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OSCAR BLINKS
NewsMax.Com ^ | 03/06/2006 | James Hirsen

Posted on 03/06/2006 9:27:20 AM PST by SirLinksalot

Oscar Blinks

James Hirsen, NewsMax.com

Monday, March 6, 2006

Remember when Hollywood had mystique and glamour and was the wellspring of entertainment? That now seems a relic of another era.

In its place sits a town where self-absorption has taken a lead role and superficial social messages predominate.

When it wasn't embarrassing, the 78th Annual Academy Awards show was generally a bore.

Host Jon Stewart was probably a bit surprised at the tepid response to his jokes, especially the one where he quipped about the awards show being a "place where you can watch all your favorite stars without having to donate any money to the Democratic Party." Stewart also admonished would-be film downloaders to think about the "women here who could barely afford enough gown to cover their breasts."

Many of the stars seemed incapable of laughing at themselves. But when Stewart let loose with a joke that was at the expense of Vice President Dick Cheney, the guffaws flowed freely.

"I do have some sad news to report," Stewart said. "Bjork could not be here. She was trying on her Oscar dress and Dick Cheney shot her."

Stewart got moderate chuckles when he took a shot at the news media. He praised "Good Night, and Good Luck" and "Capote," describing them as films about journalism's "relentless pursuit of the truth," adding, "needless to say, both are period pieces."

The big laughs returned, though, with a reference to the war in Iraq. Evoking the memory of the toppling of the statue of Saddam Hussein, Stewart pointed to a giant Oscar image and said, "Do you think if we all got together and pulled this down, democracy would flourish in Hollywood?"

George Clooney won the first statuette for Best Supporting Actor for "Syriana," letting the world know that he was "proud to be part of this Academy, proud to be part of this community, proud to be out of touch."

Clooney claimed that Hollywood talked about social issues before anyone else. "We are the ones who talked about AIDS when it was just a gay disease," he said.

As expected, Phillip Seymour Hoffman won the Best Actor award for his portrayal of the gay central character in "Capote."

Rachel Weitz maintained the political pattern. She won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for playing a social activist in "The Constant Gardener."

It seems that a bit of "Brokeback" backlash may have created the surprise winner for Best Picture. After endless buzz about "Brokeback Mountain's" courage and brilliance and after it won virtually all of the pre-Oscar awards, "Crash" scored an upset win over the gay cowboy flick.

A few other observations:

The most bizarre comedy bit: Ben Stiller came on stage wearing a John Kerry sanitary "sperm" outfit.

The bright spot: "March of the Penguins" won for Best Documentary.

The most deserving award: Reese Witherspoon took the Best Actress award for "Walk the Line."

The most ironic award: "Brokeback Mountain" won for Best Score. How utterly appropriate this year that an Oscar was awarded for a hip-hop song about the difficulties experienced by a pimp.

Unfortunately, no one remembered to send a Hollywood shout-out to the troops, whose starring roles outshine all of Oscar's gold.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: blinks; hollywood; jameshirsen; jimhirsen; oscar
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To: SirLinksalot
"I do have some sad news to report. Bjork couldn't be here tonight. She was trying on her Oscar dress and Dick Cheney shot her." _ Jon Stewart.

My wife explained this to me.
Bjork is the nut that wore a swan dress to the Oscars one year.


41 posted on 03/06/2006 10:12:12 AM PST by higgmeister (In the Shadow of The Big Chicken.)
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To: edpc
Have you seen Walk the Line? I haven't. I was actually wondering if she was doing a quote from June Carter in the movie... Maybe I'm way off base there...

Course I didn't watch the Oscars and I didn't watch the vast majority (all?) of the movies that were in the Oscars...

42 posted on 03/06/2006 10:13:36 AM PST by Kaylee Frye
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To: luvbach1

I have heard she gave money to the Witch Hillary for her run for President but haven't heard she was way far out there..I doubt she has time since she makes one movie after another..


43 posted on 03/06/2006 10:15:10 AM PST by Beth528
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To: SirLinksalot

Please, does someone have a picture of Ben Stiller?


