Thank God Oscar is Just a Statue

It continues to amaze me that professional performers, those individuals PAID to recite words, make absolute ill-prepared asses of themselves on the Oscar stage. How hard is it to REQUIRE that every single nominee presents a prepared, timed response to the Oscars' committee, and that those responses are recited when the Oscar is handed to the recipient? With all the technology available to the entertainment industry, surely there is an app that would allow the recipient's acceptance speech to appear immediately on the tele-prompter screen so that when the person finally makes it to the mic, s/he has prepared remarks to deliver.

The f-bomb response was not funny or cute; it was offensive, especially coming from an actor at the top of her profession being honored by her peers on a world stage. The constant "Oh, my God" response from recipients becomes annoying when it's all one can think to say. Do the nominees really think that we believe they didn't think/believe they would win, so they did not prepare anything to say when/if they did? For crying out loud: believe you'll win and know what you're going to say BEFORE one step is taken onto the red carpet.

Perhaps the Oscars really is all about the fashion, as audiences have been led to believe. It matters not who one is or what one has accomplished if one is not a hit on the red carpet. Who are you wearing is the new how are you? or congratulations for your nomination. Really? CoJo gets to decide who wins the fashion parade, while Joan is allowed to disrespect any and all contestants in the world's most expensive fashion show? Why?

What has happened to dignity and respect? What has happened to formal events that showcase our manners to the world? Why do our most important public figures stand in front of an open mic and revel in their personal lives, rather than honor their professional accomplishments? I like solemnity in solemn occasions and dislike the tactless show of crassness that substitutes for it in today's public events. I stopped going to graduation ceremonies when they became "beach parties" in the 1990s, with alcohol in abundance, beach balls being tossed throughout the graduating class, Hawaiian leis and floral bouquets, and decorated caps and gowns replacing decorum. I dislike weddings that are all about the couple's personal eccentricities ... to the dismay of the guests who are subjected to bridezillas' whims in proper attire and the huge after-parties that have replaced the reception. Just because the bride is a tattooed Goth does not mean that all of the wedding guests share her enthusiasm for either that lifestyle or the public manifestation of it at a wedding, including a black wedding cake topped with a skull.

This Oscar show was intended to honor the long years of its history, to showcase the progression of the profession; instead, it highlighted how far from the dignity of the past this production has swerved. Young kids hosting the event, being cool and making punked remarks about one another, probably reaches an advertiser's demographic, but it sure turned me off to watching the event. I watched the tributes, heard the winner's announced, but spent the rest of the show with the mute button, beginning with the f-bomb thank you speech.

It's challenging for me to believe that this Oscar event is what the original Oscar committee foresaw, and I'd like to go back in time to a more meaningful event that honors the professionals. I'd like to hear the hosts simply keep the show moving, rather than interject their own style/sense of humor into the program. I'd like to hear the presenters acknowledge the professionalism of the actor, rather than bring up their past indiscretions. I'd like the winners to thank the Academy for the honor, rather than gush over the co-star who impregnated her and/or another male winner's new boyfriend. I'd like to enjoy watching the Oscars, rather than cringe my way through it, wondering who's going to say what next.

If Oscar were not just a statue, he'd be turning over in his grave!