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MPR News with Angela Davis
Samantha Matsumoto and Angela Davis

Do the Academy Awards still matter?

Oscars statuette image
In this handout photo provided by A.M.P.A.S. Oscars statuettes are on display backstage during the 92nd Annual Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre on February 09, 2020, in Hollywood, California.
A.M.P.A.S. via Getty Images

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The 94th Academy Awards are this Sunday. And movie lovers have a lot of questions: Will Netflix finally win big? Which winners will make history? And who will take home the coveted Best Picture prize? 

But there’s another big question lingering over the awards: Will people tune in to watch? 

Last year, the viewership for the Academy Awards declined to the lowest in history. Though the decline was almost certainly linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, viewership for the Oscars has been declining for years. 

That decline in viewership – coupled with controversies around diversity and inclusion – has led some critics to question whether awards shows like the Oscars are still relevant. 

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with two entertainment journalists about the future of awards shows like the Oscars, and what they’re expecting to see when they tune in on Sunday. 

Guests: 

  • Sonia Rao is a pop culture reporter for the Washington Post. 

  • Chris Hewitt is the theater and film critic for the Star Tribune. 


Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.