Page 31 - Aruba Today
P. 31
PEOPLE & ARTS A31
Friday 12 February 2016
Even before controversy, blacks cool to Oscars telecast
DAVID BAUDER In this Feb. 21, 2015 file photo, an Oscar statue appears outside the Dolby Theatre for the 87th rules, has already taken
AP Television Writer Academy Awards in Los Angeles. more action toward in-
NEW YORK (AP) — The larg- creasing diverse represen-
est black audience for the Associated Press tation than it did last year.
Academy Awards over the But she said it appeared
last dozen years came in percent in 2011. According BET awards, which honor The topic may not have the academy had suf-
2005, when Chris Rock was to the U.S. Census Bureau, cultural work popular in blown up into a contro- fered real damage among
host and Jamie Foxx and blacks comprise 13.2 per- the black community, was versy had there been few black viewers who might
Morgan Freeman won the cent of the U.S. population. watched by 5.5 million award-worth performanc- be interested in the cere-
top male acting awards. Blacks tend to watch more blacks last year. That’s 89 es by non-whites, although mony and it may take time
Rock will be back as host TV than other ethnic groups percent of the show’s total that would have been an to regain trust.
this year, but it’s an open and in February 2015, when audience of 6.3 million. issue for the film industry Film isn’t the only area
question how many black the last Academy Awards Callie Crossley, a cultural by itself. When the popular in entertainment where di-
viewers will be tuning in. were broadcast, blacks commentator for WGBH-TV “Straight Outta Compton” versity has been an issue
A lack of diversity in Os- made up on average 15 in Boston who has talked and acting performances and, as a result, may illus-
car nominations have led percent of the audience about the Oscars, said she by Will Smith and Idris Elba trate why the general inter-
to stars like Spike Lee and for prime-time shows, the initially questioned whether all received pre-Oscars est awards shows don’t ap-
Jada Pinkett Smith say- Nielsen company said. a boycott of black viewers buzz, the lack of diversity pear to hold a great deal
ing they won’t attend the With diversity among Os- would gain traction. But in was more obvious. of interest on a regular
Academy Awards on Feb. car nominees an issue last talking with several friends Crossley said she was heart- basis among black view-
28. The year’s most popu- year, too, Nielsen said 3.3 about the issue, Cross- ened that the Academy of ers. The Golden Globes,
lar awards show is gener- million blacks watched ley was taken aback at Motion Pictures Arts and a boozy Hollywood party
ally not a must-see event the Oscars, down from 4.1 the amount of anger she Sciences, in announcing that honors movies and
in black households: The million in 2014. The annual heard. changes to its membership television, has had be-
share of blacks watching tween 5.2 percent and
the Oscars is smaller than 10.6 percent black viewer-
it is for a typical prime-time ship over the past decade.
TV program, although it ex- The high point came in
ceeds that for the Golden 2007; between 2013 and
Globes or Emmy awards. 2015, the percentage has
“African-American view- been just under 7 percent
ers watch shows that they each year.
can relate to,” said Darnell The Emmys have shown
Hunt, director of UCLA’s more consistency, staying
Ralph J. Bunche Cen- roughly in the 6 to 7 per-
ter for African American cent range of black view-
Studies. “When you have ers over the past decade.
African-American nomi- Black viewership shot up
nees, they’re usually ex- to 14.3 percent last year
cited about the prospect when Viola Davis was
of them winning and they named best actress for her
tune in in larger numbers.” role in “How to Get Away
That was certainly the case With Murder” and “Empire”
in 2005, when 5.3 million was the most talked-about
blacks watched the Os- new drama.
cars. That made up 12.2 In seven of the past 10
percent of the show’s years, the Oscars had
audience that year. The a higher percentage of
Academy Awards hasn’t black viewership than ei-
made it up to that level ther the Emmys or Golden
since, hitting a low of 6.6 Globes.q
Born to write: Springsteen
memoir coming in September
Despite some Academy Award Hudlin, producer of “Django Un-
celebrity defections and calls for chained,” who is co-producing
a viewing boycott, “Chris Rock this year’s Oscars ceremony.
may generate some viewers,” “It’s going to be tough,” Crossley
Hunt said. People will be curious said. “They can’t afford to lose
to hear what he has to say about viewership. The controversy will
the topic. Another drawing card not end this month. It will keep go-
is the participation of Reginald ing until next year.”q
In this Nov. 10, 2015 file photo, Bruce Springsteen performs at
the 9th Annual Stand Up For Heroes event in New York.
Associated Press
