Hollywood’s soapboxing drags Oscars to all-time low ratings
The biggest flop of the award show season? The award show itself.
The Oscars made history for the smallest audience the show has ever received after a night of predictable wins and polarizing acceptance speeches.
About 23.6 million people watched the 92nd installment of the show, which showered Bong Joon Ho with awards including Best Director and Best Picture for his widely acclaimed social horror film “Parasite.”
And while it was the most-watched show of the awards season, even the promise of a hostless show couldn’t hoist up Hollywood’s big night amid repeat wins by actors who already took home Golden Globes, SAGs and BAFTAs.
The broadcast, which ran for 3 hours and 35 minutes, scored a 5.3 rating in the coveted adults 18-49 demo, based on Nielsen’s Live + Same Day Fast National ratings.
In 2019, the first year the show went on without a host, it saw an 11% overall viewership bump over the year prior, with 29.6 million viewers. It also scored a 7.7 rating among the 18-49 demographic. The 2018 awards, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, hit a then-all-time low of 26.5 million viewers and a 6.8 rating in the 18-49 demo. But even that was more than this year.
Sure, there were surprises: A mystifying performance by rapper Eminem and a clever opening number from Janelle Monáe honoring all the year’s snubs. And speeches from the year’s best actors were entertaining, for better or for worse.
But the show was largely predictable. Winners such as Brad Pitt, Laura Dern, Joaquin Phoenix and Reneé Zellweger collected statues at every other award show of the season. “The Irishman,” which arrived to the scene with pomp and circumstance, was met with the award-show equivalent of an exasperated groan — Joe Pesci, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actor in the Martin Scorsese film, didn’t even show up, perhaps having read the writing on the wall.
And many took issue with the soapbox-esque acceptance speeches given by actors including Pitt, who critiqued the Trump impeachment proceedings, and Phoenix, who used his 45 seconds to preach the virtues of veganism.
Still, in his acceptance speech for Best Director, Bong captured a sense of unity that made for a charming night, regardless of ratings.
“When I was young and studying cinema, there was a saying that I carved deep into my heart, which is that ‘The most personal is the most creative,’ ” he said. “That quote is from our great Martin Scorsese … When people in the US were not familiar with my films, Quentin [Tarantino] always put my films on his list. He’s here, thank you so much. Quentin, I love you. And Todd [Phillips] and Sam [Mendes], great directors that I admire. If the Academy allows, I would like to get a Texas chainsaw, split the award into five and share it with all of you.”
Here are the ratings by year for past awards shows, according to Deadline, along with the movies that scored Best Picture and the host.
- 2019: 29.6 million, “Green Book” (No host)
- 2018: 26.5 million, “The Shape of Water” (Jimmy Kimmel)
- 2017: 32.9 million, “Moonlight” (Jimmy Kimmel)
- 2016: 34.4 million, “Spotlight” (Chris Rock)
- 2015: 37.3 million, “Birdman” (Neil Patrick Harris)
- 2014: 43.7 million, “12 Years a Slave” (Ellen DeGeneres)
- 2013: 40.3 million, “Argo” (Seth MacFarlane)
- 2012: 39.3 million, “The Artist” (Billy Crystal)
- 2011: 37.9 million, “The King’s Speech” (Anne Hathaway/James Franco)
- 2010: 41.3 million, “The Hurt Locker” (Steve Martin/Alec Baldwin)
- 2009: 36.3 million, “Slumdog Millionaire” (Hugh Jackman)
- 2008: 32.0 million, “No Country For Old Men” (Jon Stewart)
- 2007: 40. 2 million, “The Departed” (Ellen DeGeneres)
- 2006: 38.9 million, “Crash” (Jon Stewart)
- 2005: 42.1 million, “Million Dollar Baby” (Chris Rock)
- 2004: 43.5 million, “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (Billy Crystal)
- 2003: 33.0 million, “Chicago” (Steve Martin)
- 2002: 41.8 million, “A Beautiful Mind” (Whoopi Goldberg)
- 2001: 42.9 million, “Gladiator” (Steve Martin)