[E. Van Dril](/columnists/E.+Van+Dril)  
2/25/2008

The Academy Awards are expected to experience their lowest ratings in 20 years, when they are released later today.

Following the lowest-rated Emmys in 18 years, a strike-caused, non-existent Golden Globes, and a disappointing Grammy Awards show, it appeared that the Academy Awards were in for a disappointing night.  
  
But it appears that Sunday night's Oscars did worse than expected, hitting a record low, according to *The Hollywood Reporter*.  
  
According to ABC's early household metered market oversights, the Awards reportedly averaged a 21.9 rating and 33 share. These numbers are a 21 percent drop from the 2007 Awards, and the lowest in 20 years. More accurate numbers should be available late Monday.  
  
Last night's Oscar telecast, where *No Country for Old Men* dominated many notable awards, was expected to underperform because of the lack of box office success of many of the nominated films.  
  
Another factor playing into the show's underperformance was the WGA strike, which allowed only two weeks of preparation for those involved. But the strike figures also to have played a factor in that there weren't many promotional opportunities, because hit ABC shows such as *Desperate Housewives* and *Grey's Anatomy* have run out of new episodes.