"Reliable demo and total-viewer projections won't be available until midday, but ABC's coverage of the 79th annual Academy Awards on Sunday averaged an overnight household rating in line with its previous four-year average," reports Variety. "According to Nielsen's metered-market overnights, the kudocast averaged a 27.7 rating/42 share, up slightly from last year's 27.1/40 and 2003's 25.5/37, but below the scores of 2004 (29.8/43) and 2005 (30.1/43). Last year's show, in which 'Crash' took home the top prize, averaged 38.94 million viewers overall — the second smallest audience since 1988. This year's show should top 40 million in the nationals, making it the season's most-watched entertainment telecast."