Films shot in Atlanta last year are not represented in any major categories for this Sunday's Oscar telecast. (What? "Anchorman 2" was robbed!)
But that is not really a quibble, just an observation. The prestigious awards show is still one of the most popular TV events to watch live (not DVR), with social media as its companion. Locals will be tweeting and FBing about the fashion miscues, weird acceptance speeches and long, boring stretches that pockmark the proceedings. There will be classic film montages, scenes from foreign movies and shorts hardly anybody has ever seen and the annual tribute to dead folks. (Peter O'Toole, James Gandolfini, Esther Williams, Annette Funicello and the late, great film reviewer Roger Ebert will certainly be included. Hopefully, Harold Ramis, who just passed this week, will be included as well.)
This year, the Oscars chose Neil Meron and Craig Zadon as executive producers for a second time. The pair do a lot of work in Atlanta, notably Lifetime's dramedy "Drop Dead Diva" in Peachtree City, currently in production in its sixth and final season. They have also shot the 2011 remake of "Footloose" and the 2012 Lifetime TV remake of "Steel Magnolias" here.
Ellen DeGeneres, the congenial TV show host, will host her second time. Her first stint in 2007 went by swimmingly. She will be a contrast to last year's odd pick of Seth McFarlane, the "Family Guy"/"Ted" dude who will be best remembered for crooning "We Saw Your Boobs," an ode to female actresses who have taken off their tops that turned off a significant portion of the older audience.
DeGeneres is a natural choice. She can be funny without being offensive and amuse a crowd of A listers who instinctively respect her. She is comfortable in a live setting and doesn't take herself too seriously. She may even dance.
According to EW.com, the show will include a 75th anniversary celebration of "The Wizard of Oz," a segment featuring inspirational heroes in film (think Norma Rae and Atticus Finch) and, of course, superheroes and gallant heroes such as Indiana Jones. And gutsy "heroic" filmmakers and actors will be spotlighted. In other words, brace yourself for a lot of montages.
Ratings have hovered mostly in the 40 million viewer range in recent years. I don't expect that to change markedly this year. Outside the Super Bowl and some other NFL playoff games, the Oscars are the highest rated show of the year.
TV preview
"The Academy Awards," 8:30 p.m., Sunday, ABC
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