I have to say I wasn’t really feeling for or against the whole Chris Rock debate that was going on, and the discussion…and more of discussion and debate…and then sheer resignation. So, let’s get back to that debate part with a rant from someone who previously didn’t give a hoot.
What the hell is the host of the Oscars doing slamming them in public and insinuating all manner of things? Why hasn’t the Academy (Oscar producer Gil Cates in particular) gotten off their asses and sacked this guy to pull in someone who is a) funny and b) doesn’t obtain what little comic value they have by openly belittling such serious and well respected award ceremonies as well as their current employers and the people paying them money?
Why the sudden change and outburst? Well, check out his latest rant from Virgin, and likewise half the Internet:
“I never watched the Oscars. Come on, it’s a fashion show,” Rock recently declared.
“What straight black man sits there and watches the Oscars? Show me one! Awards for art are f***ing idiotic.” When asked what he will be wearing to the show he continued his rant. “Nothing against people who aren’t straight, but what straight guy that you know cares? Who gives a f***?” said Rock.
That’s not all of it either, some reports have him talking about a hell of a lot more. This guy is a prize twat. These are your employers you are talking about, and the most respected Film Awards ceremony in the world. Hopefully your film chances are now down the tubes, oh, forgive me, I’ve just seen your film record, they already are.
“Simply put, this is a disgrace,” one veteran Hollywood mogul, who asked not to be identified, said from Los Angeles. “This guy is out there saying ‘awards for art are f***ing idiotic’ and he is hosting the show produced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences? I guess the joke is on us!”
Straight up it is (this is difficult, I’m thinking one word then instantly changing to much more acceptable language while typing!). I wouldn’t dare start talking to the press and stating that all the customers of the company I work for are idiots who are also gay (please note that was a similar example of what Chris Rock has said, and in no way do I think the customers of one of the largest financial institutions in Europe are idiots or any other derogatory statement, neither do I believe being gay is negative term or choice of life). What would happen to me? Well I would be sacked immediately and I would no doubt see law suits galore heading my way.
So what does the Producer of the Oscars think? Immediate action perchance? The Oscars reputation and ethics have been brought into question, as well as their panel of voters and their entire audience. Oh yes, here’s what we do, courtesy of the Guardian:
“The Academy is excited about Chris Rock hosting this year’s Oscar telecast and looking forward to a very funny evening with him,” Cates told Reuters. “Chris’s comments over the past few weeks are meant to be humorous digs at the show that some people, obviously including Chris himself, think maybe a bit too stuffy.”
Pause for reflection. Deep breath. What the…? Oh, so I can say all those things in a humorous way now can I? Fantastic. I’m going on record about my employers tomorrow. Give me strength.
They need to change the host. I don’t care how late it is, replace him. Get Stephen Fry in, he’s very funny. What can we expect from the show? A continuous stream of slagging of the Academy, the nominees, the winners, past winners, etc, etc, etc. Not big, not clever, note respectful, not good marketing, and not very intelligent. I’ll wait for the write up’s now thanks.
well, chris rock did a good job at the oscars and boosted viewers up to 42 million which is good for the oscars. so i guess people liked him, or they were just curious to see him and what he is all about. either way, he helped the oscars from being yet another boring ceremony.
“…it may not matter to anyone else but the oscars matter to me because its magical.”
Unless you’re one LSD or some really good weed, how is the Oscars magical? Billy Crystal? Please.
Chris Rock was the worst choice…..
No wander that USA lacks the tradition… Whenever we are close to having one, we allow host like this one to spoil the tradition, and completely change the award show, and the audience….
So so sad and so bad!
NEVER!
I will NEVER,NEVER,NEVER,NEVER,NEVER,NEVER, watch this crap again!
Mary-
Take of your white sheet off honey and grow a brain.
There are more white actors winning because there are more whites in hollywood acting, you fool. i believe that blacks and whites do have different comedic styles, but this is only partly true because eddie murphy, dave chapelle and chris rock did not become successful on black support alone. obviously, they appeal to a lot of whites and hispanics.
