Thanks to Ryan Gosling, John Mulaney and, yes, Al Pacino, we’re still talking about the Oscars

Bursting with Kenergy, it was the most successful Academy Awards in years. PLUS: Campbell returns to ‘Scream,’ Chalamet needs a ‘Dune’ contract, and ‘The Wild Robot’ gets a gorgeous trailer.

Thanks to Ryan Gosling, John Mulaney and, yes, Al Pacino, we’re still talking about the Oscars
Ncuti Gatwa, Simi Liu, Ryan Gosling and Kingsley Ben-Adir perform during the 96th Oscars on March 10, 2024. / AMPAS

Is it really Friday already? That week flew by. It was a busy week in pop culture, and I definitely have the receipts to prove it. Since the last Friday edition of Popculturology, I published a Deep SNL Thoughts on Josh Brolin’s episode of Saturday Night Live, a Box Office Report on Kung Fu Panda 4 and Dune: Part Two’s success and a special edition right after the Oscars ended on Sunday night.

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I also found time to see Dune: Part Two for my third time over the weekend, this round at the Airbus IMAX at the Air and Space Museum by Dulles Airport. I highly, highly recommend seeing this movie on a top-tier IMAX theater like this one. An 86-foot screen? Absolutely.

My only complaint? The Airbus IMAX still doesn’t utilize assigned seating. It’s 2024. Showing up an hour early for a movie and having to frantically rush for a seat is bizarre. I watched countless couples — not even big groups — ask the ushers if it was possible to sit together. (Major points for running just two trailers and zero ads before the movie, though.)

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Apple TV+’s adaptation of Manhunt debuts today, dropping the first two episodes of the miniseries on the streamer. This one is on our list of shows to watch, but it’ll likely have competition with Poor Things and The Holdovers. (And maybe a New Girl rewatch that Caitlin wants to start.)

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Rochester native and New York Magazine features writer Lane Brown did a deep dive on how our shared hometown is prepping for April’s total solar eclipse. Please remember not to look at it with your naked eyes. Even if a former president did the last time.

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EVERYTHING OSCARS

Jimmy Kimmel and John Cena during the 96th Oscars. / AMPAS

The Academy has to be beyond pleased with how this year’s Oscars went. It’s almost a week later, and people are still talking about the ceremony — and not for negative reasons like in the past. (No one got slapped. No one read the wrong Best Picture winner.) If you missed Sunday night’s special edition of Popculturology, check out who won and who lost. (For the record, my shot at winning my Oscar pool was over three awards into the ceremony.)

‘Oppenheimer’ closes out awards season with Best Picture and 6 more Oscars
Christopher Nolan finally wins Best Director, Emma Stone edges out Lily Gladstone, and Ryan Gosling brings down the house with ‘I’m Just Ken.’
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How many more hosting gigs does Kimmel have in him?

Jimmy Kimmel has hosted half of the last eight Oscar ceremonies. (The other half? Three with no host, and one hosted by the trio of Regina Hall, Wanda Sykes and Amy Schumer.) It’s hard to not think of the Oscars at this point without thinking of Kimmel. How long can we expect Kimmel to keep hosting the Oscars? He has a ways to go before tying Bob Hope’s record of hosting 19 times, but Johnny Carson’s five times and even Billy Crystal’s nine times aren’t out of reach.

“You assume I’ve been asked about next year,” Kimmel told Variety when asked if he might be the ceremony’s “permanent” host. “Which is not a presumption I would ever make.” (Variety)

  • The people want Mulaney: John Mulaney’s presentation of Best Sound was one of the night’s highlights, leading to Vulture’s Jesse David Fox writing: “Mulaney will host the Oscars. It’s not a matter of if, but when. So, why not next year?” (Vulture)