The Oscars Must Die

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  • Posted By: CPLakewood @ 02/02/2008 7:03:28 AM

    Hey Marc,
    Step out of your stall and spray your mouth...we Peons dont get to see or hear the stars from your niche in the 'heavenlies'. CP Lakewood

  • Posted By: tapegirl @ 02/02/2008 6:28:41 AM

    I whole heartedly agree!!!!

  • Posted By: satyricbard @ 02/02/2008 6:02:17 AM

    Thank goodness Marc Peyser will never be asked to run the Academy Awards show! It really would deserve to be canned if it became a vehicle for all the puerile nonsense he wants. As it is, there have been plenty of wonderful heart-warming moments on the show. As a New Zealander, I particularly enjoyed all of Billy Crystal's comments about everyone in New Zealand being thanked on the 2004 awards when Lord of the Rings: Return of the King won its 11 awards, and when Charlize Theron decided to thank everyone in South Africa.


  • Posted By: satyricbard @ 02/02/2008 6:00:55 AM

    Thank goodness Marc Peyser will never be asked to run the Academy Awards show! It really would deserve to be canned if it became a vehicle for all the puerile nonsense he wants. As it is, there have been plenty of wonderful heart-warming moments on the show. As a New Zealander, I particularly enjoyed all of Billy Crystal's comments about everyone in New Zealand being thanked on the 2004 awards when Lord of the Rings: Return of the King won its 11 awards, and when Charlize Theron decided to thank everyone in South Africa.


  • Posted By: brandtschmidt @ 02/01/2008 2:22:46 PM

    I echo some of the other sentiments here that I think the Academy Awards is a complete waste of resources. A bunch of rich, famous, self-important people who get way more credit than they deserve from society deciding that they need to award each other for doing their jobs? And then we get all excited about what they are wearing to the event? No thanks. However, I also agree that they should be allowed to go on if there is an audience. I'll just watch something else.

    • Posted By: im.thatoneguy @ 02/02/2008 4:01:43 AM

      Last I checked every field in which one individual can make a notable contribution to the public sphere in one way or another has awards and award ceremonies. Authors, Soldiers, Doctors, Scientists, filmmakers, School Teachers, Entrepreneurs, Painters, Journalists, Philantropists, Civil Servants, Car Manufacturers-- Everybody whose work can stand out above the rest is often elligible for some sort of award by their peers.

      The Academy Awards if anything is the one time every year when Merit is actaully awarded. It's not who wore the most expensive dress or who slept with whom. It's about the work. Whether you're the sound editor or an independent short animation director you're judged by your work not if you discreetly leaked a sex tape or lost your pet chihuahua.

      And I think if you go back through the last century of award winners you'll find significant and notable contributions to culture as recipients of those awards. The importance of which is still felt in the public consciousness.

      Hollywood is a lot of entertainment and fluff. A way to kill some time but it's also been a huge social influence and directing force for not just the US but the world's culture for better or worse. I wouldn't be so quick to write off those award winners as a bunch of self-important rich people. Like it or not they are a huge influence of change and can be a powerful force for good in the public's debate. Last year's Documentary Award practically single handedly won its 'star' a Nobel prize.

      */ Dives off of high horse for cover.

  • Posted By: glennkenny @ 02/01/2008 10:17:52 PM

    Wow, Marc! You must be super excited to be Newsweek's first Williamsburg hire!!!

  • Posted By: glennkenny @ 02/01/2008 10:16:41 PM

    Wow, Marc! You must be super excited to be Newsweek's first Williamsburg hipster hire!!!

  • Posted By: GiGi1101 @ 02/01/2008 2:34:58 PM

    Over the past few years, my favorite part of the Oscars has become the "In Memorium" portion reminding us of the old and, sadly, not so old members of Hollywood's elite who passed away over the last year. For 2 minutes, you forget about who's wearing what and sleeping with who and are reminded of some truely great people who shaped entertainment history. Besides that, it's 2 less minutes I'm forced to watch the Brangelina love fest that will undoubtedly be going on in the front row. We get it! You have big lips and he's fertile. Go adopt another kid. But this time, see if you can exchange Ryan Secrest for one. Having to watch his akward interactions with celebrities is painful an inhumane.

  • Posted By: SCazzz @ 02/01/2008 9:53:09 AM

    Marc, let me preface my comments with the admission that I have not watched the Oscars in years. That being said, I think your article (and many of the "holier than thou" posted comments) proceeds from the misguided position that the Oscars are or should be taken seriously. Just like the movies this awards show celebrates, it is merely entertainment. And like all entertainment, there's the good and the bad, the classic and the class-less. While you may not find the Oscars memorable or spectacular and I choose to not even watch, clearly, this and other award shows have their fan base. Who are we to suggest that these folks should be denied their annual "starfest?" In short, leave it alone. If the show is that bad then the fans will stop watching. When the fans disappear and the advertising dollars dry up, this and all the other silly self serving award shows will disappear in their own natural time. Lighten up, it's just TV.

