Oscars Will Air All Award Categories Live on TV, Reversing Course
Spike Lee, Alfonso Cuaron and more signed open letter criticizing decision to hand out some awards during commercial breaks
Brian Welk | February 15, 2019 @ 3:05 PM
Last Updated: February 15, 2019 @ 4:14 PM
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Following widespread backlash from across Hollywood, the film Academy has canceled plans to cut four key awards from the live Oscars telecast, and will now present all 24 of the major categories live without edits.
“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,” the Academy said in a statement.
ABC, which is airing the ceremony, had no comment.
The Academy previously planned to present the four categories during commercial breaks as part of an effort to keep the notoriously long broadcast to three hours. The presentations would have been streamed live online, and the acceptance speeches inserted into the television broadcast in “slightly edited” form later.
But the plan was met with immediate, and nearly universal outrage from within the entertainment industry. This included several of the major Hollywood guilds, powerhouse talent agency UTA, and a consortium of filmmakers that included Spike Lee, Quentin Tarantino and Ang Lee who condemned the move in an open letter Wednesday night.
Initially the Academy defended the decision and blamed “inaccurate reporting” and “misinformation” for the uproar. It added that the plan was approved by the Board of Governors in August, and that executive committees of six branches “volunteered” to have their awards presented during the breaks.
But on Friday, the day after a group of notable cinematographers had met with Academy CEO Dawn Hudson and President John Bailey, the Academy’s officers met to reconsider the wildly unpopular plan. The key factor, according to someone with knowledge of the discussion, was the number of rank-and-file Academy members that were opposed to the plan.
The full Board of Governors did not meet or vote, with the board’s officers — Bailey, Lois Burwell, Sid Ganis, Larry Karaszewski, Nancy Utley, Jim Gianopulos and David Rubin — making the decision to pull the plug.
The Scene at TheWrap's Oscar Party Honoring Women and Inclusion (Photos)
Oscar nominees from around the world came out for cocktails and lively conversations Wednesday, Feb. 13 for TheWrap-WanderLuxxe Oscar Party. The conversations on diversity and inclusion in Hollywood today were fueled in part by the night's signature cocktails from sponsor Guillotine Vodka. Attendees included best foreign film- nominated director Talal Derki ("Of Fathers and Sons") and best song-nominated songwriter Diane Warren ("I'll Fight," featured in the documentary "RBG"). Take a look at the happenings inside Norah in West Hollywood.
Photographed by Ted Soqui for TheWrap
Best Song-nominated songwriter Diane Warren attends TheWrap and WanderLuxxe's Oscar Party.
Photographed by Ted Soqui for TheWrap
Mary Zophres, nominated this year for best achievement in costume design for her work on "The Ballad of Buster Scruggs," joins Diane Warren, as well as Terence Blanchard, best original score-nominated composer for "BlacKkKlansman," and Sharon Waxman at TheWrap and WanderLuxxe's Oscar Party.
Photographed by Ted Soqui for TheWrap
Oscar nominee Melissa Berton, up for best Documentary Short for "Period. End of Sentence.," poses at TheWrap and WanderLuxxe's Oscar Party.
Photographed by Ted Soqui for TheWrap
Specialty cocktails were provided by Guillotine Vodka for TheWrap and WanderLuxxe's Oscar Party.
Photographed by Ted Soqui for TheWrap
Guests enjoy beer provided by Heineken at TheWrap and WanderLuxxe's Oscar Party.
Photographed by Ted Soqui for TheWrap
Philippe Pierre was the DJ at TheWrap and WanderLuxxe's Oscar Party.
Photographed by Ted Soqui for TheWrap
"RuPaul's Drage Race" personality DJ Pierce at TheWrap and WanderLuxxe's Oscar Party.
Photographed by Ted Soqui for TheWrap
"Mary Poppins 2" animation supervisor Ken Duncan with Julie Duncan at TheWrap and WanderLuxxe's Oscar Party.
