Thursday, February 23, 2017

MY OSCAR PREDICTION-----A LOW-RATED TELECAST




OSCARS USED TO BE FUN AND EXCITING WHEN THERE WERE MORE REAL MOVIE STARS ATTENDING LIKE ELIZABETH TAYLOR OR GRACE KELLY OR CARY GRANT. NOW WE ARE TREATED TO "STARS" DRESSED BY STYLISTS, SO THERE'S NO CHANCE OF REALLY SEEING INDIVIDUAL TASTE. NETWORKS ADD PRESENTERS TO PROMOTE THEIR OWN PROGRAMS. I'M FINE WITH KEEPING UP WITH THE TIMERS, BUT THR MEASURE OF A TRUE STAR IS LONGEVITY. TIME WILL TELL. MY SAFE BETS ARE NICOLE KIDMAN AND GEORGE CLOONEY.

I HAVE COVERED THE OSCARS FOR OVER 40 YEARS AND GONE OVER 20 TIMES. NOW, I PREFER TO WATCH IN PAJAMAS. IT'S SAD HOW THE EXCITEMENT IS GONE FOR ME.

I watch with a group of really talented friends who are there for the game of clothes, controversy and kitsch. We actually roll up pairs of socks to form balls, and we throw them at the set if there's anything we don't like. It's a free-for-all, and, the only way to go.

But, I really do miss the dignity of the bygone days when acceptance speeches were filled with grace and gratitude and not used as political statements. Awards are about art and for performances that achieve greatness. That's it.

One reason the ratings will be lower this year is that there is no blockbuster movie. We who live "on the coasts" see everything. Well, 45% OF THE PEOPLE IN THE U.S HAVE NEVER HEARD OF "LA LA LAND." HIDDEN FIGURES AND MOONLIGHT SCORE EVEN LOWER.

The other reason is that the 45% who don't no LA LA LAND, also have no interest in political rants. However, there is always a possibility that the spectator sport of watching rants, practiced by devotees of reality TV may tune in.

We'll see.

And, for the record, my two favorite movies of the year were MOONLIGHT AND HIDDEN FIGURES.





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