    • Posted By: EE7011 @ 02/01/2008 2:21:24 PM

      Well written comment, SCazz.

  • Posted By: im.thatoneguy @ 02/01/2008 2:02:22 PM

    The oscars are about recognizing the work in all fields of the industry by the best and brightest regardless if they are artists who work through technology or artists who work through the human instrument.

    They are first and foremost an awards ceremony. If you just want a comedy hour--tune in to your favorite comedian and watch one of their stand up routines I guarantee you it'll be more entertaining. Most people just want to watch to see movie stars, that's fine. But the awards ceremony shouldn't be created first and foremost to entertain.

  • Posted By: Dr. Hoffman @ 02/01/2008 12:03:34 PM

    Personally, I love the Oscars--the good, bad and ugly. Part of the fun is groaning along and complaining. As a movie fan, I also like to see each and every award, from Best Pic down to live action short. Yes there are more important and serious things going on in the world, but there's nothing wrong with taking a break from that now and then.

  • Posted By: newsweek is still publishing? @ 02/01/2008 11:05:17 AM

    Shorten Newsweek. Eliminate Peyser's column.. Let's eliminate the Pulitzers, Peabodys, too. And definitely shorten the Nobel Peace Prize Awards

  • Posted By: idiophonebox @ 02/01/2008 9:48:19 AM

    I don't think it's fair to say the creators of best animated short should be cut from the show when they definitely put as much, if not more, time and effort into their work as famous actors who are recognized in the telecast. Being on tv for 30 seconds gives them and their work more exposure and credibility whereas it's a drop in the bucket for an established actor. If the show's too long, don't watch it.

  • Posted By: cord740503 @ 02/01/2008 9:12:51 AM

    Only in the movie business do people expect to get award after award for doing their work. Most people work much harder everyday and do not expect to be thanked, pampered and congratulated by the world. I think these people are egotistical individuals who have a very inflated sense of self worth, which makes them come across as morons most of the time. Watch the Oscars? I don't think so. I would much rather read up on the issues that really matter in order to help me decide who to vote for this November.

  • Posted By: dillet @ 01/31/2008 11:58:55 PM

    I'm waiting for the day that Hollywood stops giving itself awards and more awards, and starts channeling all that wasted money into philanthopic projects that actually help people. I'm sick of the wealthy and famous who live only to gather more wealth and fame, when so many poor and disabled and unemployed and sick are struggling just to live. (I know I'm a dreamer....but I'm not the only one).

  • Posted By: dr doug @ 01/31/2008 9:46:00 PM

    I'll watch if Angelina goes, if Love Hewitt goes, if Jessica Biel goes (but that that little pipsqueak Justin). I even wish Jessica Simpson would go. Low-cut dresses, nice babes. Hand out some awards. Watch something else in PIP as well. Then it's all good!

  • Posted By: writergirl1 @ 01/31/2008 9:31:15 PM

    Regardless of the show's length and sometimes dreadful comedy, this is one event us "middle class schmo's" who support the movies can sit back and enjoy the glitzy glam of the movie world... I agree that cutting out some of the non-essential awards would be an appropriate change-- but don't rob all of us little people of sitting at home in our jammies the chance to cheer (or jeer) the best (or worse depending on your perspective) of Tinseltown... I for one am looking forward to another few hours guessing who will wear what, what movie/actor/director/writer, etc. will win and what movie might be worth renting when it comes out on DVD.

  • Posted By: quiet man's wife @ 01/31/2008 9:28:30 PM

    whoa, a few of you got a wee bit too upset (and vicious). Sadly, I agree with Marc. I used to love the Oscars, the stars, the dresses, etc. But over the years it's gotten deadly dull and stiff. Soooo I don't watch it. I read the highlights (and lowlights) on msn.com the next day. I prefer to watch the Kennedy Center Honors, for example, if I'm spending an hour or 2 watching an "awards" show- it's much more entertaining. The Oscars may be going the way of the Miss America broadcast.

  • Posted By: quiet man's wife @ 01/31/2008 9:24:40 PM

    whoa, some of you got a wee bit too upset (and vicious). It's a show. But sadly, I agree with Marc. I used to love watching the Oscars, the stars, the dresses. However, over the years it's gotten deadly dull and stiff. Soooo I don't watch it. I read the highlights (and lowlights) the next day on msn.com. The Kennedy Center Honors are one of the much more enjoyable "awards" show if I want to spend an hour (or 2) in front of the TV.

  • Posted By: hillary2008 @ 01/31/2008 9:14:40 PM

    Only a butt scratching, fart sniffing, gut expanding, hasn't seen his dick in 10 years since he's a straight guy would write such mindless crap.

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