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After record low ratings this year, the Academy Awards is hoping for a big, glamorous comeback in 2022.
On Thursday, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences announced the ceremony will once again be held at LA’s Dolby Theatre after this year’s socially-distanced event at Union Station.
The official date has also been set for next year’s festivities: Sunday, March 27th, 2022.
This year’s awards event – which was scaled back due to the Covid-19 pandemic – drew only 9.23 million viewers, which represented a giant 51 percent drop from the 18.69 million who watched the show in 2020.
On Thursday, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences was looking ahead, when it announced the official date for next year’s Oscars: Sunday, March 27th, 2022
In an effort to recapture some of the prior magic, the Oscars will return to its beloved traditional location on Hollywood and Highland Boulevards in Los Angeles, California – the Dolby.
And while the March date is a month later than ceremonies of the past few years, it is still considerably earlier than this year’s event, which was delayed all the way until late April due to continued pandemic fears.
The 2021 Oscars also saw a handful of other strange occurrences, including being held at a train station, no host, nor any lead up events such as the nominees luncheon.
Additionally, the Best Picture statuette was handed out before the two lead acting categories – which ultimately meant the telecast ended with a no-show, since Award winner Anthony Hopkins was not at the event to receive his Best Actor trophy.
Also in the announcement: The location of the glitzy event, which will return to its most recent habitual location on Hollywood and Highland Boulevards in Los Angeles – the Dolby Theatre
However, the 94th annual Academy Awards next year will be a return to form of sorts, with both the nominees luncheon and Governors Ball reinstated.
Additionally, the eligibility deadline for films hoping to snag a golden boy will go back to its pre-pandemic cutoff date: December 31st of the previous year.
But some modifications from the pandemic era will remain in place, most notably the eligibility for movies appearing exclusively on streaming platforms, since many moviegoers are still not comfortable crowding into cineplexes.
The 2021 Oscars saw a handful of strange occurrences, including the telecast ending with a no-show, since Award winner Anthony Hopkins was not at the event to receive his trophy
‘This year, which is still impacted by the pandemic, eligibility requirements for the 94th Academy Awards will be consistent with the addendums made for the 93rd Awards season,’ said the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in a statement.
As before, movies may also qualify for nominations by having a theatrical release in at least one of six cities or regions: Los Angeles, New York City, the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, Miami or Atlanta.
Netflix famously skirted this rule by constructing its own theater in Los Angeles, as well as purchasing the historic single screen Paris Theater in midtown Manhattan, New York.
However, the 94th annual Academy Awards next year will be a return to form of sorts: Both the nominees luncheon and Governors Ball are to be reinstated
Drive-ins, which have enjoyed a considerable resurgence in popularity during the pandemic lockdown, will also count for theatrical releases.
And while the Oscars hope to recapture some former glory, such is not the case for the Golden Globes.
NBC has already announced that next year’s traditional awards season-opening event will not be broadcast due to ongoing strife over the HFPA organizers’ record on diversity and transparency.
Some modifications from the pandemic era will remain in place: Most notably the eligibility for movies appearing exclusively on streaming platforms, since many moviegoers are still not comfortable crowding into cineplexes
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