Academy to Presenters: Skip the Oscars Red Carpet

After Oscar ratings hit historic lows last year, the Academy is taking a bold step: It’s asking presenters to skip their preshow jaunts down the red carpet, the LA Times reports. The Oscar honchos reckon that’ll force fashion-obsessed viewers to watch the actual envelope-opening parts of the show to see what fashion plates like Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman are wearing.

“There is a hope that some of the people who present will be a surprise,” said an Academy rep. But stealing the red carpet’s thunder is sure to anger many who rely on it. “How likely are we to see fashion credits if these people don’t walk down the red carpet?” asked one fashion industry publicist. “And if not, what’s the point of all this effort in having a girl wear a dress?” (More Academy Awards stories.)