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.
Robin Williams?? He's about 30 years past his prime, and he wasn't that great back in the drug-humor days.
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.
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.
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.
Censorship doesn't bother me so long as it's not the government that's doing it. Beyond obscenity, it's the network that's trying to limit the Christian bashing and hate speech, and that's the network's right. No one has a constitutional right to have their personal views broadcast to millions of people. Robin Williams can go to Central Park if he wants to exercise his rights without restriction. Or he can buy his own television station.
Too bad he didn't walk on stage with his vocal chords in a jar.....
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.
Hey, Robin, that's really, really funny. Did you clear it with Senator Byrd?
When I noticed that the Hollyweird crowd intended to dis-
Mel Gibson and The Passion of the Christ-- I determined they had NOTHING at all to offer. Did not watch -was not offended by Chris Rocks potty mouth -nor any of the stuffed suits applauding movies NOt worth watching and
acting not worth the price of a ticket.The Passion should have taken Best Picture for daring to depict that world changing event without making Christ appear as Hollyweird has imaged Christians for too long now.
Gibson had the best actor for Christ, for Mary, and that
haunting image of Satan
The show lost what would have been the best minute-and-a-half they would have had last night," said Shaiman,..."
Give me a frickin break!
These people are idiots. Getting attention by being "edgy" goes back to Elvis. It's old fashioned. These people have run out of room to push the envelope.
Old fashioned entertainment that's good is much harder to do. And the people with the skills to do it have died off.
Hollywood is doomed. They haven't a clue.
Hollweird ruined their own reputations, bank accounts, and reputations, they should be scared.
read later
"On the one hand, commentators predict that the more networks are forced to sanitize shows, the less people will be inclined to watch."
I fail to see how this would be a bad thing.
That's "alleged" comedian.