No More Gary From Chicago: This Year's Oscars Won't Feature 'Everyday People'

The Academy has tried — and mostly failed — in its attempts to cut down the runtime of the Oscars, but they did manage to find one way to shorten the lengthy ceremony: Get rid of the everyday folk.

In an interview with the New York Times, lead producer Donna Gigliotti said next Sunday’s show won’t feature non-famous people getting to bump elbows with Hollywood starlets, something Jimmy Kimmel had popularized during his two-year hosting stint.

“I love everyday people,” Gigliotti said. “I ride the subway with them every day in New York. Everyday people don’t get me ratings.”

Also Read: Oscars Will Air All Award Categories Live on TV, Reversing Course

During his two hosting stints, Kimmel did a number of vignettes that featured Hollywood celebrities mingling with just plain old people in Hollywood. Last year, this included bringing Gal Gadot, Mark Hamill and Margot Robbie to a screening of “A Wrinkle in Time” to hand out movie theater snacks. Two years ago, Kimmel rerouted a tour bus into the Dolby Theatre, in the middle of the show, so a bunch of tourists (including the famous “Gary From Chicago”) could meet their favorite celebrities.

But alas, we’ll have to settle for Serena Williams talking about Best Picture nominee “A Star Is Born,” part of Gigliotti’s plan to incorporate famous non-actors into the show. Each of the eight Best Picture nominees will get a brief presentation from celebrities “outside the world of entertainment.”

The Academy has spent the past year trying to figure out ways to shorten the runtime of the show, which has pushed four hours in recent years, at the request of its broadcast partner, ABC. Last year’s Oscars drew the ceremony’s smallest audience — 26.5 million viewers — and both ABC and The Academy have been looking for ways to boost viewership.

Also Read: How the Oscars Bungled This Year's Show So Badly, and Where the Academy Goes From Here

One of them was the short-lived “Popular” award that would honor summer blockbusters that are routinely shutout of major categories — though “Black Panther” became the first comic book film to get a Best Picture nomination. Following widespread backlash from across Hollywood, the Academy canceled plans last week to cut four key awards from the live Oscars telecast, and will now present all 24 of the major categories live without edits.

This year’s Oscars will also go host-less for the first time since 1989.

The Scene at TheWrap's Oscars Best Original Song Contenders Panel (Photos)

Here are photos from the scene at TheWrap's Best Original Song Contenders Panel 2018 ahead of the 2019 Oscars race, with Diane Warren, Boots Riley, Drew Pearson, Keegan DeWitt, Sounwave, Aoife O'Donovan, Phil Johnston, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. The event was presented by Dolby Laboratories.
Photographed by Jen Lowery for TheWrap
Guests line up in front of the Dolby Screening Room Hollywood Vine.
Photographed by Jen Lowery for TheWrap
Panelists at TheWrap's Oscars Best Original Song Contenders event pose together on the red carpet.
Photographed by Jen Lowery for TheWrap
Dolby's Jennifer Bowcock and TheWrap founder Sharon Waxman pose on the red carpet.
Photographed by Jen Lowery for TheWrap
Left to right, "Ralph Breaks the Internet" co-director and co-lyricist Phil Johnston with his co-lyricist Tom MacDougall and with songwriter and AMPAS member Allan Rich on the red carpet.
Photographed by Jen Lowery for TheWrap
"Ralph Breaks the Internet" songwriter Phil Johnston, "Boy Erased" songwriter Brett Leland McLaughlin and "On the Basis of Sex" songwriter Drew Pearson pose for a photo together.
Photographed by Jen Lowery for TheWrap
Dolby's Jennifer Bowcock and "RBG" songwriter Diane Warren line up on the red carpet.
Photographed by Jen Lowery for TheWrap
"Sorry to Bother You" director and songwriter Boots Riley arrives on the red carpet.
Photographed by Jen Lowery for TheWrap
TheWrap founder Sharon Waxman, "RBG" songwriter Diane Warren and Christine La Monte pose for a photo.
Photographed by Jen Lowery for TheWrap
"Mary Poppins Returns" songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman arrive on the red carpet.
Photographed by Jen Lowery for TheWrap
Panelists arrive at TheWrap's Oscars Best Original Song Contenders event.
Photographed by Jen Lowery for TheWrap
Guests mingle at the opening reception.
Photographed by Jen Lowery for TheWrap
Guests and panelists take their seats in the Dolby Screening Room.
Photographed by Jen Lowery for TheWrap
TheWrap founder Sharon Waxman gives opening remarks.
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Dolby's Christine Thomas gives opening remarks.
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The panel kicks off.
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TheWrap's Awards Editor Steve Pond moderates the panel.
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Diane Warren takes the mic on the panel.
Photographed by Jen Lowery for TheWrap
"Sorry to Bother You" songwriter Boots Riley takes the mic on the panel.
Photographed by Jen Lowery for TheWrap
"Here Comes the Change" songwriter Drew Pearson takes the mic on the panel to talk about his song with Kesha from "On the Basis of Sex."
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"Everything Must Go" songwriter Keegan DeWitt speaks on the panel about the film "Hearts Beat Loud."
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Producer Sounwave fist bumps songwriter Diane Warren as the panel kicks off.
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The audience listens during the panel discussion.
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"Revelation" songwriter Brett Leland McLaughlin speaks on the panel about the film "Boy Erased."
Photographed by Jen Lowery for TheWrap
Songwriter Sounwave discusses his work with Kendrick Lamar for the "Black Panther" song "All the Stars."
Photographed by Jen Lowery for TheWrap
"What They Had" songwriter Aoife O'Donovan talks about her song "Are You There" on the panel.
Photographed by Jen Lowery for TheWrap
"Ralph Breaks the Internet" director and songwriter Phil Johnston speaks on the panel about the song "A Place Called Slaughter Race."
Photographed by Jen Lowery for TheWrap
The audience at the panel.
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Marc Shaiman explains how he felt the weight of responsibility in writing songs for "Mary Poppins Returns."
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"Mary Poppins Returns" songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman speak on the panel.
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The panel takes a question from the audience.
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"Mary Poppins Returns" songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman take a picture after the panel discussion.
Photographed by Jen Lowery for TheWrap
TheWrap founder Sharon Waxman and "RBG" songwriter Diane Warren share a selfie.
Photographed by Jen Lowery for TheWrap

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Diane Warren, Boots Riley, Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Sounwave and more were on hand for event presented by Dolby Laboratories

Here are photos from the scene at TheWrap's Best Original Song Contenders Panel 2018 ahead of the 2019 Oscars race, with Diane Warren, Boots Riley, Drew Pearson, Keegan DeWitt, Sounwave, Aoife O'Donovan, Phil Johnston, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. The event was presented by Dolby Laboratories.

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The Scene at TheWrap's Oscars Best Original Song Contenders Panel (Photos)

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