Oscars: 2013 Live Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Media
Posted on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 07:31:21 PM EST
Tags: Academy Awards, Oscars (all tags)

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The night begins. Big Tent Democrat's predictions are here. Is Nate Silver as good at predicting Hollywood as he is elections? Here are his predictions.

Enjoy the show, everyone. [More....]

6:44 pm: This guy Seth is neither interesting nor funny. And he's making his intro all about him. If I didn't want to see the awards, I'd change the channel.

So good to see Jack Nicholson in the audience. I read he was added as a presenter Friday.

I wonder if Daniel Day Lewis will be the only major award for Lincoln.

I'm liking watching the faces in the audience more than the presenters. Their routines are pretty lame.

Update 7:07 pm: McFarlane is loosening up a bit. So, if the 9 year old wins tonight, she'll replace Tatum O'Neal, who was 10 when she won for Paper Moon, as the youngest actor to win Best Supporting Actress.

Life of Pi looks like a good movie.

Using that horrid music to cut off the winners speeches: I wonder if they got that from Gitmo?

Update 7:44 pm: I'm glad Searching for Sugar Man won.

Update: 8:50 pm: Was anyone else offended by Seth McFarlane's comment about Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz and Selma Hayak? "It's about that time when one of them comes on stage. We have no idea what they are saying but they're so attractive we don't care."

Update 9:35 pm: Could Seth Macfarlane be any more tasteless than to tell a joke about drugs and how Hollywood parents are no role model, when introducing Michael Douglas, whose son is in prison for years for drug offenses?

No surprise, Jennifer Lawrence won. Nice comeback from tripping on her dress walking up to the stage. Good to see Daniel Day Lewis win, he looks really moved.

Update 9:50 pm: Finally, Jack Nicholson. He's so unique. But I can't believe he's introducing Michelle Obama who gives a morality talk. Really seemed out of place.

Wow, someone gave the envelope to Michelle Obama to read the Best Picture winner. Aren't they supposed to be under lock and key by Price Waterhouse or whoever? Did they fly someone to D.C. to deliver it to her, or e-mail it?

Anyway, Argo wins best picture, but I'm still distracted by the First Lady's appearance. It took away from Argo's win until Affleck started talking.

Update 10:00: Final thoughts: Seth McFarlane was not a good choice for host. This closing number is just awful. I can't believe they have this actress who sounds like she just drank helium singing with him. They are both so off-key.

With Spielberg not winning Best Director, Argo and Affleck had the better night.

Considering there were so many good movies this year, it's amazing they managed to make it one of the most lackluster Academy Awards in recent memory. Can I get my 3/12 hours back?

< Oscars Red Carpet | Monday Morning Open Thread >

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Oscars: 2013 Live Thread | 121 comments (121 topical)

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Not my predictions (5.00 / 1) (#1)
by Big Tent Democrat on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 07:44:40 PM EST

My "investments."

If Sally Field wins at 14-1, I'll like her, I'll really like her.

I don't think the material being (5.00 / 1) (#6)
by Anne on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 08:11:45 PM EST

delivered by the presenters - or that of Seth McFarlane - is funny; I'd take Tina and Amy any day over what I'm seeing tonight.

: It is mostly really bad (5.00 / 1) (#15)
by ruffian on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 09:11:58 PM EST

Maybe a tad better than the James Franco year, but not much.

Brave! (5.00 / 1) (#7)
by Big Tent Democrat on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 08:14:30 PM EST

For the win! (of my investment.) (Actually I think Wreck it Ralph was better.)

Searching for Sugar Man (5.00 / 1) (#11)
by Peter G on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 08:47:22 PM EST

Best documentary! We loved that movie.

It was wonderful (none / 0) (#13)
by ruffian on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 09:09:10 PM EST

Was glad it won...well, it was the only one I saw.


The news story on "Sugar Man" (none / 0) (#25)
by Peter G on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 10:27:37 PM EST

that TL links to misspells the name of the Detroit singer-songwriter who is the subject of the documentary: He's Sixto Rodriguez, with a G in the middle, not "Rodriquez."


: Maybe that's what happened to all his royalties... (5.00 / 1) (#50)
by unitron on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 12:31:01 AM EST

...they were just being credited to the wrong account all these years.
Because everybody knows the recording industry never intentionally exploits the artists.

When I grow up I want to work for Ang Lee (5.00 / 1) (#23)
by ruffian on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 10:12:01 PM EST

He seems like the nicest person.

I wasn;t offended (5.00 / 2) (#24)
by Big Tent Democrat on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 10:23:58 PM EST

But I think I was supposed to be an can see why some people would be.

But then, I don;t understand most Americans when they try to speak Spanish.

J, if you were familiar with Seth McFarlane's (5.00 / 2) (#37)
by caseyOR on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 11:04:31 PM EST

work you would not be surprised by his offensiveness. He has built his media fortune on being offensive. Occasionally funny, but nearly always offensive.

