Posted on 02/28/2005 3:51:30 PM PST by missyme
At the Oscar awards, what was not said was probably more interesting than what was.
Hollywood's big night on Sunday was beamed to the world with a five-second time delay, and broadcaster ABC ordered some controversial quips cut before the show, sparking debate about how far political correctness should go and freedom of speech controlled.
Comedian Robin Williams said it all when he walked on stage with a piece of white tape over his mouth.
Williams was to have performed a song lampooning conservative critic James C. Dobson, whose group had criticized cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants for appearing in a video it branded "pro-homosexual."
He was going to do it by concentrating on the dark underside of other cartoon characters, asking, for example whether Casper the Friendly Ghost wore that white sheet as a member of the Ku Klux Klan.
Marc Shaiman, who wrote Williams' original routine, said he decided to withdraw the material after ABC raised objections that would have led to him re-writing 11 of 36 lines. ABC declined to comment.
"It's ironic because I feel the song is silly and the situation is silly and yet on the other hand it's extremely serious," Shaiman told Reuters from New York. "This is the most blatant, immature censorship that I've ever come across."
Williams did eventually develop an act questioning cartoon characters' sexuality. But it was a pale imitation of some of the lines originally planned and he looked pained performing it.
"The show lost what would have been the best minute-and-a-half they would have had last night," said Shaiman, before adding: "Where does the buck stop?"
Chris Rock, the edgy black comedian called in to host the show, and, some say, to boost flagging ratings, was also in trouble long before the Oscars got under way.
He previously joked that straight, black men did not watch the Oscars, drawing an angry response from commentators like Jake Lamar, an African American who called Rock's comments "a massive generalization" and "depressing."
Then Oscar producer Gil Cates weighed in, calling ABC's decision to introduce a time delay in transmitting from Kodak Theatre a "terrible idea" and a concession to political correctness.
IT BEGAN WITH A BARE BREAST
Federal regulators may boost fines for U.S. broadcasters following last year's infamous Super Bowl "wardrobe malfunction" by singer Janet Jackson in which she bared her breast.
Earlier this month the U.S. House of Representatives voted to raise the maximum indecency fine to as much as $500,000 from $32,500.
On the one hand, commentators predict that the more networks are forced to sanitize shows, the less people will be inclined to watch.
But at the same time, the more a show's producer warns viewers they may be offended, the more they are likely to tune in.
"The entertainment industry is figuring out how to spin and use this paranoia we've encountered since the Super Bowl," said Robert Thompson, director of the Center for the Study of Popular Television at Syracuse University.
"People wanted to make sure they were present if the next Janet Jackson moment happened."
In the end Rock's content was political and racial but avoided becoming the main issue on the night.
Thompson said Rock's natural instinct would have been to go much further with his humor, but he had too much to lose.
"He is going to play by the house rules," he said. "He realizes that certain compromises have to be made."
Williams was not available to comment on his act at the Oscars, but he told the New York Times on Friday:
"For a while you get mad, then you get over it. They're afraid of saying Olive Oyl is anorexic. It tells you about the state of humor. It's strange to think: How afraid are you?"
People laughed themselves sick for years without any obscenities.
Marx Brothers,Stooges,Bob Hope mean anything to anyone?
The Rev. Jesse Jackson say a LOT more stupid things than the Rev. James Dobson.
Riiiiiight.
But at the same time, the more a show's producer warns viewers they may be offended, the more they are likely to tune in.
They tried both tactics for last night's show, but neither worked. Even with Rock's "edgy" humor, this was still the lowest rated Oscars ever.
I thought Rock was good enough for the show, a little dry probably because it wasn't Comedy Central. Otherwise, people were expecting the worst and that's why the numbers coming in from the middle US took a little dip.
When has Reverend Dobson ever advocated censorship? So it has gotten to the point that criticizing something is the same as trying to censor it, according to these so-called "tolerant" liberals?
Robin Williams?? He's about 30 years past his prime, and he wasn't that great back in the drug-humor days.
And Rock delivered. His schtick was terrible.
The New Generation of Hollywood have been raised with values, class and morals of total whacked out burnt out parents not all but many of them and that is why they are in the shape there in, Just low life's with money.
At least Jamie Foxx had a grandma who raised him right.
Maybe he looked pained because he finally realized he just isn't funny, his routine wasn't funny and his entire schtick is tired and worn out. Had I watched the awards show, I'm sure I would have had a pained expression, too.
Um...yes.
Johnny Carson could get screams of laughter with just a look...just like his hero, Jack Benny.
The cheap laugh reigns supreme and cleverness has gone the way of all flesh...literally.
Too bad.
I loved Red Skelton. He alwyas ended his routines with " God Bless"
Victor Borge was another one that always left me in stitches.
Yes, casting up the Casper's white sheets and the KKK against James Dobson's remarks which have been misquoted and totally taken out of context...now THAT would have been such an entertaining 1.5 minutes in American TV history. Hollywood would have had us rolling in our seats.
Assuming any conservatives like me were watching or intend to anytime in the future... and ditto with going to movies.
I've never ever understood why Robin Williams is supposed to be funny. Just looking at the guy depresses me; always has, way back on Mork & Mindy, long before I had any idea what his political leanings were. The only thing I've ever seen him funny in is Mrs. Doubtfire, and that was still depressing.
MM
I'd like to ask Robin Williams how his proposed lampoon of James Dobson had any relationship to the academy awards ceremony. It seems to me that the purpose of the ceremony is to reward entertainers and directors, not to serve as a vehicle for the personal social and political gripes of the presenters.
I did like him in Good Morning Vietnam but he got a bit gooney...
Johnny Carson. When he passed away and so many bits from his show were shown, I simply pined for the days when humor could be so hilarious yet civil.
Maybe part of the reason for the low viewership is that this was an unusually weak year for movies; the two movies that created the most "buzz" - "F9/11" and "The Passion of the Christ" - were not up for the big awards, and not much else got people's attention last year.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.