tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post8771829385274512734..comments2023-11-03T06:02:02.128-07:00Comments on By Ken Levine: My 2013 Oscar reviewBy Ken Levinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comBlogger133125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-13091997682931637452013-02-27T21:56:55.116-08:002013-02-27T21:56:55.116-08:00Couldn't agree more about Anne Hathaway. She i...Couldn't agree more about Anne Hathaway. She is okay as an actress, nothing special, and now she seems to be in the preview of every new movie coming out. How can you give an Oscar to someone singing an emotional song, with orchestra accompaniment? It's ludicrous, and should be sung by Ludacris.<br /><br />The closing song was taken from the Tonys, wasn't it, where Neil Patrick Harris sang a song about all the things we just saw in the show? Kristen Chenowith is just NOT funny. She can sing and play quirky, but that's about it.Candanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-76478918401783158632013-02-27T19:42:11.163-08:002013-02-27T19:42:11.163-08:00It seemed like Jack was thinking, "Where'...It seemed like Jack was thinking, "Where's Kobe? Where's Kareem? Did I hear that Pat Riley's with the Knicks?"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-9878158886003151342013-02-26T10:49:56.774-08:002013-02-26T10:49:56.774-08:00My suggestions for improvement-
1. How about Bill...My suggestions for improvement-<br /><br />1. How about Bill Murray to host?<br />2. A witty running-gag?<br />3. Best Picture sketches?<br />4. In-house orchestration, please!<br />5. More Jack Nicholson!<br /><br />I liked Seth OK, as least he wasn't bland.<br />We are lucky the host isn't the winner of a reality show contest.Prof.Madmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01288050752638779338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-24365374654998330772013-02-26T08:38:39.576-08:002013-02-26T08:38:39.576-08:00You've fallen into your own trap. You've ...You've fallen into your own trap. You've been on the inside so long that you can't realistically view things the way we do. That's sad. <br />Culture is changing. He owns 18-40 every other day of the week. And the proof is out. He just garnered the highest ratings in six years. This is today's new culture. It's a Blog, Blog, Blog, Blog World. Now everyone has become an authority.It's a Blog Blog Blog Blog Worldnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-52280172820120982472013-02-26T06:12:30.782-08:002013-02-26T06:12:30.782-08:00You question Jennifer Anniston's "scowl&q...You question Jennifer Anniston's "scowl"? She ALWAYS looks like she walked into a room and smelled something bad.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-44973087783029662912013-02-26T04:11:24.458-08:002013-02-26T04:11:24.458-08:00Hi Ken,
Fantastic post! Has Seth ever been funny?...Hi Ken,<br /><br />Fantastic post! Has Seth ever been funny? Anyway I really enjoyed your humorous and quite frank reflection of the Oscars.<br /><br />I realise you have quite a following here, but I was wondering if you would be interested in sharing your blog on Glipho? Glipho is a new social blogging network that aims to promote the writing of its users and help build their audiences. We are trying to establish a creative community at Glipho, and your blog is just what we are looking for.<br /><br />As your blog is powered by Blogger, you can simply import all your old posts to Glipho without affecting your existing blog at all. You can use your Glipho account to connect to any other major social network accounts you may own, so you can spread your blog as far as possible. We also use our own social media accounts to promote your content. <br /><br />If you're interested check out our website at http://glipho.com and have a look around. Please feel free to ask me any questions, and if you would like to receive an invite to set up an account!