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GUEST BLOG #75: Diane Holloway Looks Forward to the Oscars... But Why?
[The Oscars are a month away and counting... and contributing critic Diane Holloway is counting. In her latest column, she tries to explain why...]
Remembering the Oscars,
from Rob Lowe and Snow White
to Billy Crystal and Barbra Streisand
By Diane Holloway
Oscar nominations came out this week, and even if you haven't seen half of the (way too many) movies honored, you've probably already marked March 7 on your calendar.
You'll either watch the Academy Awards' interminable telecast in the semi-privacy of your home, keeping a scorecard, or you'll attend an over-the-top Oscar party in your best finery. Either way, you know you'll stay up too late and drink too much for a Sunday night.
If ever there was must-see TV, the Oscar telecast is it. Even if the production numbers are excruciating (remember Rob Lowe dancing with Snow White?), or the host not-so-hot (I thought Whoopi Goldberg was much worse than David Letterman), we'll watch to the bitter end and talk about it for days after.
Watch the Oscar "Lowe point" HERE.
What's the big deal about rich people patting each other on their designer-draped backs and thanking their families, God and the entire universe? Simple answer: Movies are glamorous, and live TV is alluring. (TV itself is not considered glamorous, which is why the Emmys don't do so well.) It's unpredictable and sometimes even exciting. (How else to explain the never-ending runs of Saturday Night Live and American Idol?)
The drumbeat to the Oscars always includes whispers about who'll be wearing what and who'll run into whom. Will the brilliant but fashion-challenged Meryl Streep listen to her Hollywood handlers and learn to steer clear of peasant skirts and chunky Indian jewelry? Will Johnny Depp over-fix his hair, and will he go just a tad lighter on the eyeliner? Please?
The Oscar host plays a sizable role, too, and for years we were the lucky recipients of Billy Crystal's brilliance. We looked forward to his musical opener, and we awaited his friendly slaps at the towering egos in the audience. Click HERE for a taste.
This year, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin are the odd-couple comedy duo sharing hosting duties. The co-stars of It's Complicated might play off each other brilliantly. Or they might try to upstage each other to the point where spectators feel left out. Click HERE for a fast taste.
Oscar devotees like me can recall specific moments from years or even decades back. Barbra Streisand in her see-through pantsuit. Billy Crystal making his host entrance as Hannibal Lecter. Halle Berry melting down with joy.
We always hope something unexpected will pop into the lumbering, nearly 4-hour marathon to make enduring the boredom worthwhile. The magic of live TV and the glamour of movies will merge once again, and even if they're less brilliant this year, we'll watch next year, too. It's must-see TV, whether we like it or not. It's the Oscars!
[If you haven't yet marked your calendar, this year's Oscars take place Sunday, March 7 at 8 p.m. ET in Hollywood and on ABC. The nominees list announced Tuesday can be found at the official Oscar web page, along with five years of red carpet photos and other video. See it all HERE.]
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Diane Holloway was the TV critic for the Austin American Statesman for 30 years, until the downturn in the newspaper business prompted her to take a buyout. She's now sniffing out other possibilities. Before newspapers, she worked in Washington for the Library of Congress, the American Film Institute and the National Endowment for the Arts. Maybe something entirely different is next. Or not.
I gave up on the Oscars circa 2003? I found that I could simply tape the live show and fast-Forward thru all junk and be done in under 1/2 hour. It is what you say it is, "Hollywood patting itself on the back"- Hollywood knows this and doesn't care. It's like State of the Union for the most shallow people on earth.
I remember the Crystal monologues & his infamous 'Cheezy Song parody's' for Best Picture, He was the right host for the times then. I actually thought Letterman did some daring bits (not all funny, but daring), I don't recall hearing Hugh Jackman 'stinking up the place'- He was charming and he's still a 'peoples actor' (not a diva or ego-guy). Sadly even He couldn't save the overlong spectacle...and that's really what it is cause 80% of the awards the common person doesn't care about.
The problem stems from Hollywood not being able to laugh at themselves like the MTV awards 'Used to'. It's become a set piece for political statements and telethon for indie movies 80% of America never saw the in the first place. If over half of American doesn't have a clue about the films & people you're honoring, chances are you're either an 'elitist snob', don't care about the audience, or it's a clique that makes sure only "the Cool Kids" win. Then again the thought of "Twilight", "Saw 6" or "Paul Blart: Mall Cop" getting an award sickens me, so I say leave it as is...at least the 'Snobs' has a level of taste.
I guess I'm asking when the 'Cool' Cutting Edge Oscar Revamp for the Gen X crowd is going to take place. Are the Oscars even relevant anymore? Box Office and the Oscars have been divorced for almost a decade.
There's always the boring parts, but the surprises have always kept me coming back. I do pay very close attention to the remembrance of those in the industry who died the previous year.
This year the suspense is in who will win the big prizes for picture and director, James Cameron or his ex Katherine Bigelow. I happen to think that she's a much better director and could win that award while Avatar wins best picture.
I'm there Sunday night.