Mostly, his work seems geared toward 13 year old boys.


I'm familiar (5.00 / 1) (#38)
by Big Tent Democrat on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 11:05:56 PM EST

I (5.00 / 4) (#59)
by lentinel on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 08:32:23 AM EST

really have no quarrel with people being offensive.
Usually that is in the eye of the beholder.

I love Lenny Bruce.
I have never been offended by him or his material - although others have labeled him as being offensive.

This is subjective, but I can always feel humanity and compassion in the humor of Lenny Bruce - or Redd Foxx.

With Seth, all I perceive is incredibly sophomoric stupidity.
Infantile - no disrespect to infants intended.

He is like a bully in a school yard. As you said, aimed at pre-pubescent boys.
Which doesn't quite explain the audience laughing (albeit sometimes haltingly) at his pathetic material and persona.
I guess that is a subject for a different discussion.

Not mentioned above is his reference to Denzel Washington - "confusing" him with Eddie Murphy. The lowest.


: Well said, lentinel (none / 0) (#111)
by christinep on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 04:37:13 PM EST

And, maybe the audience was "laughing" (sorta) because some felt they were supposed to or for no other reason than there was nothing else to do. If his routine is supposed to be edgy...well, as you suggest, for an adolescent.

: Whenever Denzel's face was shown (none / 0) (#121)
by shoephone on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 06:57:19 PM EST

in the audience, he looked extremely pissed, like he wanted to bolt out of there as soon as possible.

Which explains that rousing musical (5.00 / 1) (#60)
by Anne on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 08:33:17 AM EST

number, "We Saw Your Boobs."

Sigh.

And - changing the subject now - am I the only one who didn't get the connection between the music played to bring people on and off stage and what movies those people were associated with? I got that the music was all from Oscar-winning movies, but if I'm hearing "Godfather" music, for example, I expect to see someone associated with that movie.

I thought it was, overall, pretty bad - the duet at the end, with Kristen Chenowith - "Here's to the Losers" - was just cringe-worthy. I don't know who was writing the material for the presenters, but for the most part, it was awful.


: The music (none / 0) (#82)
by jbindc on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 12:14:44 PM EST

At least for those taking too long in their thank-yous, was the theme from "Jaws" (followed by some other Oscar-winning movie theme - in keeping with the theme of the night).
"Jaws" was pretty funny. I hope they do that every year to let winners know it's time to get off stage.

I happen to like Seth MacFarlane's ... (none / 0) (#48)
by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 12:17:07 AM EST

... edgy humor, but frankly, he really wasn't very good tonight at all. Being married to a Latina, I found his tasteless crack about Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz and Selma Hayak to be trailer trashy. But The Spouse didn't mind it at all and even chuckled at it, so go figure.


Daniel Day Lewis (5.00 / 3) (#32)
by magster on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 10:52:51 PM EST

was infinitely more funny than the host.

: He's certainly come a long way from ... (none / 0) (#46)
by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 12:06:00 AM EST

... the days of "My Beautiful Launderette." That third Oscar lifts him into the realm of Jack Nicholson, Meryl Streep and Katherine Hepburn as one of the truly great actors of his generation.

OK, I dig the first lady (5.00 / 2) (#33)
by shoephone on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 10:54:09 PM EST

but this is just kind of a weird turn for the Oscars show.

Yeah, I don't get the Michelle Obama (5.00 / 1) (#34)
by caseyOR on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 10:58:59 PM EST

part. That seemed a bit off.


: Maybe she should have just (none / 0) (#36)
by MO Blue on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 11:02:20 PM EST

done the Mom's dance at the Oscars. I liked that.

Possibly a harebrained idea? (5.00 / 1) (#49)
by EL seattle on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 12:19:50 AM EST

Not because of the political thang. Nothing like that.

But does it make sense at all to schedule a surprise remote video appearance at the very end of a program that almost always runs way longer than scheduled? It's a school night, for cryin' out loud.

I think that, after 3+ hours of presentations, even if the Acadamy had scheduled the most amazing person (or persons)* to read the final nominee list - and they appeared just before midnight EST - the audience would still have been close to screaming "Get on with it!!!!"

*One amazing choice for this year might have been maybe a group presentation featuring, say, Christopher Lee, Chritopher Walken, Alan Cumming, and as many other James Bond villians as they could find. But around midnight I think that even the most amazing lineup possible would have probably stretched folks' patience to the breaking point.


Seems like this contributes to the problem (none / 0) (#57)
by jbindc on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 06:29:31 AM EST

It's another blending of politics and entertainment, and it becomes increasingly difficult to separate the two.


Good Gawd! (5.00 / 1) (#52)
by lentinel on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 05:10:07 AM EST

Seth Macfarlane delivered some of the most tasteless material I have ever heard.