<br /> <br />Have a great day, <br /><br />Teo<br /><br /><br /><br />Glipho Limited<br />14 Suite 3 D<br />Docklands Business Centre<br />10-16 Tiller Road<br />London E14 8PX <br /><br /><br />(e): teo@glipho.com<br />(w): www.glipho.com<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-11468981546304421222013-02-26T02:50:14.618-08:002013-02-26T02:50:14.618-08:00This morning, my husband realized, "Hey, you ...This morning, my husband realized, "Hey, you didn't watch the Oscars last night! You've watched it every year as long as I've known you. Did you forget it was on?"<br /><br />"Darling, that was literally the first time in my LIFE that I did not see at least a few minutes of it. I watched it faithfully every year since I was a baby. But I have no desire to see or hear Seth MacFarlane's evil smarminess for several hours, and my ONLY horses in the race was the make-up team for 'The Hobbit' and the late great Eiko Ishioka for Best Costumes [neither of whom won], and that's not enough reason to deal with it at ALL."<br /><br />My ONLY regret is that I missed the incomparable Dame Shirley Bassey. She gives me LIFE.<br /><br />Cheers, thanks a lot,<br /><br />StormStormnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-43038704261381358592013-02-26T02:16:36.177-08:002013-02-26T02:16:36.177-08:00Maybe I look for the positive in things, or maybe ...Maybe I look for the positive in things, or maybe I have a better memory for Oscar nights than most people, but I have to disagree on MacFarlane. I think he did the best hosting job in a very long time. I'm not sure what people will be satisfied with when it comes to Oscar hosts, but maybe it would be easier to enjoy the show if everyone remembers its just an awards show and nothing more. It's not the be all and end all of movie opinions. It's Hollywood giving itself a handjob. <br /><br />I agree with everything else you said though. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13716600265497503608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-66887981562648600802013-02-26T00:16:31.168-08:002013-02-26T00:16:31.168-08:00Birdie,
Tomorrow I will respond to all of today&#...Birdie,<br /><br />Tomorrow I will respond to all of today's comments and further explain my approach. <br /><br />But it makes no sense to ask people to comment and then delete the ones I don't agree with. As long as the person leaves his name. <br /><br />Thanks.<br /><br />Ken<br />By Ken Levinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305293821975250420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-30690663041730635082013-02-26T00:05:02.641-08:002013-02-26T00:05:02.641-08:00I'm not really sure how in the age of Harvey W...I'm not really sure how in the age of Harvey Weinstein you can talk about Spielberg buying awards - your bias (wherever that comes from) is really showing. On the contrary, of anything, - DDL was in fact the first Spielberg performance to win an Oscar. I have mixed feelings about the ceremony and the Awards themselves, however...at least The Punisher wasn't able to strong arm his way into winning a bunch of undeserved awards this year. When has Spielberg ever done this? He might get visibly pissy when he doesn't win or get nominated, but when has he ever been perceived to have "bought" a win? I enjoy your blog a lot, but I really just smell an agenda here.<br /><br />I'm not even the biggest Spielberg fan, especially when he goes overboard with the schmaltz, but I was very pleasantly surprised by Lincoln, which I do think has the best ensemble of the year (yes, including Field), an incredibly rich screenplay (when do we ever see that anymore), and detailed, sentisitve, and for the most part (for Spielberg anyway) restrained direction. Of the nominees that I have seen at least, I do think it was the most deserving. And I was prepared to hate it.<br /><br />Re MacFarlane - I did enjoy the boobs song, the flying nun thing was great, some of the jokes worked, and a lot of the bombs and awkwardness worked too. Yet somehow I feel like he never really found his stride - and even that is not entirely his fault (although the TED bit was lame as can be). You give the one suspenseful acting award first off and then and interminable 2 hours oftech awards and endless musical numbers until the next acting award? That was brutal and I almost stopped watching. But again, you've been bashing MacFarlane since he was announced as host so it's pretty clear you were ready to hate him - let me put on my surprise face.