Posted on 03/26/2002 5:00:11 AM PST by mikeb704
First the dumb. The Academy Awards show Sunday night drew the lowest rating in history. This could be because there’s a widening disconnect between what America wants in entertainment and what trash Hollywood churns out.
The movie folks are oblivious to the chasm, however, and continue to indulge in the annual self-congratulatory gala that affirms their own worth, at least to themselves. This is vital for individuals seething with insecurities.
Woody Allen’s been in therapy longer than most people have been alive. So it was only fitting he received a standing ovation from the Oscar crowd.
The real winner Sunday night was someone who I don’t think was even there. (She may have been, but possibly her dress wasn’t tasteless enough to warrant any camera time.) Sally Field made a fool of herself when she won the best actress Oscar, her second, in 1985 and gushed: "I wanted more than anything to have your respect. The first time I didn't feel it, but this time I feel it and I can’t deny the fact you like me. Right now, you really like me!"
Ms. Field has been subjected to much-justified ridicule ever since. But now she’s off the hook. This year’s winner, Halle Berry, managed to deliver an even more unintentionally hilarious acceptance speech than Sally.
Approaching the stage, she was shaking and crying and emoting in ways those of us not trained in show biz could never hope to match. She thanked managers, directors, producers, agents, her husband, Oprah, and her Mom. She rambled on, explaining, "I got to take 74 years here." For a time, it seemed her speech would last at least that long. By the time she expressed deepest appreciation to her lawyer – yes, her lawyer -, it would have been a respite just to have Whoppi Goldberg snatch the microphone back.
I’ll leave the judgment of who’s a better actress, Sally Field or Halle Berry, to others. Certainly in terms of sheer silliness, though, Halle soundly whupped Sally. She made history the other night.
Now the dumber. Last year, I devoted a column to the Left leaning ways of Illinois’ senior senator, Democrat Richard Durbin. Mr. Durbin’s voting record is even more liberal than Teddy Kennedy’s, but this doesn’t damper his popularity or lessen his chances for reelection this year.
My good friend Dee Woods recently sent me yet another example of why the senator doesn’t deserve to represent us in Washington. He wants to help illegal immigrants get an education courtesy of the taxpayer.
Mr. Durbin introduced the Children’s Adjustment, Relief, and Education (CARE) Act last summer. It would permit illegal aliens to attend state universities at in-state tuition rates and get Federal financial aid. Right now, if people from Illinois want to go to an Indiana state college, they have to pay higher, out-of state-tuition. Were Durbin’s plan enacted, the exception to that would be illegal aliens; they’d qualify for the lower tuition. It would also grant amnesty to illegals under 21 who’ve been enrolled in school and in the U.S. for five consecutive years.
Senator Durbin wants to extend preferential treatment to non-Americans over Americans. Aside from the obvious inequity, his scheme also sends the wrong message: Come to our shores illegally and you will be rewarded.
I’ve used this space before to suggest that America should close its doors. Perhaps it’s time to send everyone who’s here and not a citizen out of the country. Undoubtedly, Mr. Durbin would disagree. But at what point will he realize we simply can’t go on as we have? We can’t reward people for breaking our laws.
Treating illegal aliens better than we do our own kids is nonsense. Senator Durbin should know this. It’s dumber than dumb.
Worth repeating. Didn't watch it, but much admit I've seen pieces of Halle Berry's acceptance several times on various news shows. Good stuff! Anything that gives me that deep of a belly laugh is worthwhile viewing.
"This moment is bigger than me."
Wrong, Ms. Berry. "This moment is bigger than I am."
Pitiful.
Maybe we should trade our Hollywood stars to Mexico.
Or maybe Cuba, since many of them appear so enamored with "scientific socialism."
I saw each of them in numerous interviews saying that they deserved it because of years of neglect.
After he won, Denzel then said to a newspaper reporter, "do not put "black" in your headline, only "actor", when describing my win".
The black community is very confused.
If you had the Most Reverends Jackson and Sharpton running around in your neighborhood, you'd be very confused too.
And all these years I thought it was publick edchucashun.
Thanks!
It is all part of the Cultural Dark Ages we are now experiencing. Which is a result of the dumbing down of America. More importance placed on sports than academics in our universities. Culture being unduely influenced by popular icons who have a forum from which to speak, but have nothing of import to say.
Bwaaaaaahahahahahaaaaa...
If you pay any attention to what's going on in the world, isn't it impossible not to know the kind of trash that is out there?
BTW, these are not false tears. As mentioned, I'm not trained in show biz.
Intersting comment. The whole thing just shows how racist (and stupid) those people are. They give Halle and Denzel the awards, and then blatantly tarnish the whole thing by making it all about their race. They (the Hollywood people) make themselves feel better by talking about how racist they are, and then prove it by saying that the black actors can't make it without their benevolent protection.
As an aside, the NAACP remained true to form by making a statement that the awards for Washington and Berry weren't good enough.
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