Certainly the number of TV channels and the growing number of entertainment options might be partially responsible for the worst Oscars telecast ratings in 33 years.

Then again, you have to wonder if the product needs work.

The telecast, for one thing, lasts way too long. If they're going to go over three hours like that, throw in some football and sideline reporters.

The writer's strike, which lasted up to the last minute, couldn't have helped, either.

In addition, the host, Jon Stewart, leaves a lot of folks pining for someone funny. And he seems even more left-leaning than the award winners.

"At age 80, Oscar's heart rate is low," lamented one headline.

"Award for ratings dud goes to Oscar show," blared another.

"Maybe settling the strike in time for the Oscars wasn't such a good idea after all," Robert Bianco of USA Today said.

Ouch! Is that any way to treat an 80-year-old?

After all, doesn't most of the blame rest with the movies themselves? Box office receipts kept up well enough, thanks to ticket prices, but 2007 sure was a yawner for movies. It tells you something that the top-grossing movies were mostly sequels and TV retreads. And the movies up for Oscars were overly grim and not altogether family friendly.

An Oscars broadcast can be helped along by a better host and tighter staging.

But, bless his soul, Oscar will never be any better than the movies he celebrates.