What Can the Oscars Learn from the BAFTAs?

Notes from last night's -- or, afternoon's -- telecast.

Every year, producers, critics, and Twitterers (it’s me, hi, I’m the problem, it’s me) fret about the Oscars telecast: what it’s going to do, what it should do, why it never seems to get it right, and why — most of all — it’s always so freaking long. The BAFTAs runtime is listed on the BBC as a crisp two hours, an efficiency of which the Oscars can only dream. Because I could live-stream Sunday’s telecast in my L.A. living room for a $2 Britbox trial, I decided to investigate and figure out how, exactly, they’re whipping in and out of there with such ruthless efficiency — and whether it’s any better.

The short answer is: Not really. Nobody has figured this thing out, and awards shows will never please anyone as long as they try to please everyone. But you know I’m gonna give you a long answer, too.

The Oscars habitually get roasted for seeming to prioritize casual fans and viewers, in the name of raking in ratings that are increasingly meaningless in the TV landscape anyway, as oppose…