Chris Rock was chosen because no matter how raunchy , tasteless and tacky his comedy can be………..he is damn funny and very real and he is a smart comedian. Not everyone is going to like him would be unrealistic but he does have mass appeal. They asked him 4 times previously, is what i heard and he declined, so obviously they sought him out. They could have went with someone safer but that equates to boring. The whole thing gave the oscars the publicity it needed and i believe that was the point. If they went with the status quo, ratings probably would have been worse than last years. Sure you can get someone up there that loves everyone, their employers, the fellow actors, the chairs and table clothes, the carpet, the kodak theatre, the dinner napkins, etc etc but that equates to what the ratings of yesteryears have shown……………….BOREDOM!!!!!!!!!
OK GENIUS. IF YOU ARE SO DAMN SMART, YOU WOULD KNOW THAT OKI IS SHORT FOR OKINAWA, AS IN JAPAN NOT CHINA DUMBO!! AND YOU SAY I DON’T KNOW WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT?
OH, AS FOR THE CALCULS, BEEN THERE, DONE THAT, GOT THE DEGREE (not the t-shirt). SOUNDS TO ME LIKE YOU ARE JUST SOME BITTER WHITE CHICK WHO IS THREATENED BECAUSE HER WORST NIGHTMARE IS COMMING TO PAST, US “COLORED PEOPLE” AS YOU WOULD SAY ARE CAPABLE OF A HELL OF A LOT MORE THAN YOU WISH WE WERE. LOOK OUT!! US “COLORED PEOPLE” CAN DO MORE THAN JUST CLEAN YOUR FLOORS AND WASH YOUR FUNKY DRAWERS!!
BLACKS ARE JUST AS GOOD ON THE SILVER SCREEN AS WHITES (Denzel, Samuel, Morgan, Sidney, Fishburne). WE DON’T GET NOMINATED BECAUSE OF MORONS LIKE YOU! I’M NOT GOING TO WASTE MY TIME TALKING TO YOU ABOUT THE TALENT ASPECT OF THE SUBJECT. I’M SURE THAT THAT CONVERSATION WOULD BE WAY OVER YOUR HEAD. I’LL SAVE THAT FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS A HIGHER IQ (yo Forrest Gump, drop me a line or two).
I’M A MARINE CORPS OFFICER STATIONED IN OKINAWA (Japan, in case you forgot). I’VE SPENT MONTHS IN REMOTE LOCATIONS AROUND THE WORLD, FIGHTING SO PEOPLE LIKE YOU CAN HAVE THE RIGHT TO SAY IDIOTIC THINGS, THINK IDIOTIC THOUGHTS, AND BE A NARROW-MINDED BIGGOT. DON’T WORRY, NO THANKS REQUIRED (like you would thank a brother anyway).
I SEE WHY YOU TOLD THE GIFTED ONE TO STOP SOUNDING SO SMART. SO IT CAN SEEM AS IF YOU HAVE A SHREAD OF INTELLIGENCE. IF YOU DON’T HAVE ANYTHING INTELLIGENT TO SAY, THEN STAY OFF THE BLOG!! THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT TO POST YOUR OPINION ON THE BLOG IS TO POSSESS A BRAIN STEM!!
So Chris where is oki at? You sound like a chinese bum. Go cook your rice and duck, and do my calculus then we can talk.
