Oscars 2020 TV audience hits record low in 'driverless' ceremony

The US audience for the 2020 Oscars fell to an all- time low for a ceremony that brought big wins for South Korean satire “Parasite” but was criticized by reviewers as long and haphazard.

Viewership for Sunday’s show, broadcast on Walt Disney Co -owned ABC, dropped 20% from a year ago to an average audience of 23.6 million, according to Nielsen data released on Monday.

It was the worst TV audience ever for the highest honors in the movie industry and beat the previous record low of 26.5 million in 2018, according to Reuters.

“Parasite” made history by becoming the first non-English language film to win best picture, beating box office favorites like “Joker” and “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.” Joaquin Phoenix and Brad Pitt were among the acting winners.

 
The show, which ran 3-1/2 hours, was held without a host for a second year and was slammed by reviewers for random moments, inconsistencies and a surprise but puzzling performance by rapper Eminem of a 17-year-old song.

“The 2020 Oscars bellowed out for a ringmaster to harness what soon became a lackluster circus,” wrote Dominic Patten at entertainment website Deadline.