2025 Oscars revamping in wake of L.A. fires, Best Song performances nixed
When it comes to this year’s Oscars, it won’t be the same old (best) song.
With the Motion Picture Academy insistent the show will go on as scheduled on March 2 despite calls from the likes of Jean Smart and Stephen King to cancel the ceremony amid the devastating wildfires still burning in the Los Angeles region, Academy President Janet Yang and CEO Bill Kramer sent a letter to members on Wednesday announcing big changes to the upcoming ceremony to strike the right tone.
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“Our deepest thanks to all of you for your compassion and support over the last few weeks. Our thoughts remain with those who were impacted by the recent Los Angeles-area wildfires,” said Kramer and Yang. They confirmed that the show will not only focus on the award but also on “those who fought so bravely against the wildfires.” The ceremony will also honor the city of Los Angeles as a whole, “showcasing its beauty and resilience, as well as its role as a beacon for filmmakers and creative visionaries for over a century.”
Host Conan O’Brien will be tasked with walking a fine line, making sure to balance humor and empathy, and leading, as Yang and Kramer put it, “a celebration of connection and collaboration — honoring the unifying spirit and creative synergy of moviemaking.”
The most significant change is how the contenders for Best Song are presented. Gone are the usual show-stopping musical performances (see last year’s “I’m Just Ken” number); instead, the telecast will focus on the nominated songwriters: “We will celebrate their artistry through personal reflections from the teams who bring these songs to life,” per Yang and Kramer.
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The ceremony will also bring back the “Fab 5” moments, where individual nominees are recognized and highlighted by fellow film artists.
The entire entertainment industry has been forced to pivot amid the unprecedented fires in the region, with multiple film events and premieres being canceled outright, while others were postponed, like the Critics Choice Awards, and some, like the Grammys on Feb. 2, moving ahead as scheduled, but in a different form. The Grammys will also double as a fundraiser for wildfire relief efforts, something Rosanna Arquette had suggested the Oscars consider.
The Oscar nominations, which were twice delayed due to the fires, will be announced on Thursday, starting at 8:30 a.m. ET/5:30 a.m. PT, and streamed on Oscar.com, Oscars.org, the Academy’s digital platforms (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook), ABC’s Good Morning America, and ABC News Live, Disney+ and Hulu. American Sign Language (ASL) will be available on YouTube.
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