The Oscars may be on ‘life support’ with floundering ratings: ‘Iceberg is in sight,’ expert says

The 94th Academy Awards eliminated eight categories from its broadcast, sparking backlash from some Hollywood stars. An expert weighs in on the big decision affecting Hollywood's biggest night.

In order to mitigate a ratings' lull, the Academy has said that it plans on eliminating eight of its honors from the show in an effort to streamline the floundering telecast and that the awards would be presented off-air and then edited into the program itself. 

"This year, those categories presented in the evening’s first hour and seen later in the live broadcast are, alphabetically: Documentary (Short Subject), Film Editing, Makeup and Hairstyling, Music (Original Score), Production Design, Short Film (Animated), Short Film (Live Action), and Sound," Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president David Rubin wrote in an open letter to Academy members last month.