Bill Kramer, the CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, has confirmed that the winners of all 23 Oscar categories will be revealed during the main telecast on March 12, 2023, thereby restoring sanity to the Academy Awards.
Last year, eight categories were presented during the pre-show — all three short film awards, as well as original score, makeup and hairstyling, film editing, production design, and sound. It was absolutely insane, as most people learned of the winners on Twitter, thus robbing those hard-working artisans and filmmakers of their moment.
Yes, those winners saw their edited speeches included in ABC’s broadcast, but because there was no suspense in those categories, few paid much attention. It didn’t even help the show’s runtime, as the ceremony still went long. What the Academy has to understand is that the Oscars aren’t a scripted TV show, and should be treated as a live sporting event with no designated end-time.
“We are committed to having a show that celebrates the artisans, the arts and sciences, and the collaborative nature of moviemaking. This is very much what the mission of the Academy is, and I am very hopeful that we can do a show that celebrates all components of moviemaking in an entertaining and engaging way,” Kramer told Variety, which broke the news.
Kramer also noted that this year’s ceremony — the 95th Academy Awards — is “extremely important to us” and that he’s hopeful that the show will mirror the Academy Museum in serving as both a celebration of the Academy’s legacy while bringing the organization into the future.
Jimmy Kimmel will return to host the Oscars for the third time, and Kramer was thrilled to have him, telling Variety it was “so critical” to have a host “who knows live television.” Kimmel has promised that The Slap that ruined last year’s ceremony will surely be addressed.
Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner of White Cherry Entertainment will produce the Oscars, and Weiss will direct the broadcast for the eighth time.
