Oscars and Globes make me bipolar
Why, you ask? I’ll tell you. It’s the hosts. Back and forth and up and down – I’m happy, I’m sad, I’m…dizzy. But it looks like the dust has settled for the main shows this year – the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes both have hosts. But how do we feel about those hosts? Let’s find out.
The Depressive
This honor goes to Billy Crystal as host of the Oscars. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against Crystal and enjoyed his schtick when he hosted the show 172 years in a row. But after Brett Ratner stuck his giant foot in his mouth, causing his
Billy Crystal…stepping up to the plate
withdrawal as producer of the show and Eddie Murphy’s immediate bail I was hoping for some fireworks. My initial misgivings about Murphy hosting had given way to anticipation – maybe he was going to bring some zing to the proceedings.
When it all fell apart I was disappointed, but also excited to see what such chaos might bring to the broadcast. Surely things would be different now! They had to get a producer and a host in such a short time! Oh, the glorious anarchy of it all!
Alas, it was not meant to be and my dreams of an Oscar broadcast that broke the mold were dashed. Brian Grazer stepping in as producer made me nervous, but Billy Crystal stepping up to the plate as host sealed the deal – it’s going to be the same old, same old. Sigh.
It’s not that I don’t understand, I do. When in a pinch it’s always wise to go with the tested, the tried and true, the familiar. It’s definitely the most prudent move by the Academy. But it’s so safe, so boring, so depressing. I’ll still watch, and for the most part I’m sure I’ll enjoy. But in the back of my mind will be visions of the delicious, shocking chaos that might have been. The kind of chaos that would bring audiences flocking back to watch the fireworks at the Oscars.
Oh, well, maybe next year.
The Manic
I would never leave you all on such a down note. There’s good news to be had! After taking a beating last year for being, well, funny, Ricky Gervais has actually been invited back to host the Golden Globes! And he’s accepted! It wasn’t that NBC didn’t want him back, it was the Hollywood Foreign Press (whose show it is) that balked. They really didn’t like Gervais
Oh Ricky you're so fine…
picking on the stars in attendance at last years event. The stars agreed. They don’t want to be anything but fawned over at these public awards spectacles and Gervais simply didn’t provide the ass kissing to which they are accustomed. Boo-fricking-hoo.
Even my beloved Robert Downey, Jr. had his undies in a bundle over Gervais. While causing me some momentary cognitive dissonance I decided to stand firm for snark over celebrity. Downey and the rest need to grow up and realize that they are the most privileged of the privileged. The rest of the world watches them live large every single day while a lot of people in this country are worried about losing their jobs or their homes. Do we like to see someone have some fun at the expense of pampered celebrities? You bet we do!
Word is that the ‘industry’ (you know, the rich, famous people) feel that Gervais makes the show all about him, instead of being a proper celebration of the stars. Bullshit. Or not. I don’t care why he does the things he does – he’s funny and not concerned with celebrity brown nosing and I, for one, look forward to watching the show this year.
Last year I actually missed the broadcast in a stupor of apathy. I didn’t care, I was saving my tolerance for fawning for the Oscars and missed the spectacle, seeing only bits and pieces later on. But not this year. I’m thrilled that NBC prevailed and that Ricky is coming back – I will most certainly be watching. I only hope that he’s not swayed by last years hooha into becoming a nice, tame host that the stars can pet and hand feed.
This year The Golden Globes is the awards show to watch. If I had to pick one I would choose the acerbic and unpredictable Gervais over the probably mildly amusing and safe Crystal any day of the week. Here’s to award show chaos – bring it, Ricky!
Sue reads a lot, writes a lot, edits a lot, and loves a good craft. She was deemed “too picky” to proofread her children’s school papers and wears this as a badge of honor. She is also proud of her aggressively average knitting skills She is the Editorial Director at Silver Beacon Marketing and an aspiring Crazy Cat Lady.
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