Oscar nominations postponed because of LA fires

The announcement of this year's Oscar nominations has been postponed due to the severe wildfires that are currently affecting the Los Angeles area. Originally set for January 17, the nominations will now be revealed on January 19. The voting period for the nearly 10,000 Academy members, which began on January 8, has also been extended by two days, now closing on January 14. Many individuals in the film industry, including notable figures such as Paris Hilton and James Woods, have been impacted by the ongoing fires. In a letter addressed to Academy members, Bill Kramer, the CEO of the Academy, expressed his condolences, stating, 'We want to offer our deepest condolences to those who have been impacted by the devastating fires across Southern California. ' He acknowledged that many members and colleagues live and work in the Los Angeles area and that their thoughts are with them during this challenging time. The latest fire broke out in the Hollywood Hills, close to iconic locations like Hollywood Boulevard and the Hollywood Walk of Fame, causing significant disruption for LA residents and the film and television industry since Tuesday. Conan O'Brien is scheduled to host the Oscars ceremony at the Dolby Theater on March 2. In light of the fires, the Critics Choice Awards, which were originally planned for January 12, have been rescheduled to January 26. Joey Berlin, the chief executive of the Critics Choice Association, remarked, 'This unfolding tragedy has already had a profound impact on our community. ' He conveyed that their thoughts and prayers are with those battling the fires and those affected by the devastation. Additionally, the Bafta Tea Party, a networking event organized by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, has been canceled. This event was set to take place at The Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills on January 11. Furthermore, the Writers Guild of America nominations, which were scheduled for January 9, will not occur as planned. Jean Smart, a star from the show Hacks, publicly urged television networks and streaming platforms to reconsider airing upcoming awards shows in light of the current circumstances. She suggested that broadcasters should donate the revenue they would have earned to support the victims of the fires and the firefighters. The premiere of the new film Back in Action, featuring Jamie Foxx and Cameron Diaz, has also been canceled as a gesture of solidarity. Netflix issued a statement saying, 'We recognize many in our industry and their loved ones are currently affected and our thoughts are with them at this time. ' Ben Affleck was spotted assisting his ex-wife Jennifer Garner and their children in relocating away from the fires, while another of his former partners, Jennifer Lopez, had the premiere of her movie Unstoppable canceled by Amazon MGM Studios. Universal Studios also scrapped the premiere of Wolf Man, while Paramount and Max canceled the premieres of the Robbie Williams biopic Better Man and The Pitt, respectively. Comedian Margaret Cho announced on Instagram that she had canceled her weekend performances in LA, urging everyone to 'stay safe. ' The ongoing wildfires have led to numerous television productions being halted. FilmLA, the organization responsible for issuing permits for filming in Los Angeles, issued an alert indicating that 'personnel resources ordinarily available to support film production may not be available during the local state of emergency. ' Affected shows include season two of Fallout, Abbott Elementary, and Grey's Anatomy. NBCUniversal has also suspended filming on various TV shows, including Loot, Ted, Suits: LA, Happy's Place, and the Golden Globe-winning Hacks. Several unscripted shows, such as Jimmy Kimmel Live! , The Price Is Right, and After Midnight, have also paused production, opting to air repeats instead. America's Got Talent announced on Instagram that their auditions scheduled for Sunday have been postponed, with a new audition date to be announced soon. They emphasized that 'Your safety is our top priority.