Sunday Ratings: Oscars Rebound from Record-Low

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Award Shows, ABC, Ratings

Yesterday’s tradition-breaking awards ceremony paid off nicely for ABC. Hugh Jackman instead of a comedian as host? Previous award winners presenting the acting categories? Both were gambles that contributed to the telecast’s ratings rebound.

• The 81st Annual Academy Awards drew in 36.3 million viewers. That’s up from last year’s record low (32 million) when No Country for Old Men won Best Film.
• The broadcast became the third smallest Oscars ceremony ever. (The 2003 telecast - Chicago‘s year - comes in behind at 33 million.)
• Despite it’s ranking in Academy history, the event was the most-watched entertainment program since the 2007 Oscars. That includes episodes of American Idol.
• The broadcast also had the best demos (12.1 in 18-49) for any entertainment-related program since Idol in February 2008.

Read More | Variety

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The 2009 Academy Awards

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Award Shows, ABC

For coverage of the 2009 Academy Awards, please check out our live commentary on Film Crunch.

Read More | Oscar

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This Week on TV (2/16-2/22)

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Award Shows, Comedy, Drama, Prime Time, Reality, Sci-Fi/Horror, ABC, Bravo, Cable, CBS, FX, MTV, NBC, Amazing Race, The, ER, Lost, Survivor

(You can view TV Envy’s Midseason Programming Schedule here.)

MONDAY 2/16)

• Chuck (NBC, 8pm):  “Chuck and Sarah go undercover as a happily married couple in surburbia.” A happy couple in surburbia? Isn’t the whole point to be inconspicuous?
• Jon & Kate Plus 8 (TLC, 9pm):  “The Gosselins settle into their new home after the big move, but there’s still lots of work to be done.” And Kate will make sure Jon knows it.
• Kyle XY (ABC Family, 9pm):  “Kyle reluctantly starts working at Latnok to repay his debt, and it’s not at all what he expects. Yet he still wants to quit, until he considers the Tragers’ current financial situation.” Back up a second—someone’s hiring?
• True Beauty (ABC, 10pm):  “Contestants walk the red carpet with their parents, but there are also several secret tests of manners going on.” In other words, pushing mom out of your spotlight would be inadvisable.

Click to continue reading This Week on TV (2/16-2/22)

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2009 Academy Award Nominations

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Award Shows, ABC, News

For a list of nominees from the 2009 Academy Awards, please check out our coverage on Film Crunch.

Read More | Oscar

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Hugh Jackman to Host 2009 Oscars

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Award Shows, ABC, News

Looks like Ricky Gervais will have more than just a stolen statue to gripe about.

Although his hilarious performance at the September Emmys had many talking Oscar (you can see the clip here), The Office star will not be hosting the upcoming Academy Awards. Instead of going with one of the funniest men alive, the producers chose to pick the Sexiest Man Alive.

On February 22nd, Hugh Jackman will be the one Laurence Mark and Bill Condon count on to bring viewers back to the annual event. (Last year’s broadcast - which came after the writers’ strike - was the lowest-rated in history.) Even though the Australia star follows a long line of comedians, the 40-year-old is no stranger to hosting duties. Hugh fronted three Tonys telecasts between 2003-05 and won an Emmy for Outstanding Individual Performer in a Variety, Musical or Comedy program in 2005.

The 81st Annual Academy Awards airs Sunday, February 22 on ABC.

Read More | Futon Critic

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