HOLLYWOOD TV STAR Walks Out On Dick Clark's Obscene AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS

World Net Daily ^ | 1/19/03 | WND

[Z in Oregon]

For "Everybody Loves Raymond" star Patricia Heaton, the last straw came when a performer at the 30th annual American Music Awards made graphic references to three-way sex. That, and, perhaps, Sharon Osbourne's joke about what she called Mariah Carey's "fake" endowments.

Patricia Heaton

Though the actress was at the awards show to introduce a pre-recorded retrospective of executive producer Dick Clark's annual music show, enough was enough. She walked out of the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, disgusted by what she called "an onslaught of lewd jokes and off-color remarks."

A two-time Emmy winner for her portrayal of Debra Barone on "Everybody Loves Raymond," the sitcom star had grown increasingly upset with the raw and raunchy comments made by presenters, performers and the hosts for last Monday's show – the infamous Osbournes.

"I'm no prude, but this was such a vulgar and disgusting show," Heaton told the Cleveland Plain-Dealer.

Heaton marches to the beat of her own drummer in an industry not known for such politically incorrect thinking. She even boasts Rush Limbaugh among her personal friends.

"I arrived a little late and was seated in the audience," Heaton said. "I was going to present what's called a video package – a look at 30 years of the American Music Awards. Well, what was passing for humor basically ranged from stupid to vulgar, and I just thought, 'I'm not going to be part of this.' So I walked out and said, 'Get me my car. I'm leaving.'"

Even the show-business industry publications and reporters covering the event noted the Osbournes and other performers kept the ABC network censors working overtime. Print advertisements for the live awards event showed a roaring Ozzy Osbourne saying, "I'll be bleeped!"

"The entire evening became about bleeping," said Heaton. "It was as if they were trying to become more like the MTV awards. But it's one thing if this kind of stuff is on MTV at 10 at night. It's quite another if it's on ABC at 8 o'clock. I don't know what Dick Clark was thinking."

She continued: "I really didn't know what I was getting into. I mean, there was Ryan Seacrest pulling open his co-presenter's shirt, then noticing there was a 12-year-old girl in the front row. And he says, 'Don't worry, honey, you'll have a pair of these soon.' And everybody went crazy. It felt like I was in the Roman Colosseum. As far as I'm concerned, it was an affront to anyone with a shred of dignity, self-respect and intelligence."

Will Heaton take heat in Hollywood for her decision? She's not expecting it.

"And if there is," she said, "who cares? When I was waiting for my car, one of the security people came up to me and said, 'I just want you to know how much I admire what you're doing.' So I wasn't the only one who felt this way. The camera coordinator for the awards was our camera coordinator from 'Raymond.' And when I walked on the set the next day, he started applauding."

---

[eccentric]

I gave up 'network' television, too. I don't understand people who don't have cable because they think it is worse than what is on the 'air.' Cable has the educational shows (if PBS won't show it, cable will) and the old syndicated shows. I was so disappointed when sci-fi took off Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.

[Texas Eagle]

How anyone can watch that drug-addled buffoon is beyone me.

I think it helps if you're a drug-addled buffoon yourself.

[SW6906]

She's well known to be conservative in her political views.

[lainie]

How great is this. Fantastic!

[lainie]

Hey, if anyone has it, post the feedback email address for Dick Clark's outfit.

[kitkat]

I emailed her to thank her. Please folks, it's easy to do. JUst look for the "contact us" at the bottom of the page.

[toenail]

[blackbart.223]

"How anyone can watch that drug-addled buffoon is beyone me.

It's like watching a train wreck. You don't want to but you can't help it.

[blackbart.223]

To be perfectly honest, I never watch any awards show. They are full of people who have an unmerited high opinion of themselves.

[isthisnickcool]

Anyone who doesn't love the Osbournes should be stripped of their citizenship and exiled to Iran

I actually ran the bleep across the bleeping-ing Osbournes earlier this bleeping-ing evening. For the bleep of me I don't understand what the bleeping-ing problem is. /sarcasm off

Seriously, it's nothing more than a freak show with an odd mix of the somewhat British Beverly Hillbillies. Only in America could such a pathetic and motley crew become pop stars.

Good for Heaton for walking out.

[Ms. AntiFeminazi]

I love Patricia Heaton and I enjoy watching The Osbournes (on their own show).

The Osbournes have nothing to lose by being as outrageous and vulgar as they can be on regular TV. After watching their "real life" show, I'm convinced their behavior on regular TV is not only very natural for them, but also very deliberate. They can behave when they want to. I also find them to be unusually PRO-FAMILY.

