How #OscarsSoWhite will affect the awards this weekend

 The Oscars are this Sunday, but there is a whole lot more going on inside the Dolby Theater over in Hollywood than just acceptance speeches. The all-white field of nominees adds an undercurrent to the show that will be interesting to watch, to say the least.

Wesley Morris is a films critic with The New York Times. He talked with Marketplace host Kai Ryssdal on how #OscarsSoWhite could change things for this weekend’s award show. For starters, he doesn’t think the Oscars will be that fun, especially when having the very necessary #OscarsSoWhite conversation. 

“It’s going to be extremely uncomfortable,” Morris said. “I think at some point it has to turn into a production that smoothly aligns with the giving out of awards. You can’t keep dinging every winner for not being of color when that’s not their fault.”

Morris also noted he’s looking out to see how Chris Rock will perform in the host role. 

Click the audio player above for the full interview.