As I
have mentioned before, hosting the Oscar telecast is the most thankless pinata
job in TV. No matter how well you do, critics are out the next morning
demanding that you be thrown out of your day comedy job and relocated to the
Hollywood Home for Failures.
Many
agree that the Academy for Motion Picture Arts and Sciences produces an
interminable, unwatchable show. They’ve tried everything short of shock collars
to keep the winners’ remarks short. The major Oscars are presented way too late
for a school night (unless you live on the West Coast). The only reason the
show isn’t canceled is that America is hooked on it, reaping ABC a fortune.
The
difference this time is that the host, Chris Rock, is being pilloried BEFORE
the show, caught up in the controversy about the paleness of the nominees in
major categories. Spike Lee has said he will boycott the ceremony. (Perhaps he
will go further by threatening to DVR it and skip the dozens of commercials.)
Despite the #OscarsSoWhite controversy, Chris Rock isn't dropping out of the #Oscars https://t.co/od5SUQyQf7 pic.twitter.com/NOTikotlal
— Variety (@Variety) January 24, 2016
Some
black celebrities have called for Mr. Rock to step down, sending a message to
the Academy. Rapper 50 Cent made his plea on Instagram: “Chris
please do not do the oscars awards. You mean a lot man, don’t do it. Please.”
Prediction:
Mr. Rock, who also hosted in 2005 when there were four black nominees in major
categories, will not cave to the PC crowd. However, he will swear off the gig
forever after the stupid Monday morning quarterbacking.
A final
thought: This manufactured “crisis” would not exist if the deserving Samuel L.
Jackson had been nominated for playing the lisping zillionaire villain in
“Kingsmen: The Secret Service.” But we all know the Academy hates Fox more than
it likes him.
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