"The show(Academy Awards)is still struggling to find a way to appeal to the older people in the room and the younger people who watch"---- Forbes Magazine
Did you take in the Academy Awards presentation last evening? It wasn't on my 'to do' list and when I did remember it was being telecast it didn't become a significant part of my night, i.e., I channel surfed. Ten years from now; no wait, one year from now how many people will be able to name two films nominated for Best Picture. The winner, The Artist, will be one. Okay, The Help might be another but other than these I doubt such creations as Moneyball will be on the tips of tongues.
Lizzie and her best friend like to see all the films prior to the big evening. One year, maybe it was in 2009, Lizzie and I along with this friend and her husband dressed as though we were on the Red Carpet. I had a faux microphone and interviewed our friends as they walked the red carpet into the theater(our home) We husbands rented a tux and the ladies had on flowing gowns wearing tiaras and long string diamond(glass) earrings. We looked and acted like morons. You know, like Hollywood stars do at the big event but it was silly fun. Of course, all of us were up for awards and in the end we were winners and had to give acceptance speeches. A fun night was had by all. We were much more respectable than say a George Clooney who when interviewed answers with cute, smart alecky responses.
There is a point to this post. Harken back to the days of Bob Hope emceeing the AA's. Think of Lauren Bacall, Henry Fonda and Jimmy Stewart. Thanks to my pal, Jude, he reminded me that Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck would be in the audience. Who can ever forget the sophistication of a Grace Kelly? These people were icons. Even Elizabeth Taylor made the list for elegance. Does a star add to their resume' by having ten or so husbands? And who did I see when the crowd was panned? Oh, Sandra Bullock was there as was Jennifer Anniston but they aren't Jimmy Cagney and Kathryn Hepburn. They stars of today are more like Cagney and Lacey. Showing on another channel opposite the Awards last evening was a film from the Sixties called 'Whatever Happened To Baby Jane" starring Joan Crawford and Bette Davis. It was a movie about a washed up former Hollywood child star(Davis) who was mentally demented and how she mistreated her sister. Davis was nominated for the best actress award for this 1962 film. It was compelling and sad and interestingly well acted. Crawford and Davis were never on my favorites list but they were solid actresses.
When I was a kid our family gathered around the black and white and anxiously awaited the awards show. It was a big deal. Not so, anymore. We used to fawn over Hollywood stars. Today, members of Tinsel Town fawn over themselves. I submit that the Academy Awards Show will go the way of the Miss America Pageant. Maybe it's because Bert Parks is dead and whoever the host is can't handle the duties. Or, we don't like the modern day rendition of 'There she is, Miss America'. Think I'm wrong on this? Okay then, who were the male and female hosts of the 2012 Miss America Pageant? If you want to cheat scroll to the bottom of this post.** Better yet, who was crowned Miss America in 2012? Unless you are her mom and dad you don't know.
One of the sad things about growing older is we see the flaws in others, especially the Hollywood types. In a politicized world they've become for 'fly over people' arrogant and condescending. If not why would a Michael Moore be so lionized by members of the Academy? Why would Leonard DeCaprio be a spokesperson for the big bag of wind, Al Gore. Know what would have really impressed me at last night's show? If all the attendees in the audience, at the same time, and at the request of Billy Crystal would have pulled out their check books and forked over cash to our president to pay their fair share in taxes. That would have sent a message that would have reverberated to the ends of the earth. It's apparent to me the folks on the West Coast have accomplished what the old axiom says, "they've made their bed and now they have to sleep in it". When I was a youngster, around six or seven, I was deeply in love with two starlets and Marilyn Monroe wasn't one of them. Somebody bring back Veronica Lake and Joan Caulfield, please!
**Chris Harrison and Brook Burke
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