Oscars could be the distraction we need during a grim time

The awards show must go on. Nobody knows what the world will look like in April 2021, or what might be possible with an Academy Awards ceremony at that time. I’m just happy they’re still planning to move forward with the Oscars in some capacity.

This week’s announcement that next year’s Academy Awards are being pushed back to April 25 was met, understandably, with a range of reactions: some of disappointment that the show is delayed; others of relief that it hasn’t been canceled altogether; and plenty of indifference with so many more important things going on in the world.

Of course, a traditional ceremony with all of the glitz and glamour is far from a priority amid a global pandemic, and with powerful protests calling for change sweeping the United States and beyond.

The reason I’d like to see some form of the annual ceremony celebrating the year’s achievements in film take place is simple: It offers a lighthearted distraction for those who need one.

In past years, the Oscars have been much more than a one-night event.

From the moment the nominees are announced, debates begin among casual fans and hard-core movie buffs alike.

Oscar pools get filled out furiously. People scramble to watch Best Picture candidates in the weeks leading up to the ceremony. In the era of social media, everyone can be a pseudo-film critic for a couple of months.

Last year’s show was exciting, with “Parasite” making history as the first non-English-language film to win Best Picture.

No doubt, things will look different at the Oscars next year.

Many theaters remain closed, which is why the Academy of Motion Picture

Arts and Sciences will allow films released exclusively on digital platforms to be eligible for nominations for the first time ever.

Maybe the Oscars ceremony itself will be virtual.

If that’s the safest option, who could complain?

That format worked well for April’s 2020 NFL Draft which, for the first time, was held remotely.

Fans, many of whom were in search of a brief escape from reality, watched the event in droves, setting an all-time record with 55 million viewers across the three-day event — up a whopping 35% from the 2019 Draft.

That wasn’t an outlier, either. ESPN’s “The Last Dance” series about Michael Jordan and the 1990s Chicago Bulls averaged more than 5.6 million viewers across its 10 episodes in April and May, making it the network’s most-watched documentary ever.

“Trolls: World Tour” was a massive success as a home-release movie, while Netflix added nearly 16 million subscribers during the year’s first quarter — a record for the streaming service.

People are still seeking out entertainment.

The Oscars, meanwhile, are the pinnacle of the entertainment world.

A ceremony, even a remote one, would likely draw tons of eyes and offer a diversion if one is needed next spring.

Monday’s date change came shortly after the Academy introduced inclusivity requirements in an effort to provide a much-needed increase in diversity among nominees.

Pushing the ceremony back from its original Feb. 28 date — and changing the end of the eligibility period to late February — makes sense.

It gives filmmakers targeting a fall release more time to complete projects delayed by the coronavirus crisis.

It also allows films to readjust their theatrical releases, if necessary, toward dates that are safer for moviegoers.

“For over a century, movies have played an important role in comforting, inspiring, and entertaining us during the darkest of times,” said Academy President David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson. “They certainly have this year.”

Here’s hoping the 2021 Oscars do the same.