To put it frankly, it has become increasingly difficult to endure the annual Academy Awards ceremony over the course of the past decade. The Oscars estimated viewership trend supports this: Since 2014, the number of viewers has plummeted from around 43 million people to less than 20 million. Although some of the recent Oscars ceremonies have produced moments of utter hilarity or insanity, these moments are not a result of planned segments. Instead, the most memorable moments have arisen from sheer chance, like the La La Land/Moonlight Best Picture mix-up in 2017 and Will Smith slapping Chris Rock in 2022. Though many possible variables exist that could explain decreases in viewership, the poor performance by recent Oscars hosts (or complete lack thereof) has turned the ceremony into a night of cringeworthy moments interspersed with occasional sighs of relief during refreshing award wins or moving speeches.
Before delving into further criticism of recent hosts, I’d like to push back against the notion that political humor has been responsible for the drop in ceremony quality. Art (especially film, which requires collaboration among large numbers of people and institutions) is inherently political. Many of the most powerful films throughout the history of cinema have been instruments that criticize societal issues like racism, sexism, authoritarianism and class inequality. It is foolish to attempt to draw a hard line between art and politics when so many films and filmmakers have been directly impacted or inspired by socio-political factors. If a host can make a truly funny joke that connects politics and the world of film, I encourage that. However, I will yield that the political humor delivered by recent hosts has often seemed cringeworthy and forced, lacking the wit that political humorists like John Oliver have mastered.
Instead of politics, a lack of true comedic inspiration and originality bears the blame for the lackluster viewing experience. Of the past ten ceremonies, three went without any host (2019, 2020, 2021) and four were hosted by Jimmy Kimmel (2017, 2018, 2023, 2024), with one hosted by Neil Patrick Harris (2015), one by Chris Rock (2016), and one hosted by the trio of Regina Hall, Amy Schumer, and Wanda Sykes (2022). Apart from Chris Rock, each host’s performance proved disappointing. Neil Patrick Harris opened the Oscars with a musical number, offering a more unique perspective than typically seen. However, he failed to maintain a truly impactful presence throughout the rest of the show, reflecting his lack of comfort in transitioning to the Oscars from his previous experience hosting the Tony Awards. The trio of Hall, Schumer and Sykes never blended together well stylistically, with each comedian not given enough time to let their talents shine through. The resulting product seemed unbearable to get through at times, with cringey writing worsened by a division of set-ups and punchlines across three people with very different comedic styles.
Kimmel has never been a particular favorite of mine as a late-night host, and the problems with his delivery and personality come across in an even more apparent manner in the context of hosting an award ceremony. He often comes across in a smug manner, creating an unlikeable demeanor that detracts from his comedic delivery. On his late-night talk show, this problem is partially alleviated by the presence of guests and his sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez, with these individuals helping to balance out Kimmel’s energy. However, on the main stage of the Oscars, Kimmel usually finds himself alone, with nobody to balance out his less-than-praiseworthy qualities. At his best, Kimmel’s hosting performance is comparable to a simple meal like an untoasted ham and Swiss sandwich: Palatable, sure, but nothing to write home about. Unfortunately, though, we had to be served that same experience four times over the past eight years, which became a more and more arduous task with each repetition (sorry, Jimmy).
Despite my harsh criticisms, a shining light has presented itself for the 97th Academy Award ceremony. This Sunday, March 2nd, Conan O’Brien will host the Oscars for the first time, having previously hosted the Emmys in 2002 and 2006. O’Brien boasts one of the most complete comedic skillsets of any modern late-night host. He is able to effortlessly switch between playing the “straight man” (acting in a serious manner to facilitate the comic or absurd aspects of another person or scenario) and the “funny man” (the source of the comic or absurd aspects in a dynamic) when interacting with other people. Moreover, O’Brien blends playful mockery, self-deprecation, absurdity, parody and slapstick in a brilliant manner, keeping his audiences on the edge of their seats. Unlike some other late-night hosts, O’Brien never comes across as arrogant, awkward or cruel, unless he is deliberately trying to embody extremes of these traits to heighten his comedic delivery. For the first time in years, I am genuinely excited to see what the Oscars host has in store for the nation. Because of his genius comedic instincts, originality and edge, Conan O’Brien has the power to restore the spectacle of the Academy Awards presentation; now it is merely a matter of waiting to watch him in his element this Sunday.
Matthew Rentezelas is a freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences. He can be reached at mmr255@cornell.edu.
