Second guessing the Oscars
It's always interesting to read how different people's perceptions of the Oscars are. I remember a few critics thinking Steve Martin was good, for instance. Bizarre.
Anyway, today www.tvtattle.com is filled with columns by people who hated Jon Stewart. Of course one of them, the Washington Post's Tom Shales no less, had this to say about the Robert Altman tribute:
"... Meryl Streep and Lily Tomlin did a masterly, breathless impression of a film by special honoree Robert Altman, replete with overlapping dialogue, half-finished thoughts and constant interruptions. This was a piece of presentation that must have taken weeks to master in rehearsal; it was a double virtuoso performance."
He was clearly three sheets to the wind when he wrote that. Even Streep and Tomlin knew they were bombing and even joked about it. I have to think these guys had their minds made up before they actually watched the show.
Or maybe I'm way off here?
posted by AndyW @ 3/06/2006 10:56:00 AM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Wow, you guys had the strength to watch the Oscars all the way through and find things to talk about :-) ... I lost interest part way in ... Stewart wasn't as cutting as I thought he could have been ...
Like you, I've seen the first four Sopranos ... it's tough not to give anything away .. but whoa!
... and Lost recaps, indeed, I'm totally absorbed as well, I do my own Lost Recaplets, in stick figure form at www.sptimes.com/blogs/tv
check it out!
best, Chase Squires, St. Pete Times TV guy ..
I think Jon Stewart did it about right. He kept the show going, but he didn't become the star.
When all is said and done, I expect the only joke anyone will remember is the one about Dick Cheney shooting Bjork.
DOD
I think you're way off. Loved the Altman tribute. ... for Altman fans, I think that schtick worked perfectly.
Yep, your Altman assesment is way off the mark, kid. Meryl and Lily were brilliant. Actually the best part of the whole creepish program. Jon Stewart is talented and fun, usually funny, and absolutely wrong for the Academy Awards. It's not about being cutting, it's about being showbiz! Why is Billy Crystal so good at the Oscar hosting? Because he understands showbiz! Read his book, 700 Sundays, he oozes showbiz. He suckled on showbiz. Yes, decidely tongue-in-cheek in his Oscar delivery, but showbiz, nonetheless. Johnny Carson...showbiz, Bob Hope...showbiz. Showbiz can poke fun at other showbiz, that's Ok and is entertaining, pity anyone else who does. The list is getting longer...Stewart, Goldberg, Letterman, Martin. Next year, hmmm, I nominate Mel Brooks as host. No kidding. He's really showbiz and can make fun of anything and everything and the audience loves it. Now that would be great!
And, again, the Altman bit should go directly to the Museum of Television archives. The best!
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