As I said Chris Rock is not fit for the Oscars. It is obvious that blacks are just not as good of actors as whites. Thats why we get nominated more.
you have no clue what you are talking about
MARY, THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS…. THE THE “POWERS THAT BE” WHO CONTROLLS THE OSCARS KNOW THAT THEY NEED BETTER RATINGS, AND MORE THAN “MIDDLE AGED WHITE FOLKS” WATCHING THE OSCARS. BE REALISTIC FOR A SECOND. THE SHOW IS DRY AND IT SUCKS! THE ONLY ONES WHO CAN APPRECIATE THE SHOW ARE “MIDDLE AGED WHITE FOLKS”. NOW BRACE YOURSELF MARY, I’VE HAVE SOME NEWS THAT YOU MAY FIND DISTURBING….MORE THAN “MIDDLE AGED WHITE FOLKS LIVE IN AMERICA”!! (hope you’re ok after hearing that disturbing news)THE OSCARS FINALLY REALIZED THIS. THAT IS WHY THEY HIRED CHRIS ROCK.
THE OSCAR PEOPLE USED TO FEEL THE SAME WAY YOU DO MARY. THAT IS WHY I CAN COUNT ON ONE HAND THE NUMBER OF MY PEOPLE (whom as you say has no place in the oscars) WHO WON AN OSCAR IN CATEGORIES OTHER THAN ORIGINAL SCORE, OR BEST SONG. EVEN THOUGH ALOT OF THEM WHO GOT OVERLOOKED SURE AS HELL DESERVED TO WIN.
EVERYTHING THAT CHRIS ROCK SAID IS RIGHT ON POINT. MANY PEOPLE FEEL THE SAME WAY. HE’S JUST THE ONLY ONE WITH THE BALLS TO SAY IT. THAT’S WHY THE OSCARS NEED CHRIS ROCK. GET USED TO IT MARY, THIS CERTAIN GROUP OF PEOPLE YOU ARE REFERRING TO FINALLY HAVE A VOICE IN THIS COUNTRY.
I’LL BET THAT IT WOULD JUST BURN YOU UP IF JAMIE FOXX WON THE BEST ACTOR AWARD (and he sure as hell deserves it). ME, I’LL BE CELEBRATING. I’M NOT GOING TO HOLD MY BREATH THOUGH. THERE IS ALOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE AS NARROW-MINDED AS YOU.
Mary = Internet Troll.
Pronunciation: ‘in-t&r-“net ‘trOl
Function: noun
Etymology: Tech Slang
A: to fish for ‘flame war’ for by trolling B: desparate cry for attention in the online medium C: an opinion stated purely to antagonize a forum, blog or bulletin board thread.
Gifted one stop trying to act like you are so intelligent. You want people to name comedians other than Bill Cosby or Wayne brady to host the show? Well I am sorry because I cant think of any. Maybe that is a reflection of your race. Your people should like comedy with a little more class and substance. Maybe some groups of people are not fit for the Oscars.
what’s good richie rich
Ok I understand. this is a public post, and you prefer to stick to the script. I’m cool with that
Lol. did you bollywood or hollywood. Frankly, who cares about asian Cinema? I don’t know, but are their movies regularly incorporated into oscar criteria. The only one I know is crouching tiger.
Don’t get me wrong I love asian movies as much as the next person, but i thought the oscars only represented U.S movies. I could be wrong.
Richard All I ask is that you name one or a few people who are black that could host the oscars besides Wayne Brady and Bill Cosby
Just answer this one question: Please name another person who is black that you would think that would do a good job of hosting the oscars. that’s all I ask. It’s just one simple question.
Chris rock does have respect for his employees. Maybe your respect is different from others.The people who hired him knew he was going to make racial comments about so little of blacks being in the oscar world or watching the oscars. You can have respect for your employers and still make fun of them. again this is what he does. You know it and i know it.
I just want to know how is Chris rock being disrespectful to his employers? please elaborate. thanks
“that blacks are more represented in movies than those other races.” are they? What about Bollywood and Asian cinema?
Look, this has nothing to do with race, you were the one that started down that route. The post is nothing to do with that, and I’m not going down an over politically correct route. If you want some discussion on that then feel free to mail me, but I’m not going down that route here.
The host could be anyone else, as I’ve said, with humour and respect for his employers, viewers and stars. That’s it I’m afraid, that’s all the post is about.
