Get ready for the Oscars: How to watch online and what you need to know
Following a series of winter award shows such as the Emmys, Golden Globes, and Grammys, the highly anticipated Academy Awards are approaching. The 96th Oscars are expected to be dominated by “Oppenheimer,” which leads with 13 nominations, but other contenders like “Barbie,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” and “Poor Things” are also in contention.
Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s show:
WHEN ARE THE OSCARS?
The Oscars will take place on Sunday, March 10 at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. EDT — an hour earlier than usual — and will be broadcast live on ABC. The preview starts at 6:30 p.m. EDT. This is your early reminder to set your clocks accordingly – it’s the first day of Daylight Savings Time in the US.
ARE THE OSCARS LIVE?
WHO HOSTS THE OSCARS?
Jimmy Kimmel, who hosted last year’s ceremony, will make his fourth appearance. That ties him with Whoopi Goldberg and Jack Lemmon for a combined four, and leaves Kimmel behind only Johnny Carson (five), Billy Crystal (nine) and Bob Hope (11) as repeat Oscar hosts. In an interview with the Associated Press, Kimmel said that the upcoming presidential election could be a topic for him, he is not going to strike a very political tone.
“It’s definitely not at the Oscars,” said Kimmel. “That doesn’t mean I don’t have a joke about it. But my goal is definitely not to invoke the name of the one that is not mentioned at the Oscars.”
ARE THERE FACTORS?
Yes, all original song nominees will be featured in the show. That means Ryan Gosling serenading everyone with Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt’s ‘Barbie’ ballad ‘I’m Just Ken’ and Billie Eilish soulfully singing ‘What Was I Made For’, which she co-wrote with Finneas O’Connell. Other nominated songs include “The Fire Inside” by Diane Warren from “Flamin’ Hot” performed by Becky G, “It Never Went Away” by Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson from “American Symphony” and “Wahzhazhe” by Scott George. (A Song for My People)” from “Killers of the Flower Moon”.
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WHO PRESENTED AT THE OSCARS?
Last year’s big acting winners are all returning to the show (traditional), including Brendan Fraser, Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan and Jamie Lee Curtis. Stars of all generations are expected to present awards, from Rita Moreno to Bad Bunny.
Steven Spielberg, Emily Blunt, Cynthia Erivo, Sally Field, Ariana Grande, Ben Kingsley, Melissa McCarthy, Issa Rae, Tim Robbins, Mary Steenburgen, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlize Theron, Christoph Waltz and Forest Whitaker were the final announced performers. .
Other celebrities coming to the Dolby stage include “Scarface” stars Michelle Pfeiffer and Al Pacino (probably not together), as well as Gosling, Zendaya, Matthew McConaughey, Chris Hemsworth, Dwayne Johnson, Regina King, Jennifer Lawrence, John Mulaney, Octavia Spencer, Jessica Lange, Nicolas Cage, Mahershala Ali, Sam Rockwell, Lupita Nyong’o and Ramy Youssef.
There will also be fun cast reunions: “Barbie’s” America Ferrera and Kate McKinnon will take the stage together for a fun time, as will “Beetlejuice” stars Michael Keaton and Catherine O’Hara.
WHAT IS THE BEST PICTURE SUBMISSION FOR THE 2024 OSCARS?
The 10 best picture nominees are: “American Fiction”; “Anatomy of Falling”; “Barbie”; “Retainers”; “Killers of the Flower Moon”; “Maestro”; “Oppenheimer”; “Past Lives”; “Poor Things”; and “Area of Interest”.
HOW CAN I WATCH THE OSCAR NOMINATIONS?
Many of this year’s Oscar nominees are streaming on different platforms. AP has this handy guide to help with Oscar packing.
WHO ARE THE FAVORITES?
Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” is a pioneer. Best director favorite Nolan is also poised to win his first Oscar. The Best Actress category could be a nail-biter between Lily Gladstone (“Killers of the Flower Moon”) and Emma Stone (“Poor Things”). If Gladstone wins, he will be the first Indian to win an Oscar. Best actor could also be a tight race between Cillian Murphy (“Oppenheimer”) and Paul Giamatti (“The Holdovers”). Both would be first time winners. Giamatti’s co-star Da’Vine Joy Randolph is up for Best Supporting Actress, while Robert Downey Jr. (“Oppenheimer”) is expected to win Best Supporting Actress. His closest competitor is considered to be Ryan Gosling from “Barbie”. You can check out the AP filmmakers’ predictions.
WHAT’S UP WITH THE BARBIE SNUBS?
While “Barbie,” the biggest box office hit of 2023, has received eight nominations, there has been much talk of a nomination that the film did not receive. Greta Gerwig was left out of the directing category and Margot Robbie missed out on Best Actress. In those omissions, some have seen reflections of the misogyny parodied in “Barbie,” while others have noted the comedy of comedy that has historically been at the Oscars. Barbie nominations include Best Adapted Screenplay (Gerwig and Noah Baumbach), Best Supporting Actress for America Ferrera and two Best Song nominations for What Was I Made For and I’m Just Ken.
ARE THERE ANY CHANGES AT THE OSCARS THIS YEAR?
While recent Oscars have been marred by everything from shocks, envelope rumors and controversies over the live awards ceremony, this year’s program won’t see any big changes (except it starts an hour earlier). All awards are broadcast live (although honors are separated in previous, non-televised Governors Awards). The Academy will add a new award for best casting, but this trophy will not be awarded until the 2026 Oscars.
WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO WATCH?
Composer John Williams earned a record 49th best score Oscar nomination for “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” his 54th nod. Godzilla is going to the Academy Awards for the first time, and “Godzilla Minus One” is nominated. For the first time, two non-English-language films are among the best picture: the German Auschwitz drama “The Zone of Interest” and the French courtroom drama “Anatomy of a Fall.”
