Did hard times play a factor in Sunday’s Oscar bounce? Despite the lack of blockbuster contenders and a rookie host, ratings for the Academy Awards was up on both sides of the border. Good news (finally), broadcasters. Seems people are doing what they do when times are tough–staying home and watching television.In Canada, The 81st

Oscar put on the right show for the right times Sunday night. Gone was the cynicism and edge that has fallen flat in recent years. Instead, led by straight ahead host Hugh Jackman, these were the singing, dancing, Yes We Can Academy Awards, less of an Oscar show and more of a good old fashioned

With few blockbusters in the mix, little drama about the outcome and an untested, non comic host (Hugh Jackman), Sunday’s Academy Award telecast is shaping up to be the lowest rated ever.Who thinks so? Advertisers, for one. As reported in Mediaweek, two ad giants, L’Oreal Paris and troubled automaker General Motors, have pulled out of