The decline is even steeper among viewers ages 18 to 49, the demographic group desired most by advertisers. You can see some of these themes, but not all, in this long chunk of a Los Angeles Times story about the Oscar blues: Maybe studios could risk making content for a Christian niche? Just a few years ago, some Hollywood observers were saying that “Christian” might be “the new gay.” What does that mean? The idea is that LGBTQ-market films are now old news. It’s also clear that there are technical changes that are affecting the marketplace, with digital life chopping the American public into more and more niche groups that watch niche movies and stream niche cable shows.Įvery now and then, once a decade at least, Hollywood notices the potential to push small- and modest-budget movies to a Christian niche. Conservatives are, in effect, moaning about one kind of prestige Hollywood product, while buying kazillions of tickets to another. But note: Those tentpole movies are another product from the same Hollywood machine. Take, for example, the superstar-packed superhero franchises that tend to be ignored at Oscar time (other than statues for technical excellence). Can you say “Moral Majority”? How about “Boycott Disney”?Īt the same time, the masses truly love some Hollywood products. There is a Trumpian sound to some of this, but it is actually a culture split that has been around for decades. Click here to tune that in or head over to Apple Podcasts to sign up for a weekly feed.Ĭonservative critics of Hollywood - a tribe that includes quite a few religious folks - have celebrated the plunging Oscar ratings, noting the rising tide of woke speeches by many winners as well as the many nominations for edgy, independent films with messages that appeal to blue-zip-code critics, while failing to connect with the masses in flyover country. What’s the religion-news hook in this story, other than the semi-religious role that the Oscar rites play in the cult of Hollywood? That was the subject of this week’s “Crossroads” podcast. Oscars have been on a slide since 1998, when 57.2 million people tuned in to see “Titanic” sweep to best-picture victory. Sunday night’s pandemic-restricted telecast drew 58 percent fewer viewers than last year’s record low.Īmong adults 18 to 49, the demographic that many advertisers pay a premium to reach, the Oscars suffered an even steeper 64 percent decline, according to preliminary data from Nielsen. Oscars Ratings Plummet, With Fewer Than 10 Million Tuning In The big business-desk headline there provided some extra, rather acidic, context: Thus: “ Oscar ratings drop to an all-time low with unwatchable show.”īut what matters, of course, is what runs in prestige settings such as The New York Times. The New York Post has been known to produce blunt headlines. How bad? Here’s the take from the world-weary folks at Entertainment Weekly: “ Oscars hit another historic low in ratings.” The ratings for the 2021 Academy Awards were bad.
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Pick a headline, just about any Oscar headline.