Here is what you need to know about the 2022 Oscars

NEW YORK (AP) — Final preparations are underway for the 94th Academy Awards and a long awaited return to Hollywood’s glamourous normalcy after a muted ceremony and ratings low last year. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2022 Oscars, including where to watch the live show, who’s expected to win and what the big controversies are this year.
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WHEN ARE THE OSCARS?

The Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 27, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The ceremony is set to begin at 8 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on ABC.

WHO IS HOSTING THE 2022 OSCARS?

Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes are taking the stage to co-host the ceremony, which has been without an emcee for the past three years. Producer Will Packer said each woman brings something different to the show.

Nearly three decades into her career, Regina Hall is reaching new heights on screen. Behold, the Reginassaince. https://t.co/q3UDvkLWgQ

— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) March 18, 2022

WHO IS PRESENTING?

Show producers will continue adding names throughout the week, but at the moment stars expected to hand out awards Oscar night include Bill Murray, Lady Gaga, Kevin Costner, Samuel L. Jackson, Zoë Kravitz, Anthony Hopkins, Lily James, Daniel Kaluuya, Mila Kunis, John Leguizamo, Simu Liu, Rami Malek, Lupita Nyong’o, Rosie Perez, Chris Rock, Naomi Scott, Wesley Snipes, Uma Thurman, John Travolta, Yuh-jung Youn, Ruth E. Carter, Halle Bailey, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Jamie Lee Curtis, Woody Harrelson, Shawn Mendes, Tyler Perry, Tracee Ellis Ross, Stephanie Beatriz, DJ Khaled, Jennifer Garner, H.E.R., Tiffany Haddish, Tony Hawk, Elliot Page, Kelly Slater and Shaun White.

If being in every Jackass movie, xXx, Police Academy 4 and Sharknado 5 doesn’t qualify me to present at the Oscars, then your taste in movies needs readjusting.

— Tony Hawk (@tonyhawk) March 21, 2022

WHICH MOVIES ARE NOMINATED FOR BEST PICTURE AT THE 2022 OSCARS?

The 10 movies competing for best picture this year are: “Belfast”; “CODA”; “Don’t Look Up”; “Drive My Car”; “Dune”; “King Richard”; “Licorice Pizza”; “Nightmare Alley”; “The Power of the Dog”; “West Side Story.” (Here’s the full list of 2022 Oscar nominations. )

The Kids In The Hall as this year’s Best Picture nominees:

The Power Of The Dog pic.twitter.com/C66z55P7Ke

— Ryan Burkett (@blackbeltjonz) March 20, 2022

So, because Best Picture is between CODA and TPOTD, no matter what happens, it’ll be the first time a movie made by a streamer wins and the second female-directed film in a row to do so.

— Matthew St.Clair 🇺🇦 (@filmguy619) March 20, 2022

WHAT WERE THE MOST SURPISING OSCAR SNUBS?

There were a lot of surprises Oscar nominations morning.

Some exclusions that stood out include Denis Villeneuve, whose “Dune” got the second most nominations (10) behind “The Power of the Dog” (12) including best picture, but who failed to get a directing nomination for himself.

If the Best Supporting Actress Oscar category could have been six nominees instead of five, who would you have added to the group? pic.twitter.com/RXbYRlxNGV

— Brian Rowe 🏳️‍🌈🍿🎃 (@mrbrianrowe) March 21, 2022

The best actress category was especially brutal this year, leaving out Lady Gaga for “House of Gucci,” Jennifer Hudson for “Respect” and Caitriona Balfe for “Belfast” and Renate Reinsve for “The Worst Person in the World.”

WHAT ARE THE PREDICTIONS FOR THE WINNERS ON OSCAR NIGHT?

“The Power of the Dog” is the presumed frontrunner for best picture and best director, for Jane Campion, but there is also the possibility that “CODA” will take best picture, especially after it won at the Producer’s Guild Awards. Either way, it’ll be the first time a streaming service has won best picture. Other likely winners include Will Smith for best actor (“King Richard”), Jessica Chastain for best actress (“The Eyes of Tammy Faye”), Troy Kotsur for best supporting actor (“CODA”) and Ariana DeBose for best supporting actress (“West Side Story”).

WHAT ELSE CAN WE EXPECT FROM THE OSCARS?

Organizers have promised that they will keep the broadcast to three hours and Packer (whose films include crowd pleasers like “Girls Trip”) wants to make it as entertaining as possible while still honoring the nominees and winners.

“The show will flow, not unlike a movie, in that there will be different themes and a different feel and different energy throughout the night,” Packer said in an interview with IndieWire.

Beyoncé in Talks to Perform on Oscars Telecast From Compton Tennis Courts (EXCLUSIVE) https://t.co/53Z6iqP2NF

— Variety (@Variety) March 21, 2022

“It will not feel or look or sound like one show for three hours. It’s taking you through the course of this cinematic journey.”
Best song nominees like Beyoncé, Van Morrison and Billie Eilish are also in talks to perform.

ARE THERE ANY CONTROVERSIES THIS YEAR?

The Oscars are so high profile that every year someone is upset about something (especially when changes are involved) but this year the biggest controversy is over the decision to present some awards before the live broadcast begins and edit them into the show later.

Rachel Zegler has revealed that she has not been invited to the #Oscars, despite being the lead in ‘West Side Story’, which has been nominated for 7 #Oscars pic.twitter.com/p4y4xwZ7UW

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) March 20, 2022

The eight awards are for shorts (live action, animated and documentary), editing, score, hair and makeup, sound and production design. The decision has its defenders, but also an army of high-profile detractors, including Campion, Villeneuve, Steven Spielberg, Chastain and Penelope Cruz.