Oscar nominations postponed because of LA fires
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The announcement of this year’s Academy Award nominations has been postponed due to the destructive wildfires currently sweeping through the Los Angeles area. Originally scheduled for Friday, January 17, the nominations will now be revealed on January 19. The voting period for the nearly 10,000 members of the Academy, which began on January 8, has also been extended by two days and will now close on January 14.
Many prominent figures in the entertainment industry have been affected by the fires, including former Oscars host Billy Crystal, and celebrities such as Paris Hilton, James Woods, and Miles Teller. In a message to Academy members on Wednesday, Academy CEO Bill Kramer expressed his condolences, writing, “We want to offer our deepest condolences to those who have been impacted by the devastating fires across Southern California. So many of our members and industry colleagues live and work in the Los Angeles area, and we are thinking of you.”
The fires, which erupted in the Hollywood Hills near iconic landmarks such as the Hollywood Walk of Fame, have caused widespread devastation since Tuesday. They have disrupted both the daily lives of LA residents and the film and television industry in the area.
Conan O’Brien is scheduled to host the 2025 Oscars on March 2 at the Dolby Theater on Hollywood Boulevard. However, the ongoing fires have prompted the cancellation or rescheduling of several major events. For instance, the Critics Choice Awards, which were set to take place on January 12 in Santa Monica, have been moved to January 26. Joey Berlin, the CEO of the Critics Choice Association, remarked on the tragic impact the fires have had, stating, “This unfolding tragedy has already had a profound impact on our community. All our thoughts and prayers are with those battling the devastating fires and with all who have been affected.”
Additionally, the Bafta Tea Party, a networking event organized by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, was set to occur on January 11 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills but has now been canceled. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) also postponed its nominations announcement, which was originally scheduled for January 9.
Amid the chaos, actress Jean Smart, known for her role in Hacks, publicly urged TV networks and streaming platforms to reconsider broadcasting upcoming awards shows in light of the disaster. She suggested that broadcasters donate the revenue they would have earned from airing the shows to the victims of the fires and the firefighters working tirelessly to contain the flames. In a similar gesture of solidarity, the Thursday premiere of Back in Action, a comedy starring Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx, was canceled. Netflix issued a statement saying, “We recognize many in our industry and their loved ones are currently affected and our thoughts are with them at this time.”
In the wake of the fires, comedian Margaret Cho announced she would be canceling her weekend performances in LA, urging her followers to “stay safe.”
The wildfires have also caused significant disruptions in TV production. FilmLA, the organization responsible for issuing permits for filming in Los Angeles, issued an alert advising that due to the local state of emergency, “personnel resources ordinarily available to support film production may not be available.” As a result, several TV shows, including Fallout (season two), Abbott Elementary, and Grey’s Anatomy, have paused production. NBCUniversal also suspended filming for multiple shows, including Loot, Ted, Suits: LA, Happy’s Place, and the Golden Globe-winning Hacks.
Several unscripted television shows have also been affected, with productions of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Price Is Right, and After Midnight on CBS being halted. In their place, reruns are being aired. America’s Got Talent announced on Instagram that auditions scheduled for Sunday had been postponed, with a new audition date to be announced soon. The show added, “Your safety is our top priority.”
The wildfires in Los Angeles continue to have a profound impact, reshaping the entertainment industry’s schedule and causing concern for the safety of the region’s residents and workers. The extended delays and cancellations are a testament to the severity of the situation, with the industry showing solidarity for those affected by the crisis.
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