Oscars organisers are on the hunt for a new creative team to oversee the 2016 show following the departure of Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, who have produced the annual film ceremony for the past three years.
Meron tweeted on Thursday that he and Zadan “would like to thank The Academy”. His representatives confirmed to Variety that the pair had ended their stint in charge to pursue other interests.
ending 3 year deal producing #Oscars, its an honor to say "We'd like to thank The Academy" @TheAcademy @craigzadan pic.twitter.com/byNessAaoN
— Neil Meron (@neilmeron) March 26, 2015
Zadan and Meron oversaw a run which saw the show presented by three different hosts: Seth MacFarlane, Ellen DeGeneres and Neil Patrick Harris. MacFarlane’s 2013 stint, which featured jokes about female nudity and domestic violence, was dubbed the “meanest” in history despite boosting viewing figures, while DeGeneres’s turn in the hotseat was seen by the largest entertainment audience in a decade but also picked up mixed reviews.
Harris’s debut last month saw viewing figures drop by 16% with just 36.6 million people – the lowest numbers in six years – tuning in to watch Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Birdman triumph in four categories. Even so, Zadan and Meron’s tenure is largely being seen as a success in an era of declining TV audiences: it seems unlikely the show will ever again scale the heights of 1998, when a record 57.25 million tuned in to watch Titanic win 11 gongs.
“Craig and Neil have been wonderful creative partners over the last three years, contributing some of the most innovative and memorable Oscar moments,” said Cheryl Boone-Isaacs, president of Oscars organiser the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. “They are true showmen with enormous talent and expertise. We’re looking forward to seeing the exciting projects they have in the works.”
Known for their work as producers on musical films such as Chicago and US television extravaganzas such as NBC’s Peter Pan Live on the NBC network, Zadan and Meron brought music and dance back to the Oscars, notably with last year’s Wizard of Oz medley and this year’s Lady Gaga tribute for the 50th anniversary of The Sound of Music. “Hoping that whoever produces the Oscars next year will retain our innovations,” tweeted Zadan earlier this month.
Hoping that whoever produces the #Oscars next year will retain our innovations: #TeamOscar program & reading all 24 nom on Oscar nom morning
— Craig Zadan (@craigzadan) March 8, 2015
