Oscar Ratings Up

The 81st Annual Academy Awards drew 36.3 million viewers to ABC Sunday night — that’s an increase of 4.3 million people from last year’s telecast, which remains the lowest-rated ever. The Alphabet’s official red carpet pre-show saw a matching 13 percent increase in year-to-year audience, averaging 24.3 million viewers. While Barbara Walters’ annual pre-show special (11.6 million viewers) was on par with its 2008 performance, Jimmy Kimmel’s after-show special with guest Mel Gibson (4.3 million) increased its crowd by 16 percent, according to EW.com.