Review of last Sunday’s (February 26, 2012) 84th Academy Awards (Oscar) presentations are in. Some early reports indicate 4% viewer increase over last year. Viewing audience estimated at 39.3 million compared to colossal disaster of Anne Hathaway and James Franco’s 2011 show which drew 37.9 million. This is second largest viewership for Oscar history. However, the viewership is lower than the recently held Grammy audience.
After Eddie Murphy bailed out in November 2011, the Academy opted for Billy Crystal. He should be commended for stepping in within such a short notice. This is 63 year old Billy Crystal’s ninth time hosting of the Academy Awards show after several years of absence from the show. Many say his work was safe and bland. The opening resembled Billy Crystal’s Saturday Night Live appearances in the 1980s. Fierce criticism came in for Billy Crystal’s donning blackface in light of Octavia Spencer’s win for her performance in The Hope. However, the Hollywood Reporter applauded the comic’s comeback saying Billy Crystal was solid and predictable.
Despite all criticism, the 2012 Academy Awards presentation was a social media hit. Who can forget Angelina Jolie’s leg-thrusting moment during her presentation an award?