We are in the thick of awards season.
The Golden Globes have come and gone. The Grammys go out this weekend. And the Oscars take center stage on Feb. 24, finishing out the month and capping the kudos.
Other organizations, such as the various individual professions – actors, directors, producers and this and that critics’ group – also have bestowed their honors.
I’m thrilled Ben Affleck is winning a healthy portion of these awards for his movie, “Argo.” His lack of nomination by the Academy for Best Director is an inexcusable oversight.
He is in good company, however, as both Kathryn Bigelow (“Zero Dark Thirty”) and Quentin Tarantino (“Django Unchained”) also were passed over even though their films, as well as Affleck’s, were all given the nod for Best Picture.
The problem is one of simple math. A few years ago, the Academy decided to start allowing as many as 10 nominees for Best Picture. At the same time, however, they kept the number of nominees for Best Director at five.
As I pointed out in my blog recently, math like that will never add up to a fair number of nominations for deserving directors. And it makes the Academy look kind of silly.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if somehow Affleck won Best Director anyway? Maybe if enough voting members come to their senses, they could write him in. What a great movie ending that would be.
So, how many of you out there are watching “American Idol”? Someone is because it’s still a Top 10 show according to the Nielsen ratings.
After the first hour of the season 12 opener, I just couldn’t bring myself to watch anymore. It was 20 minutes into the show before the first auditioner ever reached the judges.
Since then, I’ve seen parts of two other episodes and quickly reached the conclusion that when it focuses on the contestants, the show is good; when it concentrates on the judges, it’s drudgery. I felt genuinely sorry for Keith Urban a couple of times, stuck between Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj. Neither he nor Randy Jackson could get a word in edgewise.
I understand this week’s episodes started the dreaded Hollywood Week, but I didn’t watch. Some family members who record the show and watch only the singers have promised to let me know if anyone amazing comes along.
Until then, I think I’ll continue to enjoy my extra hours of free time.
And now a few words in defense of Beyonce’:
First, the lip-synching-at-the-inauguration thing was blown way out of proportion. We’re not talking Milli Vanilli here. It was still her voice, for goodness’ sake. She just didn’t want to risk something not working in that below-freezing weather, and I don’t fault her for that.
Second, I’m not even much of a Beyonce’ fan, and I still thought her halftime show at the Super Bowl rocked. There have been some real duds the last few years, and I think Beyonce’ finally put some super back in the show. Good for her!