The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences caused quite the stir earlier this week when it announced the Oscars for cinematography, editing, live-action short, and makeup and hairstyling would be handed out during commercial breaks. Now they’re coming back home and asking if we can forget this whole thing ever happened, because everyone makes mistakes, you know? Deadline was first to report that all 24 trophies will now be handed out in the usual fashion during the broadcast, and the decision follows a wave of backlash from names like George Clooney, Guillermo del Toro, Alfonso Cuarón, and more.
Variety reports that, “Following a Thursday night meeting with top cinematographers, Academy leadership including President John Bailey and CEO Dawn Hudson have pledged to air every awards category on the live show a week from Sunday.†The previous plan had been to honor the winners from the aforementioned groups during breaks, and then air the speeches later in the broadcast, which was about as good of an idea as cutting down the original song performances. And we know how that ended up. This is the fifth large decision reversal by the Academy concerning the 2019 ceremony, which previously had considered not having last year’s acting nominees back to present awards. (They will.) And having Kevin Hart (or anyone for that matter) host the show. And of course, the original sin of the popular Oscar, which has the distinction of lasting about a month before it was scrapped. Really, this is all right in line with the any publicity is good publicity strategy by the Board of Governors and ABC for Oscars 2019.
Update: The board has issued an official statement regarding the reincorporation of all awards: “The Academy has heard the feedback from its membership regarding the Oscar presentation of four awards — Cinematography, Film Editing, Live Action Short, and Makeup and Hairstyling. All Academy Awards will be presented without edits, in our traditional format. We look forward to Oscar Sunday, February 24.†And the Academy’s official Twitter account hopes you think they’re cute.