If they need diversity, why does that automatically equate to being black? Surely they could have a comedian who is Eastern, Asian, Mexican, etc, or female.
Nobody buy you is making this about colour.
Now, let’s really be real. Chris Rock is there because, as others have picked up on, he’s controversial and liked by an audience that the Oscars doesn’t tend to attract. A younger audience. They feel it’s time to move on, and this is the way they think they should do it. Plus it’s getting them bags of publicity.
This is not about Jamie Foxx getting nominated either, that’s not the reason they’ve pulled him onboard, otherwise we would have seen him for Denzel or Halle’s Oscars.
What I don’t like, and I will say it once again, is the way he is slagging off his employers, the viewers and the Oscars in general.
Oh, and I have no idea what you’re talking about in your last paragraph. I am neither concerned nor scared. I hardly think that the Oscars can be compared to a “white organisation”. I don’t really think these types of comments deserve any form of response.
Hey “the gifted one”, why are you saying it’s because “us white folks” don’t like “black comedians”? What?
There’s a phrase to describe that type of comment, and something I shall not say here or rise to.
This post has nothing to do race. I don’t like the presenter of the Oscars slamming the Oscars, the stars, or the viewers. Whatever colour, sex, religion, inside leg measurement or lowered IQ they have.
Before you even suggest that kind of thing perhaps you would even take a moment to consider if you know anything about the people of whom you are making that accusation?
…and why should we name another black comedian? Why do they have to be black? Perhaps just funny and respectful to their employers and the viewers would be good.
Well said Marla!
Hollywood is already “edgy” enough as it is from paris hilton to micheal jackson. i like the oscars because it is a time for things to be traditional and classy and i think it should be left alone and not bring in “edgy” hosts which will corrupt the one thing left in hollywood that is respectable and gracious. everyone is so deformed nowadays and nothing is beautiful anymore and that i say to everything. it may not matter to anyone else but the oscars matter to me becuase its magical. i would be so SO so dissapointed if i were to go to the academy awards and it was just like everything else i see from the tabloids to the very city i live in. i’ll see how chris rock does but if he turns that night into one big blur of filth spun out from his comedic antics it will just go to show. i’m not just picking on chris rock, there are many people i wouldnt want to host the oscars. sure i dig crude humor but there’s a time and place…academy awards isnt one of them.
Hey triflic way to put it I like your style.
I want someone to name another black person to host the oscars besides Bill Cosby? You guys don’t like whoopi Goldberg either? Hmmmm, what does that say. Let me break it down. you people don’t like Black comedy. Let me repeat it, You white people don’t like Black comedy. Plain and simple. There is a difference in comedy, one is in your face tell it like it is, and the other goody two shoes let’s have a gee wilikers good time.
This problem with Chris Rock hosting the oscars is only a screen for what the real problem is. If you are going to ask a black comedian to host the oscars then don’t ask him to act white, he is going to tell it like it is, hence this is how blacks interact with peers, some one is always getting cracked on. But it’s not a big deal.
Now If you look at Chris rock’s life outside of comedy. I guarantee you a million dollars, he is squeaky clean to the other actors and actresses. On stage he is a different person.
If you are one of those people who say chris rock is unintelligent then you are mistaken and are likely a fool. He is highly intelligent, and socially aware, this is why white people like him above all the other black comedians. He is smart, funny and edgy at the same time which makes him deadly, and no other black comedian has these attributes.
Listen to when Chris rock talk in interviews, there is substance when he speaks. He is in your face but not obtrusive. If you ever watched the Chris rock shows and his guest you will see just how much knowledge this guy has. Plus Chris rock doesn’t act overly black, look at the way he dresses, you really don’t see him in throw backs, he is very clean and casual. You might think what I’m saying is stupid. But why is Colin powell more liked than AL Sharpton. It’s simple. Colin Powell acts white, and is not too black.
