AN EMPTY COUCH — None of the fun awards went to “Top Gun: Maverick” on Sunday night, but the film’s presence loomed large. You’d be forgiven for thinking the broadcast, much like an 8-year-old’s birthday party, had some sort of airplane theme. The junkies in Hollywood C-suites got a taste of monoculture again, and they’re hankering for more.
“Everything Everywhere All at Once” cleaned up with seven wins, including Best Picture and Best Actress. Brendan Fraser won Best Actor for his role in “The Whale.” “Tár,” an extended rumination on cancel culture, went home with nothing, although that kind of makes sense if you buy into the premise.
In a word, Sunday’s show was agreeable. It was fine, really. Nobody got punched, except for the viewers who were battered repeatedly with jokes about it. Politics were sprinkled, not spooned. There was a moment of contrived sanctimony about drag, a barb at Tucker Carlson, and something about people who “identify as women.” Jessica Chastain wore a mask.
And you know what they say, as goes Jimmy Kimmel, so goes the nation. This is good news, I promise. Kimmel, Resistance boomers’ affable jester, is back to being very OK. (That might be a little kind.) From his milquetoast hosting to the milquetoast presenters, Sunday’s production was relatively apolitical and designed in the great American spirit of mass consumption.
With falling ratings, the Academy could decide to become a niche product that does well with a smaller pool of the public or
