4 CommentsGrowing up in the suburbs of New York City in the 1960s and 1970s, my mother allowed me to watch television if it was The Oscars, the evening news, The Ed Sullivan Show, The Honeymooners, Leave It To Beaver, and I Love Lucy. She considered television bubble gum for the mind, and would rather have taken me to the library or a Broadway show than encourage television. This habit has spilled over into my adulthood, and still at the cocktail parties I frequent, I am never able to converse about the popular television programs. Ask me about spirituality, psychology or what books I have read and I am right there in the middle of the conversation. This is just who I am, and thus, without a doubt, we are truly products of our childhoods.
Nevertheless, unlike today where Oscar parties are common, in those days, people just watched The Oscars with their own families in the confines of their own homes. We came to learn that the best and most powerful awards were always presented last, so falling asleep early was never a viable option. The first half of the Oscars always consisted of movies that most of us never saw because either they were shorts or not readily available to the general public.
In all these years passed, I think I missed seeing The Oscars only once, and it was because we were traveling. I just cannot go without watching it. Many people would rather read about it the next day in the newspaper. Not me. Over the years, there have been many complaints about the awards presentation—they are too long, too boring, too superficial or too political. Each year is different. Each year another complaint or observation. Each year everyone has their opinion. Personally, I enjoy watching no matter what.
Confession: I even enjoy watching the entire red carpet thing, where we get to see the stars and their spontaneous and sometimes inane comments to the reporters. This year there were more dogs on the red carpet than in years past. I enjoy discussing the wardrobes with my daughter, Regine. We talk about the best and worst outfits, the best hairdos and jewelry. We giggle about who looked absolutely horrendous and how they could wear such and such a dress. It is at those moments I suggest she work as a stylist in Hollywood. She has marvelous taste and no doubt would make a ton of money, much more than she makes in New York doing her own thing, but who wants that stress? We talk about who should have won and who did not. We talk about who got nominated and how many times and why they never won. It is a tradition passed down to me from my father and it is in my blood.
Like a good book, I believe the best movies are the ones that leave you with images and feelings that last a long time after the movie is over. It is also a movie that teaches you something about life or helps you tap into an aspect of life you never knew about. Of course, through all this, it must be entertaining, otherwise why watch a movie. Over the years, I have had my favorite hosts. Admittedly, one of my all-time favorites hosted this year’s Awards—Billy Crystal. He is so funny. Gets me laughing. I still chuckle at the year he came out on stage on a white horse. What a hoot. My next favorite host was Whoopi Goldberg, who hosted a number of times. She’s marvelous, funny and bright. The last time she hosted was in 1994, and that evening is posted on YouTube. Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3S6v5yIMKs
Whoopi said she was asked to host because she seems to cross so many ethnic and political lives. “I’m and equal opportunity offender,” she offered.
Each year there is usually one movie that walks away with a slew of awards. This year, “The Artist” was that movie. It won best picture, best director, best actor, best original score, and costume design! It was a great movie and the first silent movie in nearly 100 years to win an award. Bravo!
TO MY READERS: Did you watch the Oscars last night? What did you think? Were you happy about the Academy’s decisions? I would love to hear from you and what you liked most about the awards!
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I watched the Oscars and enjoyed it very much. I thought the introduction was very clever. I loved the fashion and seeing the “stars”.
I knew that Ms. Streep would win as she should have in my opinion. The makeup artists were also amazing in doing her makeup. WOW…………
I really liked the movie Hugo and it did win awards.
Overall , I enjoyed the show and pretty much felt that the winners deserved to win.
Hi, Diana. I, too, am a dedicated Oscars watcher. I liked Billy Crystal and appreciated that they kept the show moving, but I think they should permanently discard those “bits” between presenters; they just never work. I would have chosen “The Descendants” for best film and either George or Brad for best actor. My favorite dress was Gwyn Paltrow’s, but there were other beautiful dresses as well.
I enjoyed the Oscar show–love Billy Crystal. Lora also loves watching the red carpet pre-show–me, not so much.
As far as you not watching very much TV, I heard you’re a closet Housewives of Atlanta watcher. No?
Diana,
Of course, I didn’t grow up with television, so radio was my source, and also taught me English, because I was a non- English speaking child when I entered public school. Now, of course, I do watch television, but am selective and I always ask myself whether I need mind numbing entertainment or do I want to remain alert.
I watched haphazardly the Oscars, and turned to another channel for an old film I had never seen on the internment of the Japanese-American communities during WWII, much more interesting & informative than the gala event.
The entire awards celebration is rigged, and reveals what our present culture is all about—this year it was nostalgia. Since I’m old enough to remember silent films, and really don’t worship them (they’re a form of mime), I really wanted “The Descendants” to win, because the film is about NOW, not wishful thinking about yesterday.
I, too, enjoy seeing all the gowns (I’m a dressmaker though I can’t sew any more since injuring my hands), and I’ve watched these presentations for a long, long time. Billy Crystal is old time also; his jokes are from another era, and his frozen smile irks me.
As for your discomfort about being unable to chit chat about programs, I, too, am severely limited, because my grandchldren’s popular culture is foreign to me, as were the comedies of the past. I didn’t enjoy the bluster and falseness of family television of the ’50s, westerns, crime, and utter idiocies, so I’m really “out of the loop,” but I don’t apologize. My interests lie elsewhere.
As for monitoring my children’s choices, I must admit I was remiss, and always trusted them to chose whatever they enjoyed, just as I never monitored their interests or choice of books, or friends, as you already know..
And, as an early “latch kid” myself, I started early on selecting what interested me and following my own impulses. My immigrant parents worked hard at earning a living, and were preoccupied—-and now I consider that a boon, for I’m not dependent on the opinions of others, and always “go my own way.”