Now lets sum up why the people from the oscars chose Chris Rock:
1. His tone of voice is not too black sounding
2. He is controversial but yet intelligent
3. He style of comedy is very smart and not the
average black person’s style
4. He speaks with substance
5. He knows a lot about politcs
6. he is not a hip-hop type of comedian, he is
very diversified in all subjects
7. He is almost like a new age philospher,
Packaging different concepts that others might
not grasp
(Philosophy teachers do use Chris rock and
his concepts when talking about plato and
Socrates theories)
So there you have it. This is why steve harvey will never be chosen and Chris rock will.
Hey Justin! I watch the BAFTA’s and I try to watch the main parts of the Oscars, even before the MovieBlog…
…I guess I am a little sad. I do have a girlfriend, really…and a life…and a fast car. Sniff.
I am a bit infuriated by all this huffing and puffing about what Chris Rock has said in interviews. Matt Drudge is a jerk, clearly trying to damage Chris Rock with his mud-slinging. Rock didn’t say anythign offensive, her merely made some very frank observations about the show and who watches it. I’m seeing all these attacks against rock as rascist, old-Hollywood efforts to get the man fired. I really think that Chris Rock is what the Oscars needs. I don’t know a single person who has really made any concerted effort to watch the show recently. It is always boring, and I think that Rock can help save the show’s ass. Once again, Matt Drudge is an asshole.
Phew! Loads to come back to! Right, let’s see if we can fit all this in.
Tom – Agree, the point is publicity, and he’s certainly got loads of that.
Carl – I still don’t think he’s funny! That’s your subjective opinion that he is! ;)
Carl\Adam – Yeah, he does have a point it is subjective, as is everything in this world. What awards show isn’t without subjectivity? With that, I’ll leap onto comments from…
Darko – The Academy Awards are the biggest, best and the awards are the most revered in the industry. Sure they are biased, which awards show isn’t? Every awards show is biased and bent towards it’s own movies and productions. Look at the BAFTA’s with Vera Drake, look at The Sea Inside at the Goya awards, and on and on. Every awards ceremony is true to it’s own country and talent, some more than others.
The Aviator won Best Film at the BAFTA’s, so do you think the same of that award ceremony? I think what you’re highlighting is the inherint problem with any award ceremony, in that they fail to recognise a classic at the time of its release and that each movie, or entry in any category, is pitched against those others in the category at that time, and those entries pre-chosen by a select panel.
In other words the entries aren’t pitched against what bounds that categories best and worst and against anything outside that year. What that means is that movies like Taxi Driver go unrecognised at the time and begin to build up the classic label. The whole system unaturally weights entries and looks only at the other pre-selected entries in it’s category for that year.
It’s not entirely fair, and it’s not very accurate at picking out deserving winners. Hence, as we’ve seen so many times at the awards, someone is given an award for a mediocre performance or production, because of looking back on their past record and realising how good they really are. That’s what lifetime achievement awards become, a mop up for the missed awards.
Ziblatz – Yup, John (the only Editor by the way) said that very thing, again, that’s all awards ceremonies. As for the costume issue, well that’s what the media are making of it isn’t it? That’s their fault and it’s not something that’s really carried into awards ceremonies, it’s something that the media make of the walk in and the Stars and the Designers can exploit to get more marketing. Stinks though, belittles the whole thing.
Triflic – Thanks for the post of the entire interview. I couldn’t get hold of it, everyone was carrying their own snippets from press sources. Since I’m not a press person, just an e-learning consultant, I couldn’t get hold.
Tom – I agree with what you say, except for the last comment about the MovieBlog. I don’t like it when there are stories about Stars personal lives, apart from that any story about the Movies deserves to be dropped on here and discussed, in this very way. This isn’t a news report site, it’s a personal views and discussion site.
What would you have us do, post nothing until it was finally announced? We’d have nobody here but us. We post what we’re interested about, have a voice about and want to get people involved talking about, and this is fitting perfectly, this post is getting us all discussing. We’re definitely not about sensational headlines!
