I’ll admit I nearly did a spit-take when I saw the Academy will not require Covid vaccinations to attend the Oscars next month. After all, most film and TV productions now force people to be vaxxed; the SAG Awards and Critics Choice have a mandate; and, at least in L.A. County, you can’t even get into a movie theater without a vax card.

But the more I thought about it, I actually applaud the Academy. For once, it made a decision that is likely unpopular with its members but will almost certainly result in a better Oscars telecast. Remember, only about two thirds of Americans are vaccinated. That number’s probably much higher among Academy members and Oscar nominees, but even so, there are still many stars and filmmakers who aren’t—it’s just math. Allowing those people to attend the show after a negative test will result in more stars in the room and on the stage, plain and simple, and that’s pretty much all that people tune in to the Oscars to see. At a time when viewership has reached historical lows, this show needs every possible lure.