Post by TOB on Apr 24, 2021 7:41:44 GMT -5
Before Oscar talk:
With an understated and mostly ignored award season (for the public), it looks likes "Nomadland" and its director are poised to win come Oscar night (this Sunday). Chloe Zhao has been piling up the awards for best director along the way, as has her film, "Nomadland." The most recent wins came last April 22 at the Film Indie Spirit Awards. That is a show that usually gets heavy play while being held the night before the Oscars. So, even that was altered because of the pandemic. The ratings have been way off and people are tuning out, but the Oscars are the king, so let's see if they can stop the bleeding. A number in the range or 20-25 million would do that. Remember, outside the Super Bowl and the NFL, the Oscars were always the top-rated event. So, even at 25 million that might be the case. But, you get into the 20 million or less range, then there is a major problem. Actually, there is now with the public. But as long as it rates as the most-viewed entertainment show each year, Hollywood will not panic.
Meanwhile, as long as the ads sell out (they have), things are fine right now. They can and will blame the pandemic on the lower numbers, but that does not explain the drop over the last 10 years. This is my beat and I will continue to cover it and love it. That does not mean I will gush over it or love every nominee and movie. I never have done that. I stay away from fashion and the gossip, for the most part, and just report on the show, and the movies. I do tend to lean more to the business side of Hollywood, too. No matter how hard they try, the show will be off, and feel pre-taped, etc. The usual hustle and bustle of the stars arriving on Hollywood BLVD and the Dolby Theatre is gone, and with it the pomp and hype, and crowds, press, too. It is going to be like a convention seminar no one wants to attend, but we just want to know if we won an award.
The no buzz Golden Globes and SAG Awards were hurt and suffered dismal ratings. Hollywood is all about PR and hype and without it, the products often fall flat. The Oscars are not the same without all that, and the movies themselves feel small in comparison.
** I never fully immersed myself with the national media even when covering things with them, like the Oscars, etc. I did things my way and it was not always on par with them. National media is full of group-think, whether they think that or not. It is.
Musings...
- Yes, it matters that the news edits out context in video and photos. With social media, news can no longer edit out the truth of what we see.
- The more I see cable news interviewing people on the street or at events they are covering, I am beginning to think they are being duped. Most people would not want to be on news these days, so be leery of those who eagerly want to spout off on TV.
- See how fast the media turns their coverage. From wall-to-wall coverage of Prince Philip funeral to George Floyd verdict - and they were there more for reactions and less about reporting anything of value. And to some, they seemed disappointed that there was no violence after the latter. So, next time a major event is covered like those, when they are over, think to yourself, "did I learn anything?" here or did it make me feel worse for watching? More and more it is worse, depressed and even angry over the coverage. I spent my life in media and this saddens me. It does not have to be this way. It is not to say the news is not depressing, but their coverage makes it more so, for dramatic purposes. They treat the news as a TV show, while it should be just informing the public. The drama should be in sports and entertainment coverage. The Weather Channel has even ruined that aspect of storms.
- Humor is often the best way to get me to change some bad habits. The commercial for Progressive and Dr. Rick helping us NOT become our parents is genius. I do some of those things and boy, do I notice them even more now - and laugh each time.
Some I love:
* "The waiter does not need to know your name."
* "You got up early. No one cares."
* "We all see it, we all see it."
* "He didn't ask for your help, did he?"
- As far as I can tell, the streaming numbers are still dubious. Nielsen is starting to track them and so far they use "minutes watched."
O'Brien News Service
With an understated and mostly ignored award season (for the public), it looks likes "Nomadland" and its director are poised to win come Oscar night (this Sunday). Chloe Zhao has been piling up the awards for best director along the way, as has her film, "Nomadland." The most recent wins came last April 22 at the Film Indie Spirit Awards. That is a show that usually gets heavy play while being held the night before the Oscars. So, even that was altered because of the pandemic. The ratings have been way off and people are tuning out, but the Oscars are the king, so let's see if they can stop the bleeding. A number in the range or 20-25 million would do that. Remember, outside the Super Bowl and the NFL, the Oscars were always the top-rated event. So, even at 25 million that might be the case. But, you get into the 20 million or less range, then there is a major problem. Actually, there is now with the public. But as long as it rates as the most-viewed entertainment show each year, Hollywood will not panic.
Meanwhile, as long as the ads sell out (they have), things are fine right now. They can and will blame the pandemic on the lower numbers, but that does not explain the drop over the last 10 years. This is my beat and I will continue to cover it and love it. That does not mean I will gush over it or love every nominee and movie. I never have done that. I stay away from fashion and the gossip, for the most part, and just report on the show, and the movies. I do tend to lean more to the business side of Hollywood, too. No matter how hard they try, the show will be off, and feel pre-taped, etc. The usual hustle and bustle of the stars arriving on Hollywood BLVD and the Dolby Theatre is gone, and with it the pomp and hype, and crowds, press, too. It is going to be like a convention seminar no one wants to attend, but we just want to know if we won an award.
The no buzz Golden Globes and SAG Awards were hurt and suffered dismal ratings. Hollywood is all about PR and hype and without it, the products often fall flat. The Oscars are not the same without all that, and the movies themselves feel small in comparison.
** I never fully immersed myself with the national media even when covering things with them, like the Oscars, etc. I did things my way and it was not always on par with them. National media is full of group-think, whether they think that or not. It is.
Musings...
- Yes, it matters that the news edits out context in video and photos. With social media, news can no longer edit out the truth of what we see.
- The more I see cable news interviewing people on the street or at events they are covering, I am beginning to think they are being duped. Most people would not want to be on news these days, so be leery of those who eagerly want to spout off on TV.
- See how fast the media turns their coverage. From wall-to-wall coverage of Prince Philip funeral to George Floyd verdict - and they were there more for reactions and less about reporting anything of value. And to some, they seemed disappointed that there was no violence after the latter. So, next time a major event is covered like those, when they are over, think to yourself, "did I learn anything?" here or did it make me feel worse for watching? More and more it is worse, depressed and even angry over the coverage. I spent my life in media and this saddens me. It does not have to be this way. It is not to say the news is not depressing, but their coverage makes it more so, for dramatic purposes. They treat the news as a TV show, while it should be just informing the public. The drama should be in sports and entertainment coverage. The Weather Channel has even ruined that aspect of storms.
- Humor is often the best way to get me to change some bad habits. The commercial for Progressive and Dr. Rick helping us NOT become our parents is genius. I do some of those things and boy, do I notice them even more now - and laugh each time.
Some I love:
* "The waiter does not need to know your name."
* "You got up early. No one cares."
* "We all see it, we all see it."
* "He didn't ask for your help, did he?"
- As far as I can tell, the streaming numbers are still dubious. Nielsen is starting to track them and so far they use "minutes watched."
O'Brien News Service