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Hello, communicators:

The 93d Academy Awards broadcast live from Los Angeles’ Union Station last night, forgoing its typical home at the Dolby Theater in favor of a more intimate set. The awards show featured a smaller, socially-distanced crowd and a stripped-down ceremony that did away with the pomp and highly-produced set pieces typical of an Oscars broadcast.

With fewer award presenters, the show spent more time providing context on the nominees, their background and their work. There was no music playing off winners during long acceptance speeches, and presenters often spoke to the nominees in the room directly while presenting the awards. Winners were able to share personal stories about their work, their families and their struggles.

“Hollywood’s biggest night wasn’t exactly the movie unto itself that producers Jesse Collins, Stacey Sher and Steven Soderbergh promised,” reports Deadline. “However, no one took that very seriously, and the resulting relatively fast-paced and deeply personal ceremony actually might have been something more vital—a true Hollywood reinvigoration.”

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