Oscar Ratings Down, But Still Respectable

The final numbers are in: Despite lukewarm reviews, the 2011 Oscars telecast managed to attract around 37.6 million viewers last night.

The 83rd Academy Awards was down nearly 10 percent from last year's broadcast, according to Vulture. The three-hour show, hosted by young 'uns Anne Hathaway and James Franco, earned a 24.6 household rating/37 share on Sunday night, down from last year's 26.5 rating but still beating both the 2008 and 2009 telecasts.

Still, it seems the Academy's "younger hosts = younger viewers" theory paid off. According to Variety, the show was down just 5 percent in the 18–34 demographic.

Despite the lower ratings, this year's Oscars are yet again the year's most-watched non-football program. It earned an 11.7 rating with viewers 18-49, down 11 percent from 2010's show. ABC promises more detailed ratings -- such as how viewership changed hourly -- tomorrow.