Writingbolt's Creation

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After watching, with some reservations and, later, indigestion, the latest Oscars (award show), I have adjusted my POV on award shows, in general.

I know. I’ve said this how many times now. I tell myself “no” and still cave with that foolish whim, that hope, of seeing something or someone who becomes the focus of tomorrow’s “watercooler” gossip…or just seeing someone I personally like (or adore) get a chance to speak from the heart (not a teleprompter).

[On that note, when I saw Emma Stone crumble during her acceptance speech, a speech in which she spoke of children and her relationship, a speech I kinda hoped she’d interrupt to share her award with the Native-American woman people were making such a fuss about (if she deserved that respect and not just for being Native-American), I wanted to run up there and support her, massage her upper arms to warm her up a little. That’s the kind of man I am; that’s the sort of partner I’d want to be. I suppose that’s not allowed or proper in the eyes of the media/majority. I’m sure Security would have had none of that. But, Emma needed someone to steady her (and maybe fetch some lemon water for her throat).]

I noticed some effort into making commercials that are “cinematic,” ads which reflect movie-making in some way. It reminded me of why so many flock to the American Super Bowl; it’s no longer about the game. It’s about the ads. Well, if we are so destined to wash out all of the purpose for a program, why bother with the program, at all? Heck. Skip the Super Bowl; just give us the ads! A two-hour showcase of the best advertising money can buy! Right?

And, as for those award shows…ugh! So much “pomp and circumstance;” so much tuxedoes-for-men and excessive dressing for women, even when the dressing cannot adequately cover the woman in a respectful and/or tasteful manner. So much time wasted on cutting people off as they receive awards chosen by some secret society like the Illuminati. So many poorly chosen, highly bleached and waxed public speakers who must politely engage others being rewarded not so much for their individuality and talent but because they are of a particular nationality or sexual preference. And, all who are able to view this via TV begin to act like this is just one more thing to place in a betting pool; grab a score card and place your bets, fools.

Insanity.

[Oh, and it’s recommended, if you’re a woman, to get pregnant to give people something to discuss; it’s also a good cover for any awkward conversation. You can just excuse yourself because something is happening inside your body; or you can talk about the dress maker who accommodated your enormous pouch.]

Personally, I enjoy some, not all, of the “antics” that happen during the award shows. The rest feel so staged they make me ill. And, I’d say every show eventually irks me with some decision made. It’s inevitable. So, for me to watch another would be like agreeing to ingest poison just to be given an oxygen tank, so that I can keep breathing.

If we are being drawn in to enjoy the antics (and advertising), just make a show with all of that. Don’t waste time cutting people off to squeeze in every award and whatever monologue you feel the need to give about the orchestra, the judges and the secret society you never quite expose. You think airing the show an hour earlier makes a difference; it did not. Just take us viewers to the after parties and have everyone who got something give their speeches comfortably and with as much time as they feel is necessary. Let’s be better listeners and set the judging aside. Isn’t that what all the fuss about acceptance and awareness is for, anyway? Or, is all that racial and gender buzz just a mask you wear at your elitist party?…a show to raise charity money you then apply to tax evasion?

Nooo. Just sing your Ken song to promote sales. It has nothing to do with being accepted as a one-of-a-kind individual not tied to any agenda or dominating force. But, no Ken song can compete with a real bomb. You can ponder that while you worry about what you were made for and then take your after-party drug trip just to face the after-its-over period between jobs. Everyone in showbiz must be Robert Downey, Jr.; not just Robert Downey, Jr. The others just do a better job of hiding their failings and addictions.

If I become bitter against any “faction” of humanity, it is unlikely because I am gay-phobic or anti-Jew (because I am neither). It is more likely because someone in these factions is acting like a bull in a China shop or a Nazi leader, trying to start a stampede which will ultimately brush “ordinary” folks like me aside. It is because people judged me as gay for being an atypical boy (and because some gay men think I am and wish I was one of them). I will not be dismissed or ignored because I am not “woke,” rich by birth or part of some global movement for acceptance and awareness which could just as well be a cloak for something sinister. [When everyone currently “special” is in demand, people like me won’t even have a chance to get their foot in the door unless I sell my soul to the industry.]

