The 97th annual Academy Awards broadcast saw a 1% increase in viewership from last year’s telecast. What’s behind the ratings boost? Might this have any effect on where the awards show lands after ABC’s deal with the academy ends in 2028? Also, is the Disney CEO succession race heating up? Kim Masters and Matt Belloni investigate.
Plus, Eric Deggans speaks with Muslim Matchmaker creator Smriti Mundhra about her diverse body of work. She has a slew of dating series spread across streamers, and has made a couple of Oscar nominated documentary shorts, including last year’s I am Ready, Warden. She also talks about working as a production secretary for the Coen brothers on the films O Brother Where art Thou? and The Man Who Wasn’t There.