By The 96th annual Academy Awards ceremony pulled in 19.5 million viewers on Sunday night on ABC.
The telecast landed a 3.8 rating in the adults 18-49 demographic, up by 4% in total viewers from the 18.8 million viewers for last year’s telecast.
It’s now been dubbed the most-watched Oscars since 2020 and also saw a third consecutive year of viewership growth.
It’s also nearly double the pandemic-impacted 2021 telecast which drew an all-time low 10.4 million viewers. Since then it has been climbing back up.
Several of those involved have also talked about events of the night. Al Pacino’s unexpectedly casual delivery of naming best picture on Sunday night raised eyebrows as he didn’t bother reading the nominations first.
In a statement issued today, Pacino says he was largely following the Academy’s script:
“I just want to be clear it was not my intention to omit them, rather a choice by the producers not to have them said again since they were highlighted individually throughout the ceremony. I was honored to be a part of the evening and chose to follow the way they wished for this award to be presented.
I realize being nominated is a huge milestone in one’s life and to not be fully recognized is offensive and hurtful. I say this as someone who profoundly relates with filmmakers, actors and producers so I deeply empathize with those who have been slighted by this oversight, and it’s why I felt it necessary to make this statement.”
Additionally, filmmaker Wes Anderson has issued a statement about his notable absence on the night, his first ever Oscar win, as he’s in Germany with filming on his new movie “The Phoenician Scheme” starting today. Benicio Del Toro, Michael Cera and Bill Murray star.
Source: THR
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