All Oscars to be presented ‘live’

Los Angeles: The Academy of Motion Picture Art & Sciences has announced a roll back of its decision to present four categories of Oscars during the commercial breaks. In its attempt to keep the live telecast under three hours, the Academy had decided to present four categories — cinematography, film editing, live action shorts and makeup and hairstyling — during commercial breaks with the winners’ speeches set to air later in the broadcast. Academy president John Bailey in an email to members had said the change would be on a rotation each year, meaning that at least four different categories would use this format in 2020 and that the four mentioned would be exempt. The news led to a controversy with many Hollywood Alisters such as urging reversal of the decision.