Oscar...and the Grouch


Was it just me, or did anyone else feel the Oscars were a bit...lacking?

Honestly, I'm starting to feel toward the Academy Awards the way I've felt now for two seasons towards "American Idol"--tired and uninspired. Both of these shows are slavishly working the template with minor innovations year to year. They don't seem to be trying very hard. Even worse, both offerings strike me as self-indulgent. One almost gets the sense that Oscar and Idol coast along on an air of entitlement: "We're the best and we will do what we please. You may watch us." Ugh.

The highlight of last night's awards ceremony, for me, was the modern dance number. Man, what acrobatics! I found myself applauding aloud in the family room. That was a great moment. Steve and Alec's shtick was okay (I'm an old Steve Martin fan and I tend to enjoy Alec in 30 Rock).

The lowlight for me was seeing the cosmetic flaws of the celebrities. I've renamed HD TV "AGE-D TV" as a result. It was a good reminder of our collective mortality. And it made me feel less ashamed of my own flaws.

I guess the question I'm left with for last night's Oscar show was, "Is that the best they can do?" I'm thinking Oscar needs an Extreme Makeover. What do you think?

4 comments:

John said...

i ~hate~ the oscars. i don't mean to be crude, so, how should i put this... it's all about self-stimulation.

i really, really, tried to think of a better way to put it.

Allan Harvey said...

I think it's scary that one of my spiritual leaders has been watching American Idol
:-)

Carl Hofmann said...

I like to think of it as "cultural exegesis," Allan! But, as mentioned, it's becoming tiresome!

Allan Harvey said...

"Cultural exegesis"
I like that phrase -- have to remember it the next time my wife and I admit to watching Desperate Housewives!