The nominations for this year’s Academy Awards were scheduled to be announced at 8:38am (Eastern time) this morning. On my drive in to work at about 8:20 am, NPR had a segment with Kim Masters of The Hollywood Reporter where she was asked to make a predictions about what would be announced.

I just don’t see the point of making predictions 20 minutes before an event unless you are taking bets or something tangible hangs upon it. Otherwise, it is just an exercise in seeing if this one person is good at predictions but who really cares if she is or not?

Predictions made before the balloting begins may have some value in helping those who get a say to evaluate which films seem to be worth voting for. But predictions after the voting has closed and a few minutes before the results are announced? Totally pointless and a waste of airtime.

If you are interested in comparing her predictions with the actual nominations, here is the announcement.