<br /><br />However, the fact that you are now hating on Hathaway - and I know you have long been a fan - to me is proof positive that she has officially become insufferable. Welcome to our side, Ken. It's more fun over here.<br /><br />And kudos to you for taking these critiques graciously when some of them are anything but. Appreciate you don't go the Roseanne route and delete any post that deigns to disagee. I only wish that your authentication words and numbers were more legible - sometimes I have to try 5 times before my post clears!Birdienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-89265668470407983732013-02-25T22:42:02.675-08:002013-02-25T22:42:02.675-08:00As soon as McFarlane began to bomb, I thought of S...As soon as McFarlane began to bomb, I thought of Stephen Colbert at the White House correspondents' dinner. Didn't they know what to expect when they hired him?<br /><br />Did anyone else notice Meryl Streep pulling her dress out of her ass as she walked out? She said she was stepping on it, but that's not how you adjust your train.<br /><br />Of course Day-Lewis was funny. He had plenty of time to write (or commission) a speech, having been Oscar-anointed the day LINCOLN opened.<br /> <br /> McF. put his Jews-run-Hollywood jokes into the mouth of his alter-ego, Ted. If Mel Gibson had done that, he'd still have a career.<br /><br />Next year's host: Kevin Spacey. He's personable, a bona fide movie star, and he can sing. But limit him to one number, in case he still thinks he's Bobby Darrin.Buttermilk Skyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07430011403223875192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-82872007167508740692013-02-25T22:40:33.441-08:002013-02-25T22:40:33.441-08:00Hey, Ken (mostly) right on! The missing element in...Hey, Ken (mostly) right on! The missing element in many recent Oscar broadcasts is not that they lack a funny host, or even that the writing is puerile and facetious rather than humorous and seriously funny. What they lack is a real, huble regard and respect for, and fascination with the potential power of "the movies." Hope, Carson... beneath the wise cracks (written by terrific writers who'd spent years in the comedy trenches) had that fascination in spades. MacFarlane's "edginess" simply skirts the rim of inanity and facile vulgarity. The best hosts and their crack writers delivered seriously funny material, full of wit and satire and "insider" jokes (which those of us out of the Hollywood loop enjoyed trying to decypher.) They lampooned themselves as well as the narcissists, fools, lechers and eccentrics who poulate "The Dream Factory." The sad fact is that the deconstructionist wise ass personalities that make up the current gaggle of zeitgeist darlings are simply pandering and responding to a viewing public which possesses little actual respect for cinema. Their esthetics have been coarsened and degraded by reality TV, mindless internet memes, and increasing tolerance -- even hunger for -- plain old schoolyard nastiness.The Wardennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-45913393103933478312013-02-25T19:44:03.803-08:002013-02-25T19:44:03.803-08:00Ken, you sound like "get off my lawn" gr...Ken, you sound like "get off my lawn" grandpa here. I actually said before I read your review; "I bet Ken is going to hate Seth."<br /><br /> It's shown in your previous posts that you don't like the guy so this review was predictable and boring...kind of like the overrated Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-46749610167665306402013-02-25T19:40:47.924-08:002013-02-25T19:40:47.924-08:00I liked Seth. I get that alot of people don't...I liked Seth. I get that alot of people don't like his humor. But it's gotten to the point where it's "cool" to rag on him. I guess that's a good way of knowing your doing well in Hollywood. What, you would rather have Billy Crystal's frozen face? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-43405660840399836922013-02-25T18:06:02.240-08:002013-02-25T18:06:02.240-08:00'D. McEwan said...
MikeBo said...
