Pop Rocks and Coke: And the winner is...
Kathy Bates
Issue date: 3/11/10 Section: Arts
A lot of things could be deemed funny. Knock-knock jokes, for one, are a staple to the art of comedy. "That's what she said" is fairly laughable as well. And if you're really stuck for a good joke, run over to your local Chinese take-out restaurant - or a Smith dining hall on any Asian-themed night - grab a fortune cookie and add to the end of your fortune, "in bed." It's sophomoric to say the least, but the result is often pretty damn comical.
Humorous as well were the Oscars this past Sunday night. For one thing, Avatar was beat out, almost laughably, by The Hurt Locker, which was directed by Kathryn Bigelow, James Cameron's ex-wife. You can see the humor, if not at least irony. As for the rest of the evening, here's a little play-by-play. For starters, let me clarify that Avatar fans need not panic; the moneymaker definitely brought home some trophies, but perhaps not as many as anticipated. Hosts Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin were perfectly adequate. A short clip shown of the two donning Snuggies backstage sustained my personal amusement just barely enough to keep watching what was an arduously long show this year.
Per usual, the women were draped in carefully crafted gowns though few went out of their way to impress. However, I might say I was impressed with how remarkably trashy Miley Cyrus' mother appeared. Flabbergasted does not even cover it. As for opening act Neil Patrick Harris, I was floored. A musical number à la Harris I did not expect - what can I say, but that it was legend - wait for it - dary? Ben Stiller donning a full-on Avatar ensemble while presenting had me gasping for air too. And as is tradition by now, jabs were made at Meryl Streep's countless past nominations - 16 - or as Steve Martin so coyly phrased it, record for most losses. Comedy definitely was amidst the show.
However, as the awards dragged on with a few laughs and flowing trains to sustain me through the show's course, I came to the realization that chuckles alone were not rewarded with an Oscar. Let me explain. Think of Ben Stiller's role as Derek Zoolander in the film Zoolander. Or think maybe Jonah Hill as the shamelessly lewd Seth in Superbad. Both films are exceptionally funny. But they couldn't even begin to entertain the idea of being Oscar nominated. It's so clear to us that those kinds of movies would never walk the red carpet to a prestigious awards show. But what about other comedies like Julie and Julia? Or even better, past contender and underdog of a film, Juno, starring the quick-witted Ellen Page. What about when comedy gets real?
Humorous as well were the Oscars this past Sunday night. For one thing, Avatar was beat out, almost laughably, by The Hurt Locker, which was directed by Kathryn Bigelow, James Cameron's ex-wife. You can see the humor, if not at least irony. As for the rest of the evening, here's a little play-by-play. For starters, let me clarify that Avatar fans need not panic; the moneymaker definitely brought home some trophies, but perhaps not as many as anticipated. Hosts Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin were perfectly adequate. A short clip shown of the two donning Snuggies backstage sustained my personal amusement just barely enough to keep watching what was an arduously long show this year.
Per usual, the women were draped in carefully crafted gowns though few went out of their way to impress. However, I might say I was impressed with how remarkably trashy Miley Cyrus' mother appeared. Flabbergasted does not even cover it. As for opening act Neil Patrick Harris, I was floored. A musical number à la Harris I did not expect - what can I say, but that it was legend - wait for it - dary? Ben Stiller donning a full-on Avatar ensemble while presenting had me gasping for air too. And as is tradition by now, jabs were made at Meryl Streep's countless past nominations - 16 - or as Steve Martin so coyly phrased it, record for most losses. Comedy definitely was amidst the show.
However, as the awards dragged on with a few laughs and flowing trains to sustain me through the show's course, I came to the realization that chuckles alone were not rewarded with an Oscar. Let me explain. Think of Ben Stiller's role as Derek Zoolander in the film Zoolander. Or think maybe Jonah Hill as the shamelessly lewd Seth in Superbad. Both films are exceptionally funny. But they couldn't even begin to entertain the idea of being Oscar nominated. It's so clear to us that those kinds of movies would never walk the red carpet to a prestigious awards show. But what about other comedies like Julie and Julia? Or even better, past contender and underdog of a film, Juno, starring the quick-witted Ellen Page. What about when comedy gets real?
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