Racist.
Anti-Jewish.
A little joke about John Wilkes Booth putting a bullet in Lincoln's head.
As Jeralyn noted, a heartless reference to Cameron Douglas when introducing his father, Michael.

And an incredibly sickening musical denigrating women in film.
I thought that Charlize Theron was going to throw up.

I hope I never see or hear from Seth again.
Even if he was only delivering lines written by racist, sexist, anti-Semitic and mean-spirited morons, he did so with idiotic conviction and one of the most creepy smiles I have seen in a long time.

Yeah, over even my rather lenient line (5.00 / 1) (#54)
by ruffian on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 05:29:54 AM EST

Came across mean, racist, sexists, all of the above. Made Ricky Gervais seem like a teddy bear.


Charlize was "in" on the joke (5.00 / 1) (#64)
by IndiDemGirl on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 11:00:32 AM EST

That 'boob' song was a pre-recorded bit, as were the reaction shots to it including Charlize's.

Charlize was in fact part of the entire skit/piece and she danced onstage a few seconds later as a remedy to the boob song.

Of course, that doesn't mean you can be offended by the material or believe it tasteless.


It was just stupid and not funny. (5.00 / 1) (#68)
by Anne on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 11:25:43 AM EST

My reaction was, "really? It's 2013 and we're going to giggle about women's boobs?"

Sure, let's not just objectify women and their boobs, let's set puerile lyrics to music and sing about it!

Ugh. It was just a terrible evening, and if there'd been anything else on that I hadn't seen before, I'd have changed the channel within the first 10 minutes.

Kristen Chenoweth kept plugging her show-ending song - if anyone stayed tuned to hear it, they had to have been disappointed to get a musical number rubbing salt in the wounds of the losers. Classy, really classy.

The only real losers were those who will never get back the 3+ hours they lost watching one of the worst shows ever. When MacFarlane tossed the mini bottle of booze to George Clooney, Clooney must have been thinking, "I'd need about 40 of these to make this evening tolerable enough to get to the end."


I worked on a movie, back in the day, (none / 0) (#80)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 12:10:49 PM EST

with Charlize. She was personally very "open" with her boobs and did not act at all objectified.


Golly, I wonder why she didn't (5.00 / 1) (#87)
by Anne on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 12:27:08 PM EST

come out on stage topless, then?

Charlize strikes me as a person with a lot of class and common sense; she might be "open" with her boobs within the confines of a movie set, or even in her personal life, but if she's done any work where nudity was gratuitous and exploitative and sent a message of objectification, I'm not aware of it.


I dunno. She's from Australia, (none / 0) (#89)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 12:38:35 PM EST

they often go topless on the beaches there. There were, I estimate, around 200 people on this set. It was certainly no big deal to her, and it wasn't while she was "working." As I remember, she seemed like a very, very pragmatic person.


I thought (none / 0) (#94)
by Lena on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 12:54:14 PM EST

she was from South Africa?


: Ah yes, you are right. Nicole Kidman is from Oz. (none / 0) (#96)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 01:19:22 PM EST

I don't know what the laws/customs are in SA. But I do know Charlize was very open, practical, and confident.

I (none / 0) (#99)
by lentinel on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 01:28:50 PM EST

would have to disagree with that, unless given proof that Charlize was in on it.

It looked like spontaneous disgust.
Nothing funny about it.


1. Charlize was in a different dress. (none / 0) (#112)
by IndiDemGirl on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 05:04:59 PM EST

I watched via DVR. I just re-watched her reaction shot again and she is in a black dress, not the Dior white strapless number (LOVED IT!) she wore to the show - nor is it the white floaty number she danced in minutes later. In another reaction shot Jennifer Lawrence has a different hairdo than the one she wore last night.

She couldn't be disgusted in the audience in a black dress and then 2 minutes later be up on stage dancing in a white dress right after the boob number.
On some pre-show she mentioned she was talking about performing and rehearsing for her bit with Seth, etc.

I'm not saying you shouldn't be offended. I'm just saying Charlize was not as she willingly participated in the piece.


I did (none / 0) (#113)
by lentinel on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 05:17:18 PM EST

not tape the wretched event.

But I commend your research.

But would you agree, whatever Theron was wearing, that the reaction that was televised was one of someone who was experiencing disgust?


It sounds like pre-recorded disgust. (none / 0) (#116)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 05:36:48 PM EST

iow, what Seth and Charlize rehearsed.

Also, fwiw, I it turns that the male singers that performed with him are from the Los Angeles Gay Men's Chorus.

During his "We Saw Your Boobs" song, for example, MacFarlane trilled with the Los Angeles Gay Men's Chorus, MacFarlane called out winners Meryl Streep, Charlize Theron and Angelina Jolie plus nominees Naomi Watts, among others. As the cameras panned to the audience, both Theron, 37, and Watts, 44, looked visibly annoyed by the the number -- but those reactions, alas, were a pre-taped bit planned for the routine.)

