Podcast Summary: How to De-Age the Oscars with Amelia Dimoldenberg

Podcast: The Town with Matthew Belloni (The Ringer)
Date: March 13, 2026
Guests: Amelia Dimoldenberg (Chicken Shop Date, Oscars’ Social Media Ambassador), Host: Matt Belloni (Puck)

Episode Overview

This bonus episode dives into the ongoing challenge of making the Oscars relevant to younger generations, particularly Gen Z and young millennials. Host Matt Belloni is joined by Amelia Dimoldenberg, known for her hit YouTube series Chicken Shop Date and her third year as the Oscars’ official social media ambassador and red carpet correspondent. The conversation covers how modern creators bring new energy to legacy institutions, the evolving business of being a digital celebrity, and practical ways the Academy can better connect with a rapidly changing audience.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Oscars and the Elusive Young Audience

• The Challenge: The Oscars’ ratings have improved post-pandemic, especially among viewers 18-49 (+19%) and 18-34 (+28%) ([00:32]), but overall viewership remains below pre-pandemic levels. The show is moving exclusively to YouTube in 2029 to chase a younger demographic ([01:40]).
• Why It’s Difficult: Young people consume entertainment as clips and highlights, not as appointment TV events ([04:21]).

Quote:
“Do young people care about the Oscars? …It’s your mother and your grandmother’s Oscars. How can you get young people to care about this?”
— Matt Belloni [04:07]

2. Amelia Dimoldenberg’s Role and Approach

• Title Evolution: Amelia isn’t just a social media face; she’s also the official red carpet correspondent, bringing her trademark wit and research to interviews ([03:27]).
• Making Red Carpet Fun:
  • She relishes the unique opportunity that the Oscars red carpet provides: every big star passes by, giving her rare access ([05:56]).
  • She extensively preps for each nominee, personalizing questions and striving for a conversational, off-the-cuff tone—even if it means asking about biscuits or recalling deep-cut facts ([07:33]).

Quote:
“I’m revising for my exams. Like, it’s very detailed… in the end I just forget all of it and just go, ‘oh, so what’s your favorite biscuit?’”
— Amelia Dimoldenberg [07:33]

3. The Rise of Creators in the Hollywood Ecosystem

• Changing Perceptions: A decade ago, appearing on YouTube was a career risk for A-listers. Now, creators like Amelia are central to promotion, and publicists proactively approach her ([09:16]).
• Impact on Guest Personas: Her interviews have “re-imagined” public perceptions of stars like Andrew Garfield and Jack Harlow, showing more personality than traditional press (“That’s actually their real personality… I love being able to bring that out.” — [10:52]).

4. Business of Being a Modern Creator

• Operations: Amelia runs a small business (three employees, multiple managers, stylists, publicists) and balances YouTube ad revenue (used to fund the show) with outside commercial deals ([12:44]).
• Prioritizing Authenticity: She refuses sponsorships on Chicken Shop Date to maintain authenticity ([13:43]).
• Owning the IP: Retaining ownership of her show is her “best business decision” and advice to others ([14:52]).

Quote:
“I would always say… owning your IP is just, I think, key. And so many content creators don’t.”
— Amelia Dimoldenberg [14:52]

5. Transitioning to Traditional Media

• Feature Film: Amelia’s first movie with MGM—a rom-com inspired by her Chicken Shop Date persona—has just been announced, demonstrating creator crossover ([14:13]).
• Why Not Self-Fund?: Despite examples like Markiplier, she prefers the resources and legacy appeal of traditional studios ([15:17]).

6. The Future of the Oscars: YouTube and Beyond

• Platform Shift: Both see the value of moving to YouTube, but Belloni worries about losing older TV-only viewers and the need for a big marketing push ([18:13]).
• Education Needed: Amelia jokes about being the face of a YouTube “how-to-watch” campaign ([19:13]).

Quote:
“But I don’t think the 70 year olds that have been watching the Oscars their entire life are going to think that… there’s a friction cost…”
— Matt Belloni [18:36]

7. Making the Oscars More Relevant and Entertaining

• Musical Performances: Amelia highlights these as a draw for young viewers, though she missed Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande’s show opener due to red carpet duties ([21:18]).
• Creativity in Presentation: She advocates for “thinking outside the box”—making even art-house contenders fun and accessible on stage or in interviews ([21:47]).
• Favorite Performances: She names Jesse Buckley (Hamnet), Rose Byrne (A Fight Have Legs), and Timothée Chalamet as standouts ([22:38]).

8. Red Carpet Success Metrics

• Not Chasing Virality: Her primary goal is to reveal new, authentic sides of celebrities, not to manufacture viral moments. “If I can come away… and think, ‘they are amazing, I’ve never seen them like this’… that to me is success” ([25:21]).

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “Third time’s a charm.” — Amelia Dimoldenberg [03:25]
• “It’s like a conveyor belt of talent that just lets you… they can’t get off!” — Amelia Dimoldenberg on the Oscars red carpet [05:56]
• “Prep for Leo and then obviously it never happens… if I get Leonardo DiCaprio this year, I will literally eat my shoe.” — Amelia Dimoldenberg [08:50–09:04]
• “Now it’s probably a number one thing to do would be to go on a podcast or to go on a YouTube show…” — Amelia Dimoldenberg [09:53]
• “Owning your IP is just, I think, key.” — Amelia Dimoldenberg [14:52]
• “I’m someone who… is really interested in movies and actors and that world. I don’t watch Twitch or live streamers…” — Amelia Dimoldenberg [16:39]
• “You should be there [at the Beyoncé party], and I love her so much… Apparently people are dancing until, like, seven in the morning.” — Amelia Dimoldenberg [24:01]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment/Theme | Timestamp | |------------------------------------------------|---------------| | Introduction/Context | 00:32 – 03:25 | | Amelia’s Oscars Role/Influencer Evolution | 03:25 – 06:28 | | Making Red Carpets Fun & Prepping Interviews | 06:28 – 08:48 | | Publicist Relations & Rise of Creator Circuit | 08:48 – 10:52 | | Shaping Celeb Personas Through YouTube | 10:52 – 12:24 | | Chicken Shop Date as Business & Brand | 12:24 – 14:52 | | Developing Her Rom-Com / IP Ownership | 14:11 – 15:17 | | Thoughts on Oscars’ YouTube Move | 17:18 – 19:13 | | Making Oscars Content More Appealing | 21:18 – 22:47 | | Favorite 2026 Nominees/Films | 22:38 – 24:39 | | Parties, Networking & Red Carpet Goals | 24:01 – 25:21 | | What Success Means for Red Carpet Coverage | 25:21 – 26:14 |

Engaging Moments & Tone

• The episode is light, humorous, and self-aware, with both guests poking fun at industry traditions and influencer stereotypes.
• Amelia’s wit and candor about the business side and the quirks of the Oscars process provide insider warmth for listeners.
• Matt Belloni balances skepticism about the Academy’s youth-chasing efforts with admiration for creators like Amelia who genuinely appeal to the target demo.

Takeaway

This episode offers a candid and insightful look at the intersection of legacy Hollywood and contemporary internet culture. Through Amelia Dimoldenberg’s experience and perspective, listeners gain an understanding of how new voices are helping to “de-age” institutions like the Oscars—one authentic, slightly awkward, and highly strategic chicken shop interview at a time.