Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 30, 1990 TAG: 9003300416
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES LENGTH: Short
Hollywood's annual award gala drew its glitzy band of movie stars, directors and producers, but failed to lure a boffo TV audience, registering its weakest ratings in three years.
Preliminary ratings figures released Tuesday by ABC showed the 62nd Academy Awards scored a 27.9 rating, meaning it was viewed in less than 26 million U.S. homes.
The figures indicate that 48 percent of all television sets in use were tuned to the show, according the A.C. Nielsen Co. estimates.
Last year's Oscars show, which featured a chancy duet between Rob Lowe and Snow White, was seen in nearly 27 million homes. The 1988 telecast also was more popular than Monday's edition.
The broadcast was marred by an annoying sound glitch during a satellite feed from Moscow and was characterized by several on-screen comments critical of nomination omissions.
Television critics were mostly kind in their reviews of the show, although some said it was too long and too conventional.
The broadcast ran 3 hours, 34 minutes.
Overseas segments also were shown from England, Japan, Australia and Argentina, designed to show the film industry's global influence.
It was the longest show since the 1984 program, which ran 3 hours, 42 minutes.
by CNB