I'm...'D. McEwan said...<br /> MikeBo said...<br />I'm thinking that maybe next year the academy should cancel the telecast and just email everyone the results of the voting."<br /><br />The TV show is what raises the capital that keeps the Academy's doors open. Cancel the show and the Academy dies. Think before commenting'<br />I'm pretty sure he wasn't being serious, maybe you should think before trying to build yourself up,<br />repulsive jerk of the comments page.<br />fugnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-55241294929408210022013-02-25T17:59:26.682-08:002013-02-25T17:59:26.682-08:00You realize this was William Shatner's first O...You realize this was William Shatner's first OSCAR appearance since he and Persis Khambatta presented a documentary award in 1980 to Ira Wohl (whose film was about his retarded cousin).<br /><br />After Wohl had emotionally thanked many family and friends, Shatner quipped, "I'm glad he didn't have a larger family." MrJeff2000https://www.blogger.com/profile/01846177832300762038noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-73876366795522791562013-02-25T17:39:20.820-08:002013-02-25T17:39:20.820-08:00I know I'm in the minority here but I rather l...I know I'm in the minority here but I rather liked MacFarlane.<br /><br />I'm assuming no one forced Sally Field to do the "Flying Nun" bit...<br /><br />Streisand I found insufferable. Do we really need to hear "Memory" again? Bring out the hook.SBKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-80465932461575105162013-02-25T17:02:47.381-08:002013-02-25T17:02:47.381-08:00Oscar host I want to see: Larry David.Oscar host I want to see: Larry David.pumpkinheadnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-32595294287408349822013-02-25T17:00:21.384-08:002013-02-25T17:00:21.384-08:00Ah, make of this what you will -- Former "Fam...Ah, make of this what you will -- <a href="http://dailycaller.com/2013/02/25/seth-macfarlane-to-rush-i-kind-of-understand-how-you-conservatives-feel-about-the-media-now-audio/" rel="nofollow">Former "Family Guy" guest voice gives props to McFarlane over Oscar show, gets back scratched by Seth in return.</a> Though I'm guessing Ken's not going to be disappointed not to have Rush Limbaugh on his side.Johnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-45069231456902890342013-02-25T16:54:55.539-08:002013-02-25T16:54:55.539-08:00Hmm...with the exceptions of Spielberg and Adele, ...Hmm...with the exceptions of Spielberg and Adele, one can neatly cleave people involved with the Oscars into two categories: those whose careers have peaked since the turn of the century and are thus bad, and those whose careers peaked before it and are thus good. I don't doubt that this opinion reflects much of the Oscar audience. Which explains the audience's rapid shrinkage. Nicholson hasn't made a noteworthy movie in ages, nor has Michael Douglas. Streisand? Not really a singer anymore.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-21570552411841132922013-02-25T16:48:09.481-08:002013-02-25T16:48:09.481-08:00After earlier giving thumbs down to SMcF's hos...After earlier giving thumbs down to SMcF's hosting, I was reminded of one well written and executed joke he pulled off when talking about Argo ... "the story of a covert action so secret that even members of the Academy don't know who directed it." Easily his cleverest comment of the night.John Foxnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-50810121154243433592013-02-25T16:43:01.418-08:002013-02-25T16:43:01.418-08:00I didn't particularly enjoy MacFarlane last ni...I didn't particularly enjoy MacFarlane last night, but based on how terribly unfunny I expected him to be, he came nowhere near my expectations. I also thought the Captain Kirk bit was a cop out. As if by saying "look at this terrible bit" and then doing it, that would make it funnier and not terrible.<br />I think the Academy does need to decide when they pick hosts whether they're going to go with a theme of self-important with jokes thrown in, or mocking their own self-importance. It always plays awkwardly when the host goes from one second acting like it's a roast, to another second indulging how pompous the whole thing is. Although MacFarlane's track record on Jew-jokes speaks for itself and those bits were the most cringeworthy for me last night. Sock puppets, fine, but stop with the pretend(or-is-it)anti-semitism which he then backs by having a second character draw attention to it. He goes to that well too often AND it rubs me the wrong way AND isn't funny.DBAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-53845753013576560132013-02-25T16:14:31.826-08:002013-02-25T16:14:31.826-08:00You have a Christian ass, Ken? When did it convert...You have a Christian ass, Ken? When did it convert?Cap'n Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11783977137812876489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-91785650834971342252013-02-25T16:06:34.802-08:002013-02-25T16:06:34.802-08:00You'd think the Academy would suck it up and h...You'd think the Academy would suck it up and hire the people who produce the Tonys to do the Oscars, which is, after all, a stage show. And Ken, you're now officially a Grouchy Old Fart. Welcome aboard.Brule Eaganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02352415317752454821noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19336675.post-57154917523513428892013-02-25T15:59:12.165-08:002013-02-25T15:59:12.165-08:00I don't eagerly jump onto this blog following ...I don't eagerly jump onto this blog following the Oscars to agree or disagree with everything Ken says, I just love how he says it. And just like the tired routines at the awards, I'll keep coming back.Muzzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01450966472466231848noreply@blogger.com