Hoping for greater participation, the academy this year mailed screening tapes to its members, who could view them at home in a 10-day period. In theory, yes. Tapes inevitably went missing, or arrived late. The procedure, academy officials admit, did not go as smoothly as they hoped. And I can't get away, into a room with six or seven people and judge.
Time is precious.
All 10,000 academy members could nominate by paper ballot their choices for the superlatives in the past season. The top five vote-getters' names went to the panel for final consideration. Altering the judging procedure this year, he warned, could change that. In years past, underdogs have won awards, sometimes saving from the ax critically acclaimed, yet low-rated shows. The academy will act responsibly, Marshall insisted.