On Feb 19, entertainment website TheWrap reported that the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences had announced a slight hiccup in history. They would change the title of the 85th Annual Academy Awards to just The Oscars.

The name ‘Oscar’ is officially associated with the golden statue since 1939, though history has disputes about its origin. One fact lists Bette Davis, who named the award on his first husband Harmon Oscar Nelson.

Another credits Walt Disney when he thanked the Academy for his Oscar in 1939. Yet another origin story of 1931 has Academy Executive Secretary Margaret Herrick’s reference to the statue resemblance to her “Uncle Oscar.”

Regardless of ownership, the name did catch on. Now, in a bid to raise viewership the majesty of perhaps the world’s most renowned film establishment is held hostage by television sales and audience turnout.

Co-producer Neil Meron told TheWrap that they (meaning the AMPAS) are “rebranding” the event. “We’re not calling it ‘the 85th annual Academy Awards,’ which keeps it mired somewhat in a musty way. It’s called The Oscars.”

“It’ll be like the Grammys,” he added. “The Grammys don’t get a number, and neither will the Oscars.”

Meron’s argument, however, is bested in the same article, which points out that the Grammys were in fact still labeled as “The 55th Grammys” on their website.

Sometimes, history is better left unchanged. — Farheen Jawaid & Mohammad Kamran Jawaid