On page 188 of the 30th anniversary edition, Puzo writes about Johnny Fontane being nominated for an academy award for his role in the Wolz war movie. Johnny was depressed because "he was not asked to sing one of the songs nominated for the Oscar at the CEREMONY THAT WOULD BE TELEVISED NATIONALLY (emphasis added)".

But this was when? 1946? Television had barely been invented. I don't think there was anything televised nationally back then.