Kimmel spoke to The Hollywood Reporter earlier this week about “The Slap” and Oscar-related duties he’ll have come Sunday. The interview avoided the obvious topics, including why so many former viewers loathe the show.

That might make for a meaty anecdote while challenging Kimmel, a late-night propagandist. Instead, they threw the former “Man Show” host the usual curveballs.

One THR question inspired a curious answer. …

“There’s a lot of focus put on the ratings of these award shows and it’s used as a gauge in some ways, but it has almost nothing to do with the award shows themselves [emphasis added] and everything to do with television viewing habits in general.”

[Nonsense. They have everything to do with the award shows themselves, which have grown more pompous, self-important, and sneering toward their shrinking audiences. Goldie Hawn figured it out, so why cant’s Kimmel and AMPAS? — Ed]