Disgust (none / 0) (#117)
by lentinel on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 05:45:20 PM EST

is disgust.

Prerecorded or otherwise.

McF was disgusting.


: OK! (5.00 / 1) (#118)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 06:02:10 PM EST

Watch Family Guy sometimes (none / 0) (#56)
by jbindc on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 06:27:33 AM EST

While I have come to find it entertaining to watch sometimes, it's pretty clear that MacFarlane really doesn't like women.


Quite (5.00 / 1) (#58)
by lentinel on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 08:22:07 AM EST

an endorsement.

A show that features a guy who doesn't like women, black people or Jews.

Sounds like a must see.


It's a cartoon created by a man... (5.00 / 0) (#66)
by kdog on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 11:18:16 AM EST

who likes comedy...he is an equal opprtunity offender, I don't think he hates anybody except maybe the uptight.


There's quite a bit of uptight (5.00 / 0) (#69)
by CoralGables on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 11:29:49 AM EST

curmudgeonry based on last night's TL Oscar reviews.


I've never understood the theory that (5.00 / 4) (#70)
by Anne on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 11:33:48 AM EST

says that as long as everyone and every group is targeted, that being offensive is okay.

"Equal opportunity offender" is really just two more words than are needed to describe such a person: a$$hole.

And that has nothing to do with being "uptight;" it has to do with perpetuating stereotypes and stigmas that a lot of people have worked and are working very hard to overcome.


Oh Anne... (5.00 / 1) (#102)
by Dr Molly on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 02:54:47 PM EST

you're so uptight; you're such a puritan; you're the PC police; you're advocating a nanny state; blah blah BLAH BLAH!


I'm not going to tell you what to... (none / 0) (#72)
by kdog on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 11:48:48 AM EST

find funny...but my pal lentinel doesn't sound familar with the show, and I thought a counter-point was needed.

If Seth McFarlane hates anybody he hates everybody because he riffs on all stereotypes of all races, genders, and creeds as far as I can tell. That's an equal opportunity offender. Call him an arsehole if ya want, but I don't think you can call him a bigot, racist, sexist, or an antisemite. He's a comedian and I believe all comedians should be given wide comedic license, and we are free to laugh or get offended or both.

Or haven't you heard?


I guess I've known too many people (5.00 / 1) (#86)
by Anne on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 12:20:10 PM EST

who hid their bigotry behind humor to accept that MacFarlane's across-all-groups "humor" doesn't also hide some animus.

Maybe there's a reason MacFarlane channels his humor through cartoons, and not just in stand-up - maybe people find it funnier when it comes from a dog, or a baby with a British accent, I don't know. It doesn't appeal to me, either way, even though I've been known to laugh at some pretty inappropriate things - and to say some pretty inappropriate things, too. Watching the Oscars, it wasn't a case of feeling completely repulsed as much as it was about feeling a sense of "really? this is supposed to be funny?" It was more lame than anything, really.

There's a skill to hosting the Oscars or any big awards show like it, and just because someone makes a living at comedy doesn't mean he or she has the skills to pull it off. There's a fair chunk of "know your audience" that comes into play, and I have to say that when Seth didn't get the big laughs right out of the gate, I knew he'd missed that mark and it was going to be a long night.


The (5.00 / 3) (#90)
by lentinel on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 12:43:44 PM EST

cardinal sin of a comedian, imo, is to be not funny.

I was unfamiliar with the man until last night, and I intend to renew my unfamiliarity asap.

He was cringe-worthy.

He may or may not be a bigot.
But his material was the absolute pits.

That horrible song about women in film - the contents of which I will not repeat here.
Ragging on Jews in Hollywood.
Saying, in effect, that all black people look alike.
The cruelty directed at Michael Douglas.
And more.

Maybe those subjects could be treated in a humorous fashion.
But Seth's material and his delivery were god-awful and, imo, mean-spirited. As I said above, Lenny Bruce could treat those subjects, make you laugh, make you identify and make you think. Seth made me wonder if I could get through his pathetic segments without muting the tv.

Why would the Oscars want some schmuck to put this craap on the us and the movie industry?

No glamour.
No intelligence.
Just a half-baked roast.

The people who work in that industry deserve better.


All good... (none / 0) (#93)
by kdog on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 12:53:49 PM EST

I didn't watch the Oscars and can't comment on his hosting performance.

But I have watched "The Family Guy" and laughed my arse off on many occasions. It's no "The Simpsons", which will forever be the gold standard of cartoons for adults imo, but it's up there near the top of the genre.


: And (none / 0) (#97)
by lentinel on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 01:24:22 PM EST

I have not watched the "Family Guy" - so I can't judge that either.
I had not even heard of the guy until last night.
Maybe he functions well as a cartoon character, but live, oh my god.