44 posted on 03/06/2006 10:16:00 AM PST by Misschuck
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To: CharlesWayneCT

I didn't watch this so didn't hear anything except what I heard on the news and have read..


45 posted on 03/06/2006 10:17:36 AM PST by Beth528
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To: StayoutdaBushesWay

According to Zap2it.com, the show dominated the ratings -- though it didn't do as well as in previous years.

More at: http://www.zap2it.com/news/zap-ratings030506,0,7370719.story?coll=zap-news-headlines


46 posted on 03/06/2006 10:17:54 AM PST by USFRIENDINVICTORIA
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To: All

Hollyweird blinked because the suits only care about $$$.

Not the woman/man/intowoman movie did not even hit the radar.

".was just a 'gay' disease," because politics prevented proper medical protocols to be followed. Thus the bathouses stayed open longer and high risk mental irresponsible cases could not be quarenteened.


47 posted on 03/06/2006 10:18:02 AM PST by longtermmemmory (VOTE!)
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To: SirLinksalot
Clooney claimed that Hollywood talked about social issues before anyone else. "We are the ones who talked about AIDS when it was just a gay disease," he said.

Yes - and their glamorization of the deadly life-style helped it to flourish into an indiscriminate disease.

48 posted on 03/06/2006 10:19:13 AM PST by trebb ("I am the way... no one comes to the Father, but by me..." - Jesus in John 14:6 (RSV))
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To: Tenacious 1
Just get in front of a camera and do something to entertain me. You are expendable. I am easily entertained. Do your job, no more and no less.

LOL! Your tagline is a saying/prayer I say every time I get the near overwhelming desire to beat the snot out of someone.

Not today, maybe tomorrow.

49 posted on 03/06/2006 10:20:35 AM PST by 11Bush
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To: Pheadra; SirLinksalot
Jon Stewart was great. Every other time I looked he was
sending another volley across the Hollywood liberal's bow.
50 posted on 03/06/2006 10:22:31 AM PST by higgmeister (In the Shadow of The Big Chicken.)
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To: Misschuck
Birth Name(s) : Ben Stiller Date of Birth: November 30, 1965 Sex/Type: Male Status: Married Profession: Actor Partner: Christine Taylor
51 posted on 03/06/2006 10:22:31 AM PST by Beth528
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To: USFRIENDINVICTORIA

Down 10% from last year according to Yahoo.


52 posted on 03/06/2006 10:23:13 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: Beth528

I think she meant in the Kerry Condom costume.


53 posted on 03/06/2006 10:25:36 AM PST by higgmeister (In the Shadow of The Big Chicken.)
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To: Misschuck; Beth528; SirLinksalot

54 posted on 03/06/2006 10:28:53 AM PST by higgmeister (In the Shadow of The Big Chicken.)
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To: SirLinksalot
The Oscars is really I guess the one night of the year when you can see all your favorite stars without having to donate any money to the Democratic Party. And it's exciting for the stars as well because it's the first time many of you have ever voted for a winner.

Funny! But I bet it didn't get many sincere laughs with that crowd.

55 posted on 03/06/2006 10:29:39 AM PST by antiRepublicrat
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To: higgmeister

56 posted on 03/06/2006 10:33:07 AM PST by higgmeister (In the Shadow of The Big Chicken.)
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To: StayoutdaBushesWay

http://www.breitbart.com/news/2006/03/06/D8G663F80.html


57 posted on 03/06/2006 10:34:18 AM PST by savedbygrace (SECURE THE BORDERS FIRST (I'M YELLING ON PURPOSE))
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To: Toespi
It is STILL just a gay disease

It's gone way beyond that. About 35% of HIV transmission in this country is now heterosexual.

58 posted on 03/06/2006 10:37:29 AM PST by antiRepublicrat
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To: Toespi
It is STILL just a gay disease and all the sitcoms, movies, awards, media hype, fundraisers and screaming isn't going to ever change that one fundamental fact.

You can't say that to the people of southern Africa, who've lost half of an entire generation to AIDS.

59 posted on 03/06/2006 10:37:42 AM PST by ER Doc
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To: higgmeister

Thanks for letting me know and for this picture...


60 posted on 03/06/2006 10:38:28 AM PST by Beth528
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