Academy’s CEO hopes the drama unfolds only in the Oscar race itself

From slaps to envelope mix-ups, it’s impossible to predict what will happen at the Academy Awards.

But this year, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ CEO Bill Kramer is really hoping the drama unfolds only in the Oscar race itself.

Kramer says many of the races are wide open, a lot of their possible winners are really up for grabs and it’s going to be an exciting night.

He says this award season has embraced a flurry of sporadic winners, showcasing few consistent shoo-ins, particularly in the best picture category.

The campaign for the film “Emilia Pérez,” which leads with 13 Oscar nominations, was upended by past offensive tweets from the film’s star Karla Sofia Gascón.

When asked if the Academy considered rescinding Gascón’s individual nomination, Kramer deflected and instead highlighted the groundbreaking nature of Gascón being the first openly transgender person to be nominated for an acting Oscar.

Conan O’Brien will bring the laughs, but won’t make celebrities cry as he is back as host.

This week, major musical performers were announced for the Oscars, including Queen Latifah, Raye, Doja Cat, Lisa from Blackpink, plus Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.

For the 2025 Oscars, these superstar artists will perform as yet unannounced songs, replacing the tradition of performing the nominated best original song onstage.

Instead, the songwriters nominated in the category will be recognized in a pre-produced segment that shares more of their backstories and accomplishments.

The Academy’s CEO says the Oscars will raise funds for LA wildfire rebuilding efforts as they celebrate Los Angeles’ resilience.

He says they will be celebrating their community – not just the community of filmmakers, but the community of Los Angeles.

The Academy Awards will air at midday on ABC and Hulu.

Source: CNN