Today, ABC and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced that the 90th Oscars telecast will now begin at 8:00 p.m. EST/5:00 p.m. PST on Sunday, March 4, 2018. That's a half-hour earlier than prior telecasts. (Last year's show went on for 3.5-plus hours, so everyone who has to wake up early for work on Monday should thank the Academy for this change.)
Also, starting at 6:30 p.m. EST, the Oscars Pre-Show will return, with the 90-minute special featuring interviews with nominees, presenters and performers.
Jimmy Kimmel is returning to host, and he has SO MUCH MATERIAL to work with from last year's "La La Land"/"Moonlight" snafu to all of the sexual harassment craziness this year. And that's not even mentioning Trump, who will surely be mentioned anyway.
ABC just shared a promo for the big event, mocking its own Best Picture mixup:The 2018 Oscar nominations won't be announced until January 23. However, awards season is officially starting this week. The Critics' Choice Awards: Nominations will be announced on December 6. The Golden Globe nominations will follow on December 11, with the Golden GLobes handed out Jan. 7. Check out a full awards calendar.