I've heard far more offensive (none / 0) (#76)
by brodie on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 12:01:58 PM EST

material from even edgier types like Sarah Silverman.

Not really a fan of vulgar sophomoric humor, but I don't find insult comedians offensive -- unless if it's addressed only to one or two minority/disadvantaged groups.

From what I could hear last nite (kept getting pulled away from tv, saw maybe 1/3 of show) Seth was only moderately amusing and a little too scripted and canned for my tastes.

Bring back Letterman or that talented late night host on tv, the Jimmy guy (I think) who does the killer Jim Morrison imitation, or Steven Colbert..

But I think the Academy is trying to boost ratings with the under-30 set. I hope last nite's numbers don't encourage them to continue along the McFarlane vulgarity path.


I can't say... (5.00 / 1) (#78)
by kdog on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 12:10:20 PM EST

I see hosting the Oscars as the best venue for Seth's humor either, no argument there.


I thought the opening bit with Shatner was (5.00 / 0) (#81)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 12:12:45 PM EST

overly long, but still funnier than most recent SNL skits (which isn't saying much). However, once the show got rolling I thought he did a very nice job, made it all look easy.


: It (none / 0) (#98)
by lentinel on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 01:26:33 PM EST

seemed to me that they brought Shatner in there so that they could have it both ways - present us with crappy material - and then, by telling it was crappy, and the worst ever, expect us to endure even more of it.

I wouldn't recommend the show (none / 0) (#83)
by jbindc on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 12:16:44 PM EST

I never watched until this year, but the BF likes it and there are amusing parts.

It definitely isn't for kids (actually, NONE of Fox's Sunday night line-up is for kids), yet they air all those shows (Cleveland Show, Family Guy, Simpsons, Bob's Burgers, American Dad) in early primetime hours. All of those shows should be on after 10.


Not True (none / 0) (#100)
by ScottW714 on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 02:17:44 PM EST

Clearly you are getting Seth's views confused with Peter's. The main character is a a half-wit middle aged white guy, who by his own idiocy makes as much fun of himself, indirectly, with his never ending non-sense as any of the targets. If there is one constant in Peter, it's that all of his offensive views, that he is a complete idiot. That inward offensiveness, to me, far outshines the obvious, in your face humor. It totally reminds me of a couple of the nitwit posters here, who constantly repeat the same mindless gut instinct garbage, no matter how any times it's been proven as a complete BS. I would bet dollars that Peter Griffin still think Saddam was behind 9/11.

Ditto for his views of his wife/women, who Peter is always saying belongs in a kitchen and isn't as smart. While the show clearly proves, every single time, that she is 100 times smarter, always right, and even physically superior. She is portrayed as super-woman on the show.

How many times has Peter ever been right about anything ? Never, everything he believes and says is proved to be wrong. So while the words are offensive, the show goes out of it's way to show just how wrong those views are and how those views almost always lead to his demise. But most importantly, no one aspires to be Peter Griffin.

That is not MacFarlane's only body of work, there are two spin offs and Ted, which have the same gritty offensiveness, but because the main character(s) are not white middle aged idiots, the humor is considerably different in it's target and delivery.

MacFarlane is a democrat and donates to D candidates/causes. But easily his biggest fight is for gay rights. He has been an extremely outspoken figurehead for this cause. But if you were to only base your view of MacFarlane on his characters, namely Peter, you would surely believe the opposite. It's actually been held against him by the LGBT groups, even though he's loudly championed their causes for years.

Judging him and making declarations about his character based on a cartoon he created, is complete non-sense. It's not done for any other writer who creates characters that are unsavory/offensive. And for the record, MacFarlane has repeatedly said the character he relates to the most is Brian, the book-smart and politically active dog who is not offensive.

What still mystifies me, his single biggest target, Hollywood, actually invited him to host one of their most prestigious events, and the fact that he accepted is just as mind boggling. To me it's a bit of a sellout, he's above it. His following isn't that large, and while I like him, his appearance on some silly self gratification award show didn't have me tuning in.

Also it seems extremely odd that people are upset with his offensiveness, he's not done anything differently, and anger should be placed at the people who invited him, not the person who is doing what he does best, offend people.


Late to the party, but.... (5.00 / 2) (#62)
by bmaz on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 10:42:21 AM EST

That was the worst Academy Awards show I have ever seen, and I am getting old fast. Bleech. Shirley Bassey, Steisand, and a couple of acceptance speeches (how can you not love Jennifer Lawrence??) aside, it was just horrid.