Patricia Heaton is one of my favorites. However, twice in the past couple of weeks, she has really disappointed me.

In a very recent ELR episode, she says she's a firm believer of "it takes a village" to raise kids. That quote was unnecessary and very disappointing to me. She knows perfectly well with whom and what most people will associate that phrase. After all, according to this article, she claims to be friends with Rush Limbaugh. I'm still leaning my head wondering why the heck she agreed to that line, if she didn't put it in herself.

In a personal interview I saw on TV, she openly discussed all the plastic surgeries that she has had. She's had it ALL. I was so disappointed. She gave me hope that women closing in on 40 and 50 could stay looking somewhat, ahem, firm. Now I see she merely had to pay for her youthful image. Sigh. My hopes have been dashed. :)

[Brad’s Gramma]

A breath of fresh air!!!!!

[skr]

The "it takes a village" idea, as interpreted by African villagers is that the parents have the ultimate responsibility but that the children are affected by those outside the home, the others, though, being villagers and not the village's government. The liberals have expanded the phrase to mean that the village is the government and that the government is needed to raise a child. There is a distinction to consider in the interpretation, before condemning it out-of-hand.

[homeschool mama]

Patricia Heaton was great on O'Reilly. She was open and humorous about her um...surgeries. Birthed four babies and needed a tuck...nursed four babies and needed a lift. If it were that easy. :o)

[Ms. AntiFeminazi]

There is a distinction to consider in the interpretation, before condemning it out-of-hand.

I agree, but it gave Hillary an audience whether or not that was the intention.

I'm still a great fan of Patrica Heataon even if she is part plastic. :)

[billclintonwillrotinhell]

Thanks for the e-mail/message board info for Patricia.
I went to her message board and praised her, as well.
Unfortunately, what she witnessed before walking out was
par for the course when it comes to Disney's ABC - or
pretty much any of the broadcast networks these days.

You have to search long and hard on the cable or satellite
networks to find any high-quality television these days.
I feel sorry for people who can't afford a cable or
satellite package. I can't imagine being stuck with abc,
cbs, nbc, fox, pbs. I think PAX is the only family-friendly
broadcast network, unless that's on cable with everything
else.

[Mo1]

I'm still a great fan of Patrica Heataon even if she is part plastic. :)

She is not part plastic .. after giving birth and breast feeding four child she had a breast lift and a tummy tuck because things started heading south ..

[billclintonwillrotinhell]

My viewing list is mostly Fox News, the Weather Channel,
Game Show Network, TV Land and Country Music Television.

I used to hate country music, but then I stumbled upon
CMT. Their videos are pretty amazing, and the country
musicians actually tell stories in their music, as opposed
to most rap and pop "artists" whose main mission seems to be
assaulting our nation's children at the earliest possible
age.

Michelle Malkin was debating some liberal on Fox News
last night, and the liberal was trying to soften the
image of rappers by calling them "urban poets" instead of
rappers! LOL! Those "urban poets" seem pretty good at
thinking of words that rhyme with luck, pitch and shore.

[billclintonwillrotinhell]

I actually watched the Food Network several weeks ago
when they had a special all about the spice, paprika.

That's right, they did an entire program about paprika!
And it was a GREAT show that kept my attention the whole
time. There was this guy with a British accent traveling
around Hungary, from the paprika pepper fields to the
manufacturing plants to the restaurants. It was one of
the best TV shows I've seen in recent memory, because it
was extremely creative.

The slimeballs in Hollywood could never come up with
a show like that. When I think of Hollywood, I remember
when a certain network news anchor was caught off guard
during 1996 election coverage, referring to a certain
rapist president as not having a creative bone in his
entire body.

When it comes to Hollywood these days, it's hard to find
any creativity. It's just shock, shock and more shock.
For quality, stick to re-runs, documentaries, country
music and Fox News.

[fightinJAG]

The Food Network is packed with just such gems--full of creativity, often history and culture, joy in simple pleasures.

BTW, if you haven't made yourself sit through your first episode of Iron Chef yet, get it a try. I thought this was the wierdest thing in the world. Well, it is. But after I watched one episode and got the hang of it, I found it was not only fascinating and often hilarious (the spook they do on NFL side-line reporting is OTT), but many episodes are quite suspensful. Yes, you will be sitting on the edge of your La-Z-Boy, wondering if the challenger will beat out Iron Chef Japanese this time.