The Oscar tent just got bigger and so has interest in the March 7, 2010, show. For the first time in six decades, the Academy Awards will have 10 Best Picture nominees, twice the normal number.

Expanding the field should allow for blockbusters; if the change had come last year, "The Dark Knight" surely would have made the cut. So might have "WALL-E," "Doubt," "Revolutionary Road" or "Iron Man."

The move could (and should) pave the way for "Up" to score a Best Picture nomination in addition to the animated feature nod.

In recent years, the nominees have tilted toward arthouse or smaller releases that weren't always seen by wide audiences. Consider the contenders for the 81st Academy Awards: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "Frost/Nixon," "Milk," "The Reader" and winner "Slumdog Millionaire."

When it comes to the ratings, the Oscars typically do the best when a Best Picture nominee is a commercial and critical favorite, as with "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," which swept the honors in early 2004.

Add to that a dandy unpredictable Best Picture race and suddenly East Coast audiences have another reason to stay up past midnight.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has found a way to (further) trump the Golden Globes, which splits its top award into two -- for drama and for musical or comedy.

Change is good, and this one could open some slots for "The Road" and Rob Marshall's "Nine," assuming they live up to their promise, and I somehow think they will.

No matter how many nominees, of course, someone will complain that his favorite was omitted. If given the choice, I might have voted for six acting nominees rather than 10 Best Picture contenders, but the Academy has precedent for expanding the field for its crown jewel.

Announcing the change, Sid Ganis, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, was flanked by posters with the names of all 10 nominees for Best Picture of 1939.

On one placard: "Dark Victory," "Gone With the Wind," "Goodbye, Mr. Chips," "Love Affair" and "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." On the other: "Ninotchka," "Of Mice and Men," "Stagecoach," "The Wizard of Oz" and "Wuthering Heights."

Now, it's up to 2009 to match those 10 terrific titles.At least one Web site, thewrap.com, is speculating about Best Picture contenders. Its early dozen: "Shutter Island," "A Serious Man," "The Informant," "Precious," "Broken Embraces," "Nine," "Brothers," "Invictus," "The Lovely Bones," "Biutiful," "Avatar" and "Up."

Proving how much the year is backloaded, only "Up" has opened.