One of the worst decisions (5.00 / 3) (#84)
by shoephone on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 12:17:23 PM EST

of this Oscars broadcast was sticking the orchestra in a studio up the street. What idiot came up with THAT idea? All the singers, except Streisand, had to practically yell their songs to overcome how loud the orchestra was. You absolutely cannot make a song work when the band and the singer aren't right there together in the same room, with the conductor able to control the dynamics. Apparently, the academy thought it was more important to seat more celebrities even closer to the stage, but it screwed up the music. And considering how much music there was in this broadcast, it was a really dumb and impractical thing to do.

: Could not agree more, the music drowned out (none / 0) (#91)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 12:43:46 PM EST

almost all the singers.

Would it have killed Tarantino (5.00 / 1) (#85)
by shoephone on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 12:19:33 PM EST

to straighten his tie before going on stage? Obviously, he is allergic to tuxes, but he looked like he had just rolled out of bed wearing somebody else's business suit. What a no class dumb@ss.

: That's the first complaint (none / 0) (#88)
by CoralGables on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 12:34:53 PM EST

on the thread that I can agree with nearly entirely.
Don't know him personally though so I'll pass on agreeing with the last sentence.

My response to the Oscars show (5.00 / 5) (#101)
by womanwarrior on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 02:29:06 PM EST

I think this may be the last one I ever watch. The bottom line on McFarlane was that he was just not funny. Really, a song about boobs for the talented actresses we are supposedly honoring? Could we get out of junior high or middle school? A comment on a 9 year-old having 16 years to be too old for Clooney, with the 9 year old sitting there? Not funny at all. Sorry, a nine-year old girl is not acceptable fodder for sex jokes. He needed to be slapped. I like to laugh as much as the next person, but McFarlane's attempts at jokes just had no class, and no socially redeeming value.

And what's with the live production numbers from movies that were years ago? Chicago? A cast of thousands from Les Mis with people who can't sing? Now I really don't want to see it.

I would rather watch old movies than the tiresome baloney peddling that the Oscars has become.

: As M frittered away the hours watching (5.00 / 1) (#106)
by oculus on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 03:32:34 PM EST

last night, I kept thinking, and this is why people stopped reading?

Bad news for me (none / 0) (#2)
by Big Tent Democrat on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 07:51:58 PM EST

Lincoln not getting much if Jones didn't win.

They are really taking out (none / 0) (#3)
by MKS on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 07:57:47 PM EST

the Affleck snub on Spielberg.


Christof Walz totally deserved the award (5.00 / 1) (#5)
by DFLer on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 08:01:35 PM EST

on his own. He was great. Also great in the last movie he did with Tarantino, Inglorious Bastards


Doesn't he play (none / 0) (#8)
by Jack203 on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 08:22:37 PM EST

the exact same character?

Boring and predicable he won though.


did you see either film? (none / 0) (#10)
by DFLer on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 08:29:27 PM EST

not the same character at all....broadly speaking one was a good guy, one was a bad guy.


I saw inglorious bastards (none / 0) (#19)
by Jack203 on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 09:20:34 PM EST

I'll see django unchained probably, but not a fan of the violence.

From the clips it seems like the same character with the same cocky mannerisms to a tee. One guy good, one guy bad doesn't go too far. Both ultra violent, self assured maniacs that always seem to do and say the exact right thing at the exact right time. A typical Tarantino movie.

I'll be pleasantly surprised if I'm wrong.


I thought so too (none / 0) (#31)
by Jeralyn on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 10:50:39 PM EST

but I haven't seen Django (and have no intention of seeing it. QT's violence has no appeal for me.)


the violence is the violence of slavery (none / 0) (#42)
by DFLer on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 11:37:11 PM EST

: Violence is Tarantino's obsession. (none / 0) (#44)
by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 11:53:36 PM EST

Frankly, I gave up on him with "Inglourious Basterds." I realize other people liked that film, but I despised it. I think Quentin Tarantino needs to grow up as an artist, because right now he's doing little more than piggybacking off Martin Scorsese and Sam Peckinpah -- and both of them did it better.

Academy voters themselves ... (none / 0) (#12)
by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 09:06:48 PM EST

... snubbed Ben Affleck, not Steven Spielberg. Why would the Academy voters punish Spielberg for their own oversight?

;-)

Okay, I'm logging off. The Oscars broadcast is delayed out here until 6:00 p.m. HST, and if I continue listen to you guys and your spoilers, I'll know who won before the show ever starts.


It's the directing branch of the Academy who (none / 0) (#20)
by Angel on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 09:22:44 PM EST

nominates for the Best Director award. The full Academy membership votes for the award based on those nominations. So, it wasn't an oversight by the Academy, it was in the hands of the directors, or more specifically, Mr. Affleck's directing peers.


: And there a also a different nominee limit. (5.00 / 0) (#51)
by EL seattle on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 12:34:46 AM EST

Remember, there are 9 films nominated these days for Best Picture, but only 5 nominated for Best Director.
So it's not exactly that Katheryn Bigelow, Ben Affleck, Quentin Tarentino, and Tom Hooper were snubbed by the Academy. They just didn't make the Top-5 in a category that didn't have as many final choices as for the Best Picture award.

