On August 9, the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences announced a series of changes to the annual Oscars ceremony, namely limiting the telecast to three hours and introducing a new category for “Outstanding Achievement In Popular Film.” The changes, particularly the “Best Popular Film” category, immediately received backlash across the internet. For some, like our own Katie Rife, the new award seems condescending, and assumes popularity and quality to be mutually exclusive. For others, like comedian and Oscars aficionado Guy Branum, popularity is its own reward, and the Oscars shouldn’t feel obligated to recognize Infinity War for the sake of a ratings bump. We spoke with Branum about the changes and what it means for fans of the ceremony.
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