This post is about the belittling of the Oscars and the bad choices I think (and I think John’s with me) that the production team are making. They are definitely looking for press coverage from the controversy and trying to get the Oscars all hip and cool by slapping on Rock’s face everywhere and getting him to host it. Yet I still think he’ll just end up, as he already has, belittling the show and insulting all those involved.
If you’d watched the BAFTA’s just passed you’d have seen some funny presenting and still paying respect to the people involved and the audience who love movies, and the viewing audience was good…for the UK anyway!
Keep the discussion coming!
“bland, fawning obsequiousness”
I’m definitely going to have to find a way to use that phrase in a conversation. :-)
Vic
“the most respected Film Awards ceremony in the world”
Excuse me? Maybe in the US, but here in Europe, everybody knows it is for the “show”. Those people wouldn’t know a great movie if somebody came down from heaven and told them it is great. They give the impression of integrity and choose American dramatic films with charismatic features and overcooked storylines. But let’s be honest, they have made more mistakes than good choices. And this years “Million Dollar Baby” or ??? “Finding Neverland” ??? are they serious ???
And where are the Asian movies in the foreign film category. If there is one country making interesting movies these days, it is South Korea. Honestly! I fall asleep with most other flicks.
Of course, I don’t want to put all the movies in the same basket, but I just came out of ‘Hide and Seek’ and realized how silly and stereotypical most movies are. Sequels, prequels, remakes, … makes the world go round. Even the idea of trying to recreate Asian cinema with more money is just a typical studio concept..
So √¢‚Ǩ≈ìrespected√¢‚Ǩ¬ù, … well, not here. The Aviator is a great film, but not Scorsese’s best. I think he will finally get an oscar, and everybody will agree, because of the man Scorsese is and what he has made. Well, I am sorry, but I just don’t get that. Let’s not forget he didn’t get an oscar-NOMINATION for Taxi Driver ?!?!? (a milestone in American cinema) But John G. Avildsen got the oscar that year for Rocky ?!?!? And this is just the tip of the iceberg !
I am sorry, if my blood get’s too high, I need to lay down. But do you guys honestly believe that the organisation made a mistake for picking Chris Rock? This was calculated of course! They want him to be acting that way. It√¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s part of the SHOW !!!!
Rock is Funny.
Awards Shows(specifically these)are stupid.
yup, that about sums it up.
*Round of applause for Triflic*
Because those who produce entertainment news have a lot of space to fill, and because they’re in such an overcrowded marketplace that there’s an arms race of sensationalist headlines, two things happen:
1) Every story must be over-emphasised to the point of ridiculousness. Anything any celebrity says that diverges in the slightest from bland, fawning obsequiousness is witten up as them “blasting” something, “slamming” so-and-so, being “furious” at the other. Actually read the stories, read the quotes in context, you can see it’s bullshit. Forget “slamming” or “blasting”, “makes jovial, jokey comment of mild reproof” is more like it.
2) Entertainment news people are suckers for anybody with an agenda. Anybody who gives them a story with a sensational spin, they’ll lap it up unquestioningly. That could be a low-life like Matt Drudge, who’ll stop at nothing to continually reinforce the party line of a Mainstream Media that’s liberal, out of touch, disrespectful, immoral, etc. Or it could be a studio wanting to spin something positively, and agent wanting to spin something negatively, or whatever… You read that Brosnan wanted $42 million for the next Bond? Well, maybe he did, maybe he didn’t, but who do you think gave them that story? The studio, to deflect the flak they’re getting for dumping Brosnan and failing to find a replacement.
If you don’t read entertainment stories with a pinch of salt the size of Mount Doom, you’re being had one way or the other. And I think the Movie Blog – for all its fine, fine qualities – gets suckered by it just a little too often…
Triflic,
Yesterday I came to the very same conclusion. This is all to pump the show’s ratings (which have been dropping). They’re hoping people will tune in to see whether this will be a train wreck.