: Well, that certainly explains that. (none / 0) (#45)
by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 11:55:59 PM EST

They're nothing but a bunch of old white men, endeavoring to give the whippersnapper his comeuppance. Nice to see Affleck got the last laugh.

Interesting (none / 0) (#4)
by MO Blue on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 07:57:57 PM EST

Tommy Lee Jones was the only one that both you and Silvers picked.


From all the predictions I've seen, (none / 0) (#43)
by MO Blue on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 11:42:19 PM EST

it seems that everyone got the Best Director and Best Supporting Actor wrong.


Shirley Bassey yes! (none / 0) (#9)
by DFLer on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 08:26:35 PM EST

That Les Mis segment made me want to call my (none / 0) (#14)
by ruffian on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 09:10:11 PM EST

PBS station and donate. The stuff of many pledge breaks.

spectactular, but all those counter melodies (none / 0) (#16)
by DFLer on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 09:15:05 PM EST

finally gave me a headache.


I've played the record so much over the years (none / 0) (#17)
by ruffian on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 09:18:53 PM EST

that I am always hearing all the voices in my head. Though I was hoping one of them would never again be Russell Crowe's


: Ha ! (none / 0) (#40)
by DFLer on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 11:09:08 PM EST

A tie! Will let you west coaster guess the categor (none / 0) (#18)
by ruffian on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 09:20:24 PM EST

Nice segue to Streisand. (none / 0) (#21)
by caseyOR on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 10:02:28 PM EST

From the photo of Hamlisch to the singer of one of his great movie songs. Well done, Oscar producers.

That was worth waiting for (5.00 / 1) (#22)
by ruffian on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 10:07:59 PM EST

Just seeing her makes most of the others in the joint seem like amateurs.


was she live or on video? (none / 0) (#26)
by Jeralyn on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 10:29:41 PM EST

I was updating the red carpet thread and just caught a glance, and couldn't see the stage or audience.


Live (none / 0) (#27)
by ruffian on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 10:31:40 PM EST

Her voice isn't quite A+ anymore (none / 0) (#30)
by shoephone on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 10:39:36 PM EST

but still really good. And she looks fantastic. 70 years old.


: Her older voice gave that song more depth to me (none / 0) (#55)
by ruffian on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 05:36:34 AM EST

since it is a song I have heard so many times. It was interesting to hear kind of a different take on it. I think she just brought the show to a much needed classier place....but then Seth came back.

Ang Lee... (none / 0) (#28)
by shoephone on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 10:36:04 PM EST

Wow. Life of Pi picking up a lot of big awards tonight. Seems like Pi, Beasts, and Silver Linings have big fan clubs in the audience too.

The book was an interesting (5.00 / 1) (#39)
by MKS on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 11:08:59 PM EST

read. Now, I definitely want to see the movie.


At one of the award shows last year (none / 0) (#29)
by Jeralyn on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 10:37:14 PM EST

they were going on and on about how great the movie was, but it wasn't out yet. So I'm not surprised. It's one I'm going to watch on Comcast.


I guess I'll have to break down ... (none / 0) (#47)
by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 12:08:52 AM EST

... and see "Life of Pi." I told the Spouse I'd only see it if it won a major award.


: I was so surprised anyone would even try (none / 0) (#53)
by ruffian on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 05:28:27 AM EST

to make a movie from that book, but it was definitely in the right hands. Very well done. Gorgeous to watch.

: read the book 1st Donald (none / 0) (#79)
by fishcamp on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 12:10:45 PM EST

: I haven't seen it (none / 0) (#115)
by sj on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 05:27:28 PM EST

and I'm sorry I didn't see it in 3D. It looks visually stunning. I won't read the book until after I see the movie.

I am glad Ben Affleck gets to make his (none / 0) (#35)
by caseyOR on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 11:01:05 PM EST

speech. It never makes sense to me when the director of the Best Picture Winner does not win for best director. Cinema is such a director's medium.

: Didn't think his speech was too good (5.00 / 1) (#41)
by shoephone on Sun Feb 24, 2013 at 11:09:42 PM EST

DDL gave a nice one though.

Plastic surgery is understandable (none / 0) (#61)
by KeysDan on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 08:59:29 AM EST

for stars whose appearance is important to their careers--but I worried for the change around the eyes of Renee Zellweger. It seemed that she was having trouble reading the names of the winners--Queen Latifah quickly leaned over and read one name for her.

: She's always had the squinty-eyed look, and the (none / 0) (#110)
by Angel on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 04:36:52 PM EST

twisted mouth pucker. I think she was wasted last night. And the breast augmentation was a total mistake, her new breasts are way too large for her body.

