Posted on 04/23/2003 10:34:00 AM PDT by AlienandStranger
Edited on 04/23/2003 11:26:08 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
The Spoils of Antiwar For Some Celebrities, a Dissenting Role Has Turned Into a Good Career Move
By Paul Farhi Washington Post Staff Writer Tuesday, April 22, 2003; Page C01
Janeane Garofalo sounds energized about her whole antiwar thing: "I knew when I started speaking out that it was going to be unpleasant," says the actress-comedian, "and I've taken my punches. But the positives have far outweighed the negatives."
Such as? Such as all the unsolicited offers Garofalo has received -- speaking engagements, stand-up gigs, stage roles -- in the weeks since she proffered her antiwar opinions on news programs. Such as the bundles of attagirl letters and the hearty congratulations of strangers in the street. Such as the sitcom pilot she's making for ABC. The other day, after a decade and a half of doing comedy, she made America Online's "Comedians to Watch" list.
"Before this I was a moderately well-known character actress," she says. "Now I'm almost famous."
Not to be too cynical about it -- Garofalo and other celebrities say they've been speaking from the heart -- but dissent, it seems, can be a pretty good career move.
In the weeks preceding or during the war, some entertainment figures took flak for their outspoken opposition. Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon, perhaps Hollywood's foremost anti-warriors, have both been publicly rebuked and disinvited to events organized by the Baseball Hall of Fame and a Florida United Way chapter, respectively. Martin Sheen has been assailed by critics for his views. Sean Penn alleges in a lawsuit that he lost a role in a movie as a result of his antiwar stance and his prewar trip to Iraq. And, of course, a handful of radio stations launched well-publicized "boycotts" of the Dixie Chicks after lead singer Natalie Maines said at a concert in mid-March that she was "ashamed" that President Bush was from her native Texas (she later apologized).
But it's hard to find much lasting damage. All told, widespread publicity about celebrities' war views has helped, not hurt, the careers of the famous.
In the weeks after Maines's comments, for example, sales of the Chicks' latest album, "Home," fell out of the top spot on the country charts -- before bouncing right back into the No. 1 position last week.
After his outburst at the Oscars last month ("Shame on you, Mr. Bush!"), author and filmmaker Michael Moore saw his book "Stupid White Men" return to the top of the New York Times bestseller list. Two days after the Oscars, he reported on his Web site that his documentary "Bowling for Columbine" had received more video orders on Amazon.com than the Oscar winner for Best Picture, "Chicago."
Moore also reported that he's received funding for his next documentary and has been approached by an unnamed network to revive his old show, "TV Nation."
Even Robbins, who frets about "a climate of fear" for lesser-known actors, can't really complain. "I'm okay," he says in an interview. "I just finished two films," including one with Clint Eastwood. "I don't believe there's fallout. If there was, I don't think anyone would say, 'We're not hiring you for political reasons.' "
His longtime romantic partner, Sarandon, is also working steadily as a leading lady, which is far more than most 56-year-old actresses can say.......
FMCDH
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