Who Killed the Oscars?

Tablet ^ | 25 Feb 2025 | Sahsa Stone

[Rummyfan]

In the 1990s, there was a failed experiment in the Arizona desert called Biosphere 2. The idea was to create a self-sustaining orb where pretend astronauts of the future could live without contact with the real world for at least a year. They would grow their food, slaughter their own animals, and breathe their own air. If they were successful, they might be able to plop the orb on Mars to ensure the future of humanity after climate change destroyed the planet.

It turned out to be a disaster. They ran out of food. They ran out of oxygen and almost suffocated. They starved. There was tribal warfare, and eventually, Steve Bannon (yes, the same one) was brought in to fire the scientists and salvage the project for investors.

I often think of Biosphere 2 when I think of what happened to the Oscars. They, we, built a self-sustaining bubble cut off from real life. At first, we celebrated the artificiality of this construct with names like “Hollywood” or “Tinseltown.” But as the Oscars approach their 97th year, with the threat of ending their long reign on network television for the luxury of streaming, it seems clear that our artificial dream factory is now suffering the same fate as Biosphere 2, minus the intervention of Steve Bannon.

[linMcHlp]

girl power

[Kudsman]

Why it’s none other than the tolerant left! Starring the tolerant left. Produced by the tolerant left. Directed by the tolerant left. Written by the tolerant left. Financed by the tolerant left. And of course, all make believe BS!

[FLT-bird]

Lord of the Rings was made 25 years ago. That’s now a bygone era. I’m a child of the 70s. Hollywood’s been liberal/leftist and Democrat all my life. Everybody always knew they leaned that way but they could usually get past it long enough to at least make some good entertaining movies every year. Those days are gone and have been gone for several years now. I still watch plenty of movies but it is invariably catching up on movies that were made 10+ years ago which I missed when they came out.

I’m a straight White American male. Hollywood makes absolutely nothing that speaks to me. The contempt they have for me is quite mutual.

[Psalm 73]

"I am a Freeper. I read the entire article."

You are a rebel, aren't you!

[9YearLurker]

The Mayers or the Wieners?

[MortMan]

The Academy can thank itself, of course.

[Vermont Lt]

So, this isn’t a review of the Pauley Shore movie?

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

So...when is Tyler Perry going to be forced to hire more white actors and actresses?

[hecticskeptic]

You are a rebel, aren’t you!
_______________
Every group and everything in life has outliers.

[trebb]

The Commies who produced them....

[daler]

Although it’s been twenty years, when I learned the subject matter of Bareback Mountain I knew immediately it would collect a basketful of Oscars.

Of course, it was even nominated for Best Picture.

Like so many other flicks the Hollywood societal dregs have swooned over, I’ve never watched it and wouldn’t if paid to.

[mewzilla]

It was suicide.

[hecticskeptic]

Sasha Stone comes across as quite observant and intelligent.... she obviously loves film and must be disappointed in what it has become. Perhaps an ‘anti Oscar’ organization needs to emerge from the ashes.....

[goo goo g'joob]

I am a Freeper. I read the entire article.

first warning!

if this behavior continues you risk being placed on double-secret probation

[Wallace T.]

The movie industry is dying, like indoor shopping malls, the legacy media, and mainline Protestant churches. About 16 million people watched the Oscars telecast, down from 50 million 30 years ago despite an increased population. Even with streaming supplementing theaters, it is hard to imagine movies having the cultural impact of, say, the Star Wars or Godfather series. The movie industry is controlled by myopic leftists who seem to be repeating the same mistakes over and over again.

[CodeToad]

The Oscars were created to promote a dying hollywood in the 1920’s. Hollywood was created by six jews who had such disgusting practices in other States they were kicked out, so they went west to California. They set up shop, made movies, but few people wanted them. They created the awards night to promote hollywood.

[Kudsman]

It is quite possible that ‘The Horse Soldiers’ was the last great movie made. John Wayne, William Holden and Hank Worden.

[Vaduz]

The Oscars always reminded me of a ego fest don’t you wish you were one of us.

[Rummyfan]

Directed by John Ford. And Althea Gibson’s one and only movie role.

[rlmorel]

Viewership of Academy Awards by Year.

Couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of anti-American, self-centered people.

Interesting.

What happened in 2004? Did they use the Academy Awards as a vehicle to attack America and George W. Bush? Up to 2003, the pattern was consistent over time in five year falling, five year rising pattern and then it fell off a cliff.

I personally stopped watching in 1998 and have never watched it since. For me, it was a "Best Movie" of "Shakespeare in Love" instead of "Saving Private Ryan", but...I wonder if something else went on?