The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (AMPAS) has postponed the annual Governors Awards due to complications from the most recent Covid surge in Los Angeles.
Originally, the annual honorariums were to be handed out on January 15, 2022, at an in-person, which was to take place at the refurbished Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel, rather than the usual ballroom on Hollywood and Highland.
The Academy released the following statement:
“We have made the difficult decision to change our plans in hosting the Governors Awards in person on January 15. Given the uncertainties around the variants, and the impact this could have on our community, we feel this is the best and safest decision for our honorees and guests. Rescheduled plans will come at a later date as we continue to prioritize the health and wellbeing of all those involved.”
This year’s Honorary Oscars were announced to go to Samuel L. Jackson, Liv Ullmann, and Elaine May, while Danny Glover will be the recipient of this year’s Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.
Last year’s Governor Awards were cancelled outright, and two Hersholt awards were presented to Tyler Perry and The Motion Picture and Television Fund at the Oscar show, which itself had been delayed until April 25. This year’s Oscars are scheduled to take place at an in-person ceremony on March 27, but there’s no word of that being delayed further.
Incidentally, today’s The Accidental Turitz column was all about the “new normal” we’re now in with COVID and how things like cancellations and lockdowns might become the norm, if the recent spate of Broadway shutdowns is anything to go by.
