This could very well be the most obvious explanation as to why the ratings for the Oscars have seen steady declines in recent years but I respect someone who is involved in Hollywood for stating it. Seth Rogen is wondering why the industry cares so much about the viewership for the Oscars ceremony when it’s very clear that the general public just doesn’t care about awards that Hollywood gives to themselves.
While speaking to Insider about his Lay’s potato chips Super Bowl ad that also stars his pal Paul Rudd, Rogen was asked about the Academy Awards and that’s when he questioned why there’s so much focus on people paying attention to “awards we give ourselves.” Here is what he had to say:
“I don’t get why movie people care so much if other people care what awards we give ourselves. To me, maybe people just don’t care. I don’t care who wins the automobile awards. No other industry expects everyone to care about what awards they shower upon themselves.”
The interesting thing is, no one really knows the exact question Seth Rogen was posed to give that particular response about the Oscars. Nevertheless, it comes a few days after the 2022 Oscar nominations were unveiled and, once again, many people felt the Academy failed to acknowledge popular films that moviegoers actually take the time to see. Spider-Man: No Way Home, which is the highest-grossing film of 2021 and one of the highest-grossing films of all time after close to two months of release, wasn’t nominated for Best Picture, despite Sony Pictures doing a pretty amped up “For Your Consideration” campaign for the film. While the movie was one of the best-reviewed films of the year, even scoring a higher Rotten Tomatoes score than many of the films nominated for the top prize, most of us knew that Spidey wasn’t going to make the cut. Dune was their way of acknowledging a blockbuster and this is something the Academy is criticized for year after year. A lot of casual moviegoers haven’t seen Belfast or Licorice Pizza and that’s why those casual viewers aren’t enticed to tune in to see who wins Best Picture on Oscar night.
Rogen’s point doesn’t really touch on that fact but he is also on to something in his assessment. Maybe as the years have gone one, people don’t want to see celebrities hand each other trophies in what is perceived as some as a popularity contest. Does the best film or person really always win? If that was always the case, why do studios and actors campaign during awards seasons if it’s really only about the quality and the talent? That is why I have personally had a love/hate relationship with the Oscars.
Do YOU agree with Seth Rogen’s thoughts on the dwindling viewership for the Oscars?