red carpet pre-show and followed by a new episode of “Abbott Elementary”)
ABC