ITV's Stinky Oscars
ITV Oscars coverage shows the sad state of affairs across the industry
It’s not a good look when viewers find sanctuary in the adverts than the actual coverage of the Oscars; met with crying Eastender memes and accusations of “miserable” and “incompetent” broadcast. Not good for the ITV execs having egg on their face but I guess the six figure salary is enough recompense for a dismal display.
Jonathan Ross is probably a good bet for a film related programme; he WAS probably one of the best critics. When he was on the BBC he used to interview directors’ and actors’ films speaking kindly about their production and then later record to the camera the film’s lamentable showing.
If I had been given the choice I would have booked Mark Kermode & Simon Mayo whose knowledge of film is extensive and would have given a more detailed critique of the films as well as previous winners and losers. The panel made up of Mariella Frostrup, Elle Osili-Wood (presenter) & actor Jason Isaacs; Isaacs is a good actor, Frostrup a professional meedja face but never seen Osili-Wood in action; the films were receiving negative feedback from the panel which is what led to a revolt of the film nerds, at least on twitter.
“This @ITV coverage of the #Oscars has been embarrassing. Brushed Nosferatu aside as if it’s worthless, COMPLETELY missed the entire point of The Substance & Anora. Needless jabs at The Brutalist. They expect us to take their opinions seriously? What a joke.”
https://x.com/_Kakadinho_/status/1896347126256590870
I guess the coverage could have been made even better by a phone in of critics and public who could have had their say; at least you could rely on a more varied opinion.
I had not known that ITV had actually bought the rights to the Oscars thinking that it would appear on NOWTV, I guess it would have been better to have Paramount cum Viacom’s Channel 5 to get the rights with being American owners! I didn’t see the Oscars advertised a single time whether in a newspapers, magazines, trade papers (Broadcast et al), social media, ITV website or even advertised on its glut of channels.
Terry Wogan always recognised that those staying in on the weekends were the over forties lament the poor schedules and programming on Radio 2; if you look at any schedule for ITV on a Friday-Sunday after the news it’s a dead space, a purgatory for repeats.
So why is it that ITV did not use their weekend or weekly schedules to advertise after Christmas their Oscar coverage? An opportune time to show Oscar nominated and winning films of the past, best pictures, the ones that were robbed and even the stinkers! This would have interested advertisers, at the very least fill a hole in their coffers whilst garnering more viewers!
It’s odd how ITV prides itself on being the entertainment channel paying for one of the biggest award ceremonies in the world fell flat on their face with an open goal of celebrity guff. Ever since the fall of Granada, profit over creativity has taken over, at Sidney Bernstein’s Granada creativity was sought at the highest level, being from a theatre background, knowing that letting the professionals get on with the trade whether drama, comedy or documentaries, that they would bring in viewers regardless.
The Oscars coverage is again emblematic of what is wrong in the TV and Film industry across the board in Britain it has all become sanitised and samey, I doubt the coverage would have been any better by any other British broadcaster. If I was Carolyn McCall I would be on the phone to Mayo & Kermode asking their availability for next year!