Kristin Chenoweth (none / 0) (#65)
by IndiDemGirl on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 11:10:17 AM EST

is the "actress who sounds like she just drank helium" as you so described her.

She is an Tony award winning Broadway actress for "Your're a Good Man, Charlie Brown." She also who originated the role of Galinda/Glenda in Wicked - a role that was written for her. She was up for a Tony for that performance as well, but lost out to the other Wicked lead.

Her speaking voice could be described as you did, but she is one talented actress and singer.

In my opinion you can never have too much Cheno!

She has a Tony and an Emmy (none / 0) (#67)
by CoralGables on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 11:23:16 AM EST

I'll disagree with your last line though. Acting and singing okay, but her interviews on the red carpet I could have done without.


: For me she's just too charming (none / 0) (#77)
by brodie on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 12:09:44 PM EST

and cute to deny.
Only thing I didn't like about her was the severely tied back hair.
If she makes that a habit, she'll be balding within a few years.

Query: did BTD think McFarlane (none / 0) (#71)
by oculus on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 11:46:08 AM EST

nailed it? (Loaded question.)

I don't recall (5.00 / 1) (#73)
by CoralGables on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 11:48:59 AM EST

any Jesus jokes


Incorrigible. (5.00 / 1) (#74)
by oculus on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 11:53:31 AM EST

Still too soon? (5.00 / 2) (#75)
by CoralGables on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 12:00:38 PM EST

Now that's funny... (none / 0) (#104)
by kdog on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 03:16:15 PM EST

I nominate CoralGables to host next year!


Please explain. (none / 0) (#105)
by oculus on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 03:30:47 PM EST

I'll try... (none / 0) (#107)
by kdog on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 03:45:29 PM EST

If I were to tell an off-color Pistorious joke right now, some might say it is too soon for any humor and call me incorrigible.

You called CG incorrigible for making a joke about Jesus being nailed to the cross, and he asked if it was too soon, 2000 years later.

That's well played by CG;)


: And google informs me of the lyric to (none / 0) (#122)
by oculus on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 08:11:30 PM EST

an Elvis Costello song.

Seth made a joke about Lincoln last night (none / 0) (#108)
by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 03:51:49 PM EST

which led to gasps of horror from the audience. Which he then followed with and incredulous "It's been 150 years, and it's still too soon?"


Exactly (none / 0) (#109)
by CoralGables on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 03:56:41 PM EST

Which I thought was a great line since I flinched at the Lincoln joke, and then realized it was time to lighten up.


: Except that... (5.00 / 4) (#114)
by shoephone on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 05:19:04 PM EST

"Lighten up" is an intellectual response, and flinching is an instinctive response. When we laugh or cringe at something, it's usually an instinctive response.
Not that we couldn't all stand to lighten up about some things!
Overall though, I do tend to get miffed when people tell women, gays, racial minorities, and Jews to "lighten up" about jokes uttered at their expense.

I thought he wasn't that funny (none / 0) (#92)
by Big Tent Democrat on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 12:47:05 PM EST

Some of the jokes worked. Most did not.

Personally, I think the problem was he was basically using a Billy Crystal script UNLESS he was trying to be provocative instead of funny.

I think he is very funny in general but the Oscar show is always almost impossible for a host (it ALWAYS sucks).

I find the reaction to McFarlane to be ridiculous. It was a lame performance but it was META humor, not Don Rickles stuff.

McFarlane is not a racist or a sexist - he uses irony, sometimes the irony works sometimes it does not. But anyone who thinks McFarlane is a sexist or a racist has no idea about his work.


: He may not be (5.00 / 1) (#95)
by Lena on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 01:01:08 PM EST

a racist or a sexist, but to someone who's never heard of him before (me), he came off that way, plus he seemed like a bit of a lout. There's a fine line between being a bit scandalous and/or giving the Hollywood powers-that-be a well deserved ribbing with your humor and seeming mean-spirited and insulting, which is how I perceived him.
I'll have to watch Family Guy now to give his Oscars performance some context.

: How do you rate "Ted? (none / 0) (#103)
by oculus on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 03:12:46 PM EST

Eddie Redmayne was robbed (none / 0) (#119)
by CST on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 06:21:49 PM EST

robbed I tell you!

Although I do love me some Christoph Waltz, if only because he's a native German speaker, the most beautiful language on the planet, the language of love. And so polite. I still haven't seen Django. Or Argo. Or Lincoln. Or any other movie nominated other than Les Mis. Les Mis crushed my soul and I'm still not over it. Although I thought the best part of the movie was the second half, after Fantine died, and Jean Valjean was relegated to the background.

: CST, how are you? (5.00 / 2) (#120)
by caseyOR on Mon Feb 25, 2013 at 06:24:59 PM EST

Now that you finished a semester of grad school, how do you lik fit?
You might want to answer in the Open Thread> You so rarely drop by that I did want to say, "Hey," though.