So, how did the biggest awards show of the year go, ratings-wise? Many critics predicted that this year’s broadcast would not be a big ratings hit, but boy were they wrong. Viewership for this year’s Academy Awards ceremony averaged 39.9 million viewers, which is about 1 million more than last year, according to Nielsen estimates. Most critics and viewers were not too kind, saying that Ellen DeGeneres’ hosting job was so-so, the broadcast ran too long, and the show was a bore overall. All that aside, seems people are still interested in the Oscars—and a million more were interested this year. If you hung in there for the almost four-hour tour, then you deserve your own miniature statuette for going the distance. Even with the swell in viewership, turns out the broadcast is no big winner in the scheme of Oscars past. The 1998 Oscars drew 55.2 million. I made it about half-way through, then checked out the results online this morning. Heck, with enough Internet coverage of the ceremony, you can even catch video highlights and bypass the snooze-worthy moments.