Academy Awards and Hollywood Values
I'm home with a sick kid today, both of us have a touch of the stomach flu.
I watched some of the Awards last night, and I have to confess I had to wonder if the FCC was going to fine Hollywood last night.
Now I like adult themed entertainment as much as the next ex-frat boy, but there were a few things that were at least R rated about the telecast.
I enjoy Chris Rock in his stand-up routines and HBO show, but it took him about 10 seconds before he said "ass," just the first of many uses of that word during his monologues. I realize this word is acceptable on TV nowadays but still it was only about 8:15 PM ET which makes it dinner time in L.A., and he was setting the tone for the Academy Awards.
Then Chris Rock bashed President Bush to the delight of his audience. I know he's in Hollywood but this is an internationally televised event. So I guess it at least shows the rest of the world what true free speech is about. I guess, I still naively believe, despite Nixon and Clinton and all the other Presidential scandals, that the President deserves a little respect, especially in an international forum. An HBO comedy special is one thing, but a world-wide event is something else.
Much of Chris Rock's humor deals with "stereotypes" of black people. He, in many ways, is following in Richard Pryor's footsteps, but there is almost a sadness about Rock's humor because he challenges not only white people's racism but also often challenges how black people perceive themselves. For example, one of his bits last night wondered why movies aimed at black audiences didn't have better subject matter and titles than "Barbershop" and "Carwash?"
Chris Rock had a good point, it really is a shame there aren't more movies made about black people who aren't playing the jester, the athlete, the entertainer, or gangsta.
How about a biopic on the first black woman elected to Congress or how about a story about a black man suceeding in business? What about the Colin Powell story for a movie? How about a Vietnam War movie from the black soldier's perspective where the black soldier winds up a hero not a victim? Hey, what about a black romantic comedy? How about Hugh Grant and Angelina Bassett in a romantic comedy? I'd say Halle Berry, but her mother was caucasian, although you rarely hear her mention it (does it threaten her 'cred?). How about a black astronaut movie, a young boy infatuated with the stars despite growing up in Harlem where they're nearly invisible with the lights of the city, sneaking into the Rose Planetarium to see the show etc...? Call Cuba Gooding Jr., it writes itself practically. Even Beyonce, who sang many of the songs last night, has a video for Soldier with her group Destiny's Child that celebrates how black women love gangstas.
Hollywood put your money where your mouth and values supposedly are.
During one of the video montages they chose a clip from a movie where a woman is eating a hot dog or sausage with a standing man in the background, making it look like some kind of oral sex was happening. It was a quick clip, but definitely there. Why choose that clip?
I'm afraid I didn't make it to the end of the telecast exhausted from taking care of a sick kid, but I read over at Anne Althouse's blog, Jamie Foxx talked about his grandmother beating him. I didn't hear the speech so I can't really comment on it. But she asks where's the outrage about child abuse?
I just think Hollywood showed last night that it is truly drifting even further away from the "59 million dumb people" who voted for Bush.
I watched some of the Awards last night, and I have to confess I had to wonder if the FCC was going to fine Hollywood last night.
Now I like adult themed entertainment as much as the next ex-frat boy, but there were a few things that were at least R rated about the telecast.
I enjoy Chris Rock in his stand-up routines and HBO show, but it took him about 10 seconds before he said "ass," just the first of many uses of that word during his monologues. I realize this word is acceptable on TV nowadays but still it was only about 8:15 PM ET which makes it dinner time in L.A., and he was setting the tone for the Academy Awards.
Then Chris Rock bashed President Bush to the delight of his audience. I know he's in Hollywood but this is an internationally televised event. So I guess it at least shows the rest of the world what true free speech is about. I guess, I still naively believe, despite Nixon and Clinton and all the other Presidential scandals, that the President deserves a little respect, especially in an international forum. An HBO comedy special is one thing, but a world-wide event is something else.
Much of Chris Rock's humor deals with "stereotypes" of black people. He, in many ways, is following in Richard Pryor's footsteps, but there is almost a sadness about Rock's humor because he challenges not only white people's racism but also often challenges how black people perceive themselves. For example, one of his bits last night wondered why movies aimed at black audiences didn't have better subject matter and titles than "Barbershop" and "Carwash?"
Chris Rock had a good point, it really is a shame there aren't more movies made about black people who aren't playing the jester, the athlete, the entertainer, or gangsta.
How about a biopic on the first black woman elected to Congress or how about a story about a black man suceeding in business? What about the Colin Powell story for a movie? How about a Vietnam War movie from the black soldier's perspective where the black soldier winds up a hero not a victim? Hey, what about a black romantic comedy? How about Hugh Grant and Angelina Bassett in a romantic comedy? I'd say Halle Berry, but her mother was caucasian, although you rarely hear her mention it (does it threaten her 'cred?). How about a black astronaut movie, a young boy infatuated with the stars despite growing up in Harlem where they're nearly invisible with the lights of the city, sneaking into the Rose Planetarium to see the show etc...? Call Cuba Gooding Jr., it writes itself practically. Even Beyonce, who sang many of the songs last night, has a video for Soldier with her group Destiny's Child that celebrates how black women love gangstas.
Hollywood put your money where your mouth and values supposedly are.
During one of the video montages they chose a clip from a movie where a woman is eating a hot dog or sausage with a standing man in the background, making it look like some kind of oral sex was happening. It was a quick clip, but definitely there. Why choose that clip?
I'm afraid I didn't make it to the end of the telecast exhausted from taking care of a sick kid, but I read over at Anne Althouse's blog, Jamie Foxx talked about his grandmother beating him. I didn't hear the speech so I can't really comment on it. But she asks where's the outrage about child abuse?
I just think Hollywood showed last night that it is truly drifting even further away from the "59 million dumb people" who voted for Bush.
posted by Cousin Don at
11:15 AM
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