Vic
From David Poland over at Movie City News.com
Chris Rock says controversial things!!!
Is it me, or does this all seem like a marketing stunt for Disney’s Chicken Little (coming this summer to a theater near you)? I mean good gosh a’ mighty!
Let’s start by looking at what Chris Rock actually said, starting with the Matt Drudge’s “most controversial” pull quotes (in italics)√¢‚Ǩ¬¶
“I never watched the Oscars. Except the Halle [Berry]/Denzel [Washington] year. But even then, I went back and forth to other channels. Come on, it’s a fashion show. No one performs; it’s not like a music show. What straight black man sits there and watches the Oscars? Show me one. And they don’t recognize comedy, and you don’t see a lot of black people nominated, so why should I watch it? Where’s my in?”
So, you can see√¢‚Ǩ¬¶ no reference to gay men watching. It’s really about whether the Oscars are accessible to black male audiences, aside from the potential black gay male population that might watch for the clothes.
Does anyone on the planet dispute this as a complete thought… as part of an entire paragraph? I expect not. If they do, they are either extremely sensitive or in deep denial. Oscar has not been particularly friendly to black people or comic actors.
And here is the next “bomb”√¢‚Ǩ¬¶
“Awards for art are f—ing idiotic.”
But, of course, Drudge takes the comment completely out of context… the actual question and comment…
Question: “Are you rooting for anyone?”
Rock answers: “Awards for art are f—ing idiotic. Unless two people are doing the exact same thing, how can you really say somebody’s better than the other? If Jamie Foxx is doing Ray and Clint Eastwood’s doing Ray, then you can kind of judge the two.”
Does anyone want to make a big, loud argument about the content of what he said? Again, if you want to take it out of context, you can make it sound horrible. But what he is actually saying will be said by no fewer than half the winners when they come up tote stage (if allowed to come up to the stage) to get their awards. And it certainly would be seconded by actors like Sean Penn, Meryl Streep, Clint Eastwood and many others who are not so anxious to work for a win, even if they are excited as hell when they do win something.
Rock continues…
“But I root for people in the sense that some awards will help people’s careers more than others. I know if Jamie Foxx or Don Cheadle wins, it’s gonna help out their careers. There will be an absolute change in their lives if they win. Whereas if Johnny Depp wins, it’s like, Yeah? He’s got an award, but he’s always gonna make the same money; he’s always gonna get the best offers and work with the best people. If Leo DiCaprio wins, who gives a f—? It’s like, Oh, now he’s gonna get 20 million and one dollars?”
Interesting… thoughtful… again, not really grabbing a lot of headlines for this notion.
So why are people forming a lynch mob for Chris Rock when we should all really be erasing our bookmarks for The Drudge Report? When it comes to something like this, this guy is a muckraking scumbag of the lowest order. By removing these comments from their context, he created a lie… a lie that has now been repeated over and over and over again.
And where has the media been on this? I have to admit, I just looked at the full interview on Tuesday night and what I thought was a tempest in a teapot is really a vicious attack by Drudge that could be the stuff of litigation if we weren’t in a business that says that public figures should shut up and eat it.
Could any jury that was not already predisposed against Rock or so turned off by the f-bomb find that this was not a malicious act by Matt Drudge intended to cause career harm to Chris Rock?
I won’t go as far as to play the race card here, but the primary issue that Rock takes up in this interview is being an outsider as a black man at the Oscars. And I have to say, Josh Wolk did a poor job of following up with real questions about this outsider status. Rock goes back to it over and over and over again.
“No singing for me. I don’t soft-shoe. I got Ben Vereen on standby just in case.”
“I’m wearing Sean John, by the way. Help out the black designer, fine. Like Armani needs me to wear a f—ing tux to help them out.”
“No one was thinking about me when they were making Cold Mountain.”
“Eddie Murphy was the coolest guy on the screen. He was, like, the first black guy that I can remember who was cool. I can’t remember going to see a movie with black people in it before him.”
