The Oscars Telecast Is (Pretty Much) Guaranteed To End Before Bedtime This Year — Here's Why

Oscars host Jimmy Kimmel will be going live with his monologue an hour earlier than usual. 

ABC announced Thursday that its annual presentation of the Academy Awards — which typically begins at 8 pm on the East Coast and often doesn't end until close to midnight — will start at 7 pm EDT/4 pm PDT.

But wait, there's more! The three-and-a-half hour telecast will be followed by a new episode of Abbott Elementary (which kicks off its strike-delayed third season with a one-hour premiere on Wednesday, Feb. 7).

The 96th Oscars are set for Sunday, March 10, with Kimmel returning for his fourth hosting stint. Additionally, Jimmy Kimmel Live! executive producer/co-head writer Molly McNearney, who is Kimmel's wife, also will return as an Oscars EP.

"I always dreamed of hosting the Oscars exactly four times," Kimmel said in an earlier statement. McNearney added, also via statement: "I'm especially honored to be part of the Oscars team this year, when we are all eager to be back together and back at work."

The 2023 Oscars telecast saw its audience rise for the second year in a row. The awards ceremony averaged 18.8 million total viewers (per Nielsen finals), up 13 percent from 2022's tally. In the demo, the ceremony drew a 4.0 rating, up two tenths from 2022.

TVLine readers gave the ceremony an average grade of "C+."

Are you relieved the Oscars will be airing at an earlier time this year? Hoping other award shows follow suit? Sound off in Comments.