I’m not so obtuse that I can’t read between the lines and see when people are being used as tools to “represent” instead of being respected for who they are as individuals.

[Hey! You’re both black and Hawaiian! Would you represent both and do every thing we tell you, to the letter, if we give you a microphone?! That’d be greeeeat. Did anyone else notice the Native-American “best actress” or any of the African-American male actors looking just a little uncomfortable when they were being spotlighted? How certain little presentations seemed formulated with generic words of respect and/or honor, rather than personal remarks from people who actually valued the people they were honoring?]

If we cater to the mindset of putting one TYPE ahead of another, no matter the type, we’re no better off than when “white supremacy” was normal and not hated or when women were nothing more than “housewives” too dumb to learn how a machine works.

And, I know “political humor” is all the rage because everyone who thinks they are funny cannot stop speaking ill of one leader and/or another. But, does it have to be a part of EVERY televised program? EVERY celebrity event? Haven’t ANY of you been bullied or verbally harassed in your lives? You have? Then why think you are above or just the victim of all of that…because you’re taunting someone over and over and over again, until you look like a bully. That’s not helping anyone; that’s “making America great, again,” as you like to repeat.

Do you want to help heal the world or just change the color of the hot mess still going around it?

You KNOW you’re just going to alienate or agitate someone (unless you are completely oblivious to your own antics and thus worthy of being labeled jerks on my most hated list); so why do it? Why resort to throwing rotten tomatoes? This is supposed to be a space and place of mutual acceptance, respect and honor. Not your late-night stand-up stage. We know who you are…sort of. We don’t need a reminder.

[Is this one of those Harry-Potter things, where we change the color of the dominating party because some odd wizard decides to hand out special points at the last minute? Well, today, the Native-Americans did something special…I don’t know what. Who decides these things, anyway? So we’re gonna display their flags…and piss on the flags of those who support that guy over there, the one with the bad wig.]

[Here’s something (else) you probably didn’t ponder. A joke was made about Miyazaki’s anime team not being present to accept their award for the film about a boy and a stork. Now, I know the host isn’t that quick with the wit to make such a joke on the fly; you can disagree, but this is how I see the guy. He’s not very fluid or spontaneous; he would not excel at improvisation. The joke had to be written before the show…which would mean that he knew the film would win…wouldn’t it? So, are some–if not all–winners made known to the writers of these events in advance?…including hosts who have to make jokes? Wouldn’t that make the whole opening of envelopes and surprising an audience kind of pointless? If just that one winner was known in advance, there was an award segment that could have been skipped on live television, giving more time to people who wished they had just a little more time and less reason to stress over a speech…considering so much attention is being given, lately, to when the whole show starts, ends and, as always, how long people are free to talk (which they never are…free to speak from their hearts and not under scrutiny for this or that from whoever pays them).]

In short, screw you, award shows; for you continue to be a cruel pea-and-shell game, a three-card-Monty that just ends in stomach upsets and drunken foolishness. All your expense and glamor is wasted, when a disaster film about a global horror gets the top honor for music in a year of artsy films. You sully all that is to be valued in cinema. You taint accomplishment and hard-work. You push your servants to the brink of death. It’s all pre-arranged for some secret purpose. Your televised spectacles are just a cheap illusion to potentially sway a few more merch’ sales. Go play with your elitist selves. I don’t need your poor movie choices to mess with my head nor the warped award and business decisions that follow. I know what deserve four stars, and it isn’t your opinions.

Sorry, Jimmy Kimmel. I had something to say about you, but we ran out of time, again.

[“I’m Just Ken,” rewritten with lyrics about myself, in the process of being posted…]