It always amuses me when people criticize the Oscars for being self-aggrandizing: an industry patting itself on the back and inflating its accomplishments. Um… Yeah. It’s the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences giving awards for outstanding film achievements. I think most industries have a way of recognizing achievement and accomplishment among their ranks.
For example, the National Alliance for Insurance Education and Research recognizes the work of Certified Service Representatives. From their web site: The Outstanding CSR of the Year Award is one of the greatest professional honors a customer service representative can receive. It confers recognition of the highest order – an acknowledgment of the recipient’s dedication and ability, commitment, and outstanding achievement.
I’m pretty sure the reason we don’t see a CSR awards ceremony on TV is because no one cares what they’re wearing or how their hair is done, or whether the winners remember to thank their spouses. Customer service just isn’t glamorous, even though we all appreciate it–particularly from insurance companies, who probably get a lot more of our dollars every year than movies. I could be wrong. It’s just a guess.
However, there is worldwide interest in Oscar. The ceremony is televised to more than eighty countries, and even if viewership is down compared to other years, a significant number of people still tune in. Probably a lot of them, like me, have seen only one or two of the nominated films, and rarely any of the foreign films or documentaries.
Why do we watch? It’s the fashion! (Didn’t Salma Hayek and Jessica Alba look fantastic? Hair and dresses.) The hot men! (Come on, even if you don’t like him, George Clooney is Hollywood sexy.) The unexpected! (Thank you, Jennifer Garner; good recovery.) The front row! (Two words: Jack Nicholson.) The acceptance speeches (Clooney: amusing. Ang Lee: smart. Reese Witherspoon: adorable. Philip Seymour Hoffman: moving). The opening! (Not bad, with a parade of past hosts turning down the job, until Jon Stewart was coerced into it by…George Clooney.) The reactions of the losers! (Kudos, Dolly Parton. You’ve got class.) The upsets! (Best picture and best song.) The political humor!
Oh, wait. THAT’S what was missing this year. Other than a Dick Cheney shooting joke, no fun was had at Washington, D.C.’s expense. And this from a host who has built his career on having fun at Washington, D.C.’s expense. And… I’m grateful. Because I don’t think Washington, D.C., is funny these days. I don’t want to chortle over George W. Bush. I don’t want the world, who’s pissed off enough at us, to think we excuse Washington, D.C., with a nudge, a wink, and a good punch line.
Relations between Hollywood and Washington have always seemed to vacillate between anxiously congenial and downright furious. Why the silence on Sunday night? Are celebrities afraid of Washington? Or do they think Washington is no longer relevant? Either option has disturbing implications.
But whatever, nobody can dish out quite as effective a snub as a Hollywood star.
When you and Tim win…do us all proud.
Oh, honey, I would weep copiously and do a lip lock on Brad Pitt. Or Halle Berry. Anybody but Tom Cruise.
If you and Halle Berry make out I get first dibs on pictures.
Seriously did you see the CSR winner this year – DEAD SEXY!
Also is Tom Cruise even invited to these things anymore? I didn’t see him or Katie.
And that Dolly IS a class act. She is gracious, and just — well awesome!
I also thought that George Clooney’s speech was pretty good.
I realized Sunday night that the members of the Academy are officially insane and completely useless. They are on my boycott list…I no longer acknowledge the existence of Oscar.