2021 Oscars: Refreshingly diverse winners, but a lackluster show (review) Updated 11:58 PM; Today 10:26 PM Regina King got the 2021 Oscars off to an impassioned start with her opening remarks. (ABC/AMPAS) ABC Facebook Share On the plus side, the 2021 Oscars were historic, with a refreshingly diverse slate of winners, including “Nomadland” filmmaker Chloe Zhao, the first woman of color to win a Best Director prize, earning recognition. That spirit of inclusion was long overdue, and felt especially welcome at a time when the country continues to grapple with issues of racial justice. And that’s about it for the good news. The 93rd Academy Awards ceremony was supposed to be the grand finale of this strange awards season. The pandemic has forced such previous broadcasts as the Golden Globes to pivot to video-conferenced appearances by farflung nominees. It’s a challenge that has, at its worst, produced shows hampered by technical foul-ups. Even when the remote approach has been smoother, TV awards shows have felt about as glamorous as an office Zoom meeting.