The 94th Academy Awards are March 27 returning with three co-hosts, two of which are African American women: Regina Hall, Wanda Sykes, and Amy Schumer. Let’s not forget that the award ceremony is produced by Will Packer and Shayla Cowan.

We are predicting that the show will be well-received despite the controversy regarding the trimmed-down event due to the pandemic. This year in an effort to keep safe, all attendees in the audience need to show proof of vaccination and at least two negative PCR tests. Performers and presenters, however, will only be required to undergo testing before taking the stage.

The list of familiar faces taking the stage on Oscars night continues to grow but at the time of filing confirmed presenters include Daniel Kaluuya (“Get Out”) who won the best supporting actor award (2021) for his role as Fred Hampton in “Judas and the Black Messiah,” Zoë Kravitz (Catwoman in “The Batman”), Lupita Nyong’o who won an Oscar for her feature film debut in “12 Years A Slave,” Rosie Perez who was nominated for the best supporting actress (1993) for “Fearless,” Wesley Snipes (“White Men Can’t Jump”) and Chris Rock, a two-time Oscar host who will soon be seen in David O. Russell’s next film.

This past weekend Oscar watchers followed two awards ceremonies that often predict key categories. The Directors Guild of America Awards awarded Jane Campion (“The Power of the Dog”) as best director. And across the pond, the BAFTA Awards, held at London’s Royal Albert Hall, “The Power of the Dog” also won the best film. In the documentary category “Summer of Soul” won. Will Smith won best actor for “King Richard,” Afro-Latina and proud lesbian, Ariana DeBose won best supporting actress for “West Side Story.”

The award season is coming to an end, with Oscar voting getting underway March 17. The industry buzz to win best picture is leaning towards Jane Campion’s “The Power of the Dog,” which is currently playing on Netflix.

The Academy Awards will air live from the Dolby Theatre, in Los Angeles, on ABC on March 27 at 8 p.m. E.T./5 p.m. P.T.

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