Dear Tina,
So it is the day after the Golden Globes and while I touched on them briefly in last night’s post I feel there is still much to discuss. Plus I don’t really think my spastic outburst announcing Glee‘s win is adequate coverage.
Ricky Gervais is one of the best talents comedy has going these days. His stand up comedy has this wonderful blend of lightheartedness and social criticism; there is a smoothness to his delivery that causes you to laugh all the way through a bit before realizing he was just making fun of kids with cancer. His observations are much sharper than the reigning king of observational humor, Jerry Seinfeld, who is a great talent but there are only so many jokes I can hear about dry cleaning. Rather than looking at life’s mundane details, like the extra buttons that come with your shirt, Gervais takes on larger issues and then simplifies them in order to highlight their absurdity. Here, his take on The Bible and Creationism:
Being the fan of his that I am, I was particularly excited for the Golden Globes knowing that he would be hosting. I was very aware of the fact that he was on network television, being paid by network executives, and performing for a television audience–the majority of whom had probably never heard of him. So I anticipated a neutered version of the Ricky Gervais I know and love. It was certainly a wise move on behalf of the producers to enlist a host, something they hadn’t done in 15 years. I still felt, however, that a large portion of his jokes were much more elementary than innovative. I was hoping that Gervais would find a happy medium between his own comedy and the requirements of an award show host. Yet much of the humor was too easy and redundant that it made me sad to think he had written the material himself. I mean, really, a joke about all the plastic surgery you see in the room? That’s like performing at an insurance company retreat and commenting on all the white guys in the room. Also, many must be sick of the NBC late night debacle taking over all media outlets. Personally I find it much more interesting than hearing from cocktail waitresses eager to unearth their sexual escapades with Tiger Woods. But nevertheless it is the most current news story affecting media and Hollywood so what better venue than a major awards show ON NBC for some fresh material. It barely got a mention and when it did he went with the most obvious, overused joke to date: “Lets get on with it before NBC replaces me with Jay Leno.” Ughh heard it. Now make a pun about NBC not honoring their contracts.
Despite my criticisms, I still feel that he enhanced my viewing experience if for no other reason than that accent of his that could (literally?) charm the pants off me. My favorite moment came when he made a joke about Paul McCartney’s settlement: “He was behind me in coach. Saving money. He spent an awful lot last year.” When the joke was met with boo’s and “no you di-int’s” by the audience, his tactic to earn their warmth back was pointing to his Support Haiti ribbon. That is the Ricky I know and love.
At the end of the day, I think Ricky Gervais’s performance last night serves as a reminder to all future awards show hosts and future awards show viewers, that no matter how creative or edgy someone is prior to emceeing, all the producers really want them to do is facilitate a three and half hour long trophy ceremony without swearing. Maybe next year they should just do what my coaches did at the end of park district soccer seasons; hand out formica plaques to everyone who participated while they eat oranges and drink juice boxes.
Also, I’d like to discuss why it is ok that 30 Rock did not win Best Television Comedy series. It’s not because I am a fan of Glee and 30 Rock has had its time in the spotlight. Absolutely not. I may love Glee but that doesn’t take away from the fact that 30 Rock should be seasonally recognized for its exceptional writing and performing. Don’t give John Wayne the Oscar just because he’s dying when Dustin Hoffman clearly gave the better performance. I guess Glee was John Wayne in that comparison. Not one of my best. Anyway, it’s ok because I have officially decided that the 2010 Golden Globes do not count. To put it simply, I am horrified by the films and performances that won last night. I think film as an entity should forefit this year and we should stop handing out awards now before The Hangover is nominated for an Oscar.
I’m starting to get a little upset with myself because I keep knocking things I love: Ricky, Glee, and now…Meryl. Meryl wins for Best Actress in a Comedy. I’m sorry but Julie and Julia was a terrible movie. It was boring and the food they made looked bad. How could you leave a movie about one of the greatest chefs of our time and not want to eat a delicious meal? I’ll tell you why. Because, as far as I could tell, at one point Amy Adams was making beef jello. I know that Hollywood loves it when an actor portrays a real life person, especially if that person had a funny voice, but if that’s the case than Kristen Wiig should get a Cecil B. DeMille award for her portrayal of Suze Orman. Meryl is the best actress living today, I have no qualms about making such a bold statement. Regardless, that movie came out during the summer for a reason. It was a lackluster script that did not require or allow Meryl Streep to bring any depth to Julia Child. I wasn’t impressed then and I’m stunned in the bad way now. My guess as to what happened was the Hollywood Foreign Press was like “Eh these were all pretty average performances. Just give it to Meryl. No one will question it.”
Next, Sandra Bullock wins for Best Actress in a Drama. I haven’t seen The Blind Side, I’m going to be honest about that upfront. Here is my issue. Sandra appears to be on a winning streak solely for the fact that this year there were no stand out female performances. Absolutely no one that critics were raving about so the award goes to Miss Congeniality. It’s like when Reuben Studdard won American Idol. What was America supposed to do? Clearly the competition was no longer about finding someone to idolize, so they went with who they’d rather get a hug from. If Sandra Bullock deserved to win awards for her acting in this movie, trust me, I would have heard about it. In all seriousness, critics would have been discussing this role as a transformative moment for her career, the way they discussed Jamie Foxx in Ray. Also, no one gets a top acting award with this dialogue:
You’re changing that boys life.
Sandra: No. He’s changing mine.
Sandra I beg of you; go rent Monster and tell me you should get the same things Charlize Theron got.
Finally we have The Hangover. Winner of Best Musical or Comedy of the year. I’m sorry, for a moment there I thought I was watching the Teen Choice Awards and I was confused when Bradley Cooper did not go onstage and accept a surfboard from one of the Jonas Brothers. Once again, I loved this movie. Got it for Christmas. What we are discussing here is the appropriateness of this film receiving a distinguished award for being better than any other film in its genre. It was a surprise when it was nominated. Like when Joan Cusack was nominated for an Oscar for In and Out. Reviewing the competition in this category I really don’t know why the Hollywood Foreign Press didn’t just say “Ok this year we’ll take a break from this category.” Call me a snob but it feels inappropriate to me that a movie featuring an escort named Jade played by Heather Graham is the best of anything.
I was the eagerest of beavers last year to see all the films that were receiving award nominations. This year I lost interest before the season even started. So that’s that Tina. Golden Globes 2010 do not count. They will continue to not count until they can find a collection of films and actors who actually deserve to take home their shiny hood ornament. You’re welcome.
P.S. If you haven’t seen it yet, Jeff Bridges truly is amazing in Crazy Heart. He and Alec Baldwin are excused from my Golden Globe 2010 boycott.
30 Rock Quote of the Day:
Liz: I got rid of all Colin Firth movies in case they consider them erotica.
Jack: That man can wear a sweater.
Dear Tina 