One of my annual rituals since the beginning of television or time, whichever came first, is taking in the Academy Awards. Sunday’s 80th presentation I thought rather drab. One of the issues is in not knowing the new crop of performers or much about them. Jon Stewart the host of 80th Academy came out flat and stayed that way. He is much more suited to the political subtle innuendoes of the day, than the e-talk entertainment scene. Bring back Ellen DeGeneres she’s been the most entertaining and capable host as of late. As for the dresses and gowns very conservative in style, nothing outrageous at all, whatever happen to Cher? There was an absence of any life form like streakers, or any Jack Palace push up’s, or any hint of protests; except for Alex Gibney’s (“Taxi to the Dark Side”) statement regarding torture. The two musical categories for original song and score had a drought, and where left wanting, for some spark of musical creativity. Dwelling on this 80th Anniversary took me back to my youth and the 50th Academy Awards Anniversary. Charlie Chaplin who had been ban from entering the United States in 1952 after 38 years in the States; was accused of "un-American activities" as a suspected communist sympathizer He briefly and triumphantly returned in April 1972, with his wife, to receive an Honorary Oscar, and the longest standing ovation in Academy Award history, lasting a full five minutes. I mention this because not that much has changed over 30 years. Today you could step out of a shower with a towel around your head, and be picked up as a terrorist, because they didn’t like your You Tube material. So much for the 2008 Oscars and our age of paranoia!
4 comments:
yeah that pretty much sums it up! Poor choice for host, and even the winners speaches were kinda drab. It appeared everything was just thrown together with very little thought as to what the viewers perseption would be.
I thought that it was just another reality show from the little that I saw.
I have watched the awards over the years, but missed this one. Now I am glad I did not
bother to take the time to view it. I enjoy the role of the host, if she/he has the gift
of humor. Otherwise it can be boring as well as lengthy.
Boy, I sure agree with you. What a bore. The Nielsen Media Research stated that the 2008 Oscarcast earned the lowest national household ratings ever (since 1953) when the show first televised. It was also the least watched show since this sort of tallying began in 1974. They crow they still had 32 million viewers, most of those 32 million were bored to death, and unless something changes will not come back next year. The movies nominated reflect Hollywoods complete disconnect with the movie gowing public. Hollywood has their own agenda and be dammed if the movie gowing public doesn't like it. Jon Stewart's political humour is on his show, but not at lenght for the Oscars - we want crazy fun. That he is not. Bring back Ellen or Whoopie, that's crazy fun. Patsy
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