Photographed by Ted Soqui for TheWrap
"Gone Girl" and "Twilight" actor Edi Gathegi at TheWrap and WanderLuxxe's Oscar Party.
Photographed by Ted Soqui for TheWrap
Short-film actress and writer Yazmin Monet Watkins attends TheWrap and WanderLuxxe's Oscar Party.
Photographed by Ted Soqui for TheWrap
Star of the upcoming ABC drama "The Fix" KJ Smith at TheWrap and WanderLuxxe's Oscar Party.
Photographed by Ted Soqui for TheWrap
"Animal Kingdom" actress Nicki Micheaux at TheWrap and WanderLuxxe's Oscar Party.
Photographed by Ted Soqui for TheWrap
Influencer and Kim Kardashian's former assistant Stephanie Shepherd at TheWrap and WanderLuxxe's Oscar Party.
Photographed by Ted Soqui for TheWrap
Guillotine Vodka founder Paul Berkmann at TheWrap and WanderLuxxe's Oscar Party.
Photographed by Ted Soqui for TheWrap
Wanderluxxe concierge service founders Marti Hines and Lola Wood at TheWrap and WanderLuxxe's Oscar Party.
Photographed by Ted Soqui for TheWrap
"What We Do in the Shadows" actor Harvey Guillen at TheWrap and WanderLuxxe's Oscar Party.
Photographed by Ted Soqui for TheWrap
TV Land's "Teachers" actors Katy Colloton and Katie O'Brien at TheWrap and WanderLuxxe's Oscar Party.
Photographed by Ted Soqui for TheWrap
Wanderluxxe founder Marti Hines with guests at TheWrap and WanderLuxxe's Oscar Party.
Photographed by Ted Soqui for TheWrap
Sharon Waxman, with Wanderluxxe founders Lola Wood and Marti Hines, toasts to this year's diverse group of Oscars nominees at TheWrap and WanderLuxxe's Oscar Party.
Photographed by Ted Soqui for TheWrap
Marti Hines, with Lola Wood and Sharon Waxman, toasts to this year's diverse group of Oscars nominees at TheWrap and Wanderluxxe's Oscar Party.
Photographed by Ted Soqui for TheWrap
The Haiku Guys at TheWrap and WanderLuxxe's Oscar Party.
Photographed by Ted Soqui for TheWrap
"True Detective" actress Emily Nelson at TheWrap and WanderLuxxe's Oscar Party.
Photographed by Ted Soqui for TheWrap
TNT's "Claws" actress Sherry Cola at TheWrap and WanderLuxxe's Oscar Party.
Photographed by Ted Soqui for TheWrap
"Carrie" actress Mouna Traoré with guests at TheWrap and WanderLuxxe's Oscar Party.
Photographed by Ted Soqui for TheWrap
Tia Carrere
"Wayne's World" actress Tia Carrere at TheWrap and WanderLuxxe's Oscar Party.
Photographed by Ted Soqui for TheWrap
Guests at TheWrap and WanderLuxxe's Oscar Party.
Photographed by Ted Soqui for TheWrap
Carly Craig
Youtube Premium's "Sideswiped" creator and actress Carly Craig at TheWrap and WanderLuxxe's Oscar Party.
Photographed by Ted Soqui for TheWrap
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Oscar-nominated guests from “BlacKkKlansman,” “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” and more enjoyed a night of cocktails and conversation
Oscar nominees from around the world came out for cocktails and lively conversations Wednesday, Feb. 13 for TheWrap-WanderLuxxe Oscar Party. The conversations on diversity and inclusion in Hollywood today were fueled in part by the night's signature cocktails from sponsor Guillotine Vodka. Attendees included best foreign film- nominated director Talal Derki ("Of Fathers and Sons") and best song-nominated songwriter Diane Warren ("I'll Fight," featured in the documentary "RBG"). Take a look at the happenings inside Norah in West Hollywood.