But Wolk seems to just let is slide. Then again, this is Entertainment, not news, and while the interview questions are fine and the answers are generally amusing, the lack of real depth is Weakly.
Perhaps the most controversial comment in this interview, which could actually have a lasting effect on Rock’s relationship with the Academy has not been much reported at all:
“When did the Academy ask you to host?”
“They’ve probably been calling me since ’97. I had turned it down – it seemed like an older guy’s gig, with a tuxedo and all, and I really liked doing the MTV Awards.”
Chris Rock turned down the Oscars for the MTV Awards. Now, that is Oscar blasphemy!
One more tip from the interview… if you are in L.A. and want a unique treat, figure out whether Rock is heading to The Improv or The Laugh Factory after the big show. He says he plans on doing a post-show show. And my guess is that you will find the funniest Рand most honestly offensive Рjokes of the entire night when Rock really lets it all out.
Note: I find this funny.
I guess this is what passes for ‘irreverant’ these days.
$10 says that his comments were run by the oscar folks in an attempt to make the awards “edgier” … Yeah. Good luck with that.
Oscars.com has a blog. You can’t comment on it of course, but it has one.
Nuff said.
Carl: Amen Brother! I think Rock is a brilliant choice to host the awards.
I don’t see what all the furor is. I seem to recall one of the editors of the movie blog saying something to the effect of “the great thing about movies is that they are entirely subjective”. So, with that in mind, what in the world is the value of an awards ceremony? It’s a meaningless popularity contest and reinforces the belief that one film can be inherently “better” than another.
As far as the gay issue is concerned, I think that his comments are being misconstrued. Personally I find them humourous. I think he is again bringing attention to the meaninglessness of the awards. I mean, if they were really about assigning objective value to works of film art, why the hell does the media care so much about what the celebrities wear?
Hmm it is pretty disrespectful but I also find it mildly amusing and well…that’s it. I really can’t drum up much interest, eh? :P They’ll sort it out next year and bring back Crystal or whatever.
To be completely honest I’d take your job or the job of say, I don’t know, garbage collectors more seriously than the AMPAS. I mean garbage collectors are pretty goddamned important.
You know and Rock has a point. Art is too subjective to “award”. It’s like saying one painting is better than another. People either like it or they don’t. It’s up to the individual to decide. Lot’s of people think Clint Eastwood can direct movies really well. I personally think he is pissing all over his legacy.
Chris Rock is a comedian. A funny, edgy comedian. And saying these things – things that people are afraid to say – is part of his act. Everyone knows this. Doesn’t anyone know how to take a joke anymore? I for one am tired of seeing these tired hosts (Crystal, Whoopi) doing the same old gags. It makes the show a snoozefest – and you know it. The celebrities themselves joke about how slow and boring the show gets. The people in charge knew what they were getting when they hired Rock – he hosts the MTV awards and had no people making fun of celebrities to their faces. I think its a great thing, he is one of America’s great contemporary comics, he is relevant, intelligent, and a testament to the right of free speech. It shows the fact that comedy shouldn’t have any bounds. I can’t believe people are so quick to try and shut him up. You all take this stuff way too seriously if you’re offended by his comments. Because Chris Rock isn’t trying to offend people, he’s trying to make them laugh, and possibly think. If you’re offended, then you missed the point, you silly film snobs. I mean, c’mon… we’re talking about the star of CB4 here. Calm the F down.
Hahahahaha Tom you took the words right out of my mouth!
Unbelievable. They hire this guy because their audience figures are dropping, especially amongst key demographics like straight males, black people, and so on. And what does he do? He suggests that previous years ceremonies had limited appeal to straight black males! It’s disgusting, especially all the extra publicity it’s got them. Now loads of people who previously wouldn’t have watched it might tune in to see if Chris Rock says something unpredictable – absolutely the last thing they would have wanted. Yeah, they must be furious. Spitting blood. Blood, I tell you.