With the writer’s strike still in full swing, the big question is whether there will even be an Oscar show. But Academy officials are busily working on a telecast as I write this, and producer Gil Cates says there’s plenty of material, even without writers and stars.
“There will be lots of clips,” he says. “We have a long history, 80 years, to explore.”
Until the nominees were announced earlier today, Cates and crew had been working on the set design and construction, hiring musicians and other behind-the-scenes workers for the February 24 telecast on ABC. Now that the cat’s out of the bag on nominees, work on production numbers and film packages can begin.
A Variety.com story notes that Academy officials share Cates’ thoughts that the show will rely heavily on clips, with star power taking a back seat if the writer’s strike is still in motion on Feb. 24.
Still, you have to wonder how much can be accomplished without violating the Writers Guild of America. While the show will be allowed to use clips of films, they won’t be cheap, notes one ad executive.
And let's face it, wouldn’t this be an awful year to be nominated?! Let's hope both sides of the writer's strike can come to a reasonable agreement soon.
