The Oscars Return to ABC This March

There is so much controversy surrounding the Oscars this year that they make the Chinese spy balloon debacle look like a day at Disneyland. Social media campaigns for actors run amok, zero female nominees for Best Director despite numerous deserving women, and Academy snubs that have been called racist by some.

Also, the Academy is still reeling from the horrendous embarrassment on last year’s live telecast, when a global audience watched Will Smith (who went on to win Best Actor!) storm the stage and assault Chris Rock.

If I were advising the Academy – which of course I am not – I would recommend that they take full advantage of that 2022 scandal and run totally inappropriate commercials to try to lift the Oscars’ pitifully sagging ratings: “Tune in this year to see if Dame Judi Dench bitch-slaps Meryl Streep!”

Just kidding. That’s the snarky gay guy in me coming out, which sometimes seems like the only sane reaction to the insane amount of hype surrounding the Oscars. Every year, I complain about who got nominated and who was overlooked, and I hate the way the event has been turned in to a couture fashion show.

But darned if I don’t tune in each year and watch every second of the Oscars, mainly because I truly love movies and actors, and the night does celebrate the art of moviemaking.

There are several little-known (and little-seen) nominees in the acting categories this year, and I agree with the critics who were dismayed that neither Viola Davis nor Danielle Deadwyler got nominated as Best Actress, for “The Woman King” and “Till,” respectively. That category will hopefully be won by Michelle Yeoh, who gave an incredibly moving, kick-ass performance in “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” a great movie that deservedly received the most nominations this year and will likely win Best Picture and several other awards. If Yeoh fails to win, it will be Cate Blanchett for her fantastic turn in “Tar.”

In addition to Yeoh, two other actors of color are favored to win for their fierce performances in the supporting categories: Ke Huy Quan (also for “EEAAO”) and Angela Bassett (for the sequel to “Black Panther,” which was criminally overlooked in the Best Picture category this year).

For Best Actor, I would vote for Austin Butler, who nailed the seemingly impossible task of playing “The King of Rock,” Elvis Presley, but I won’t be

by Chris Narloch

surprised if the winner is Colin Farrell, who was also terrific in “The Banshees of Inisherin,” a highly acclaimed movie that I did not like.

As long as James Cameron doesn’t win Best Picture for the bloated bore that is

“Avatar: The Way of Water,” I will be happy. Tune in and see who wins this year when Jimmy Kimmel returns to ABC to host the 95th Academy Awards, on Sunday evening, March 12th. For the complete list of nominees, go to: www.oscars.org