This year’s Oscars could go down in the books. Lily Gladstone might just become the first Native American to win an Oscar for acting. Oppenheimer could sweep the floor with the most wins ever for a single film. American Fiction can see two Black male actors taking home Oscars for the same movie. And that is just scratching the surface! For months now, fans have been counting down the minutes to the ceremony. And it seems like the Academy knew well in advance that the anticipation would reach such heights.

Last year, the Academy announced that they were going to bump up the schedule of the Oscars by an hour, a first in Oscars history. And as per some reports, this decision was not just because fans were dying to catch the event.

Why are the Oscars switching things up again?

ABC announced last year that the 96th Academy Awards would start an hour earlier than ever before in Oscars history. Instead of its usual 8 p.m. ET slot, the broadcast will commence at 7 p.m. ET. According to sources of The Hollywood Reporter, the Academy decided to change the timing of the telecast to wrap the show up within prime-time hours on the East Coast. Part of the reason is that in previous years, viewership tended to drop as the evening went on, especially since many had work commitments the following day.

On top of that, the 2024 Awards will coincide with daylight saving time this year. This phenomenon already makes people lose an hour of shut-eye. Perhaps this is why the network wants to avoid adding to the fatigue of its audience, making the ceremony comfortable for everyone. While the Academy is breaking away from tradition with the timing change, they are also resurrecting an old tradition in another way.

This year, the Academy is bringing back a format from 15 years ago, which could make for an emotional rollercoaster at the ceremony.

More excuses to catch the Oscars 2024

The Oscars are resurrecting the Field of Dreams-esque presentation format, which first made its debut in 2009. It was inspired by the fantasy drama film of the same name. Although the format was short-lived initially, passionate Oscar enthusiasts have been advocating for its return for years. And this year, the Academy has finally granted their wish. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the Academy has confirmed the reintroduction of the format on March 10.

In this arrangement, instead of the usual protocol, five former Oscar winners step forward to introduce the nominees in each category. When it happened in 2009, the response was overwhelming. Even icons like Brad Pitt and Meryl Streep showed their approval of the format, with a huge round of applause. Anne Hathaway was visibly moved and shed a few tears of joy. As the winners embraced in celebratory group hugs, it was evident they were being welcomed into an exclusive league of legends, much like in Field of Dreams.

What do you think about the revolutionary changes about to happen in the 2024 Oscars? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!