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Feb
27

I won't be watching the Oscars

I used to love the Oscars. Every year I would practice my acceptance speech until it beyond perfect. Of course I was never sure what category I was practicing for, but still…and the best actress was a great default. And there are two writing categories.

My sister and I were always allowed to stay up for the Oscars when were kids. We weren’t allowed to watch much TV, but we were expected to watch any big event. And the Oscars were then. Nobody in my family liked Bob hope, but we weren’t watching it for him.

The Oscars began to bore me many years ago. Almost fourteen years ago I was speaking to my dad:
“going to watch the Oscars?”
Me: “No it was a long day; think I’m going to sleep.”
“You have to watch the Oscars; it’s history.”

My dad was not a big TV watcher. After Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, and Soap he couldn’t find anything he liked except for late night TV which he had always loved.

When I was young he woke me up to watch Jack Paar cry; He was retiring and Johnny Carson was taking over so I know now it was October 1962.

I didn’t watch the 1991 Oscars, on March 25; my dad did. He spent all breakfast complaining to my mom about Kevin Costner who for some reason symbolized all the worst of my generation to him. Dances with Wolves had swept the Oscars and I can only imagine the one-sided conversation my dad had with my mom.

He was a CPA; it was the height of tax season, Tuesday, March 26 was my parents wedding anniversary, and Passover my dad’s favorite holiday was four days away. Until several years before then we would have 35-40 people at my parents’ house. They were fun holidays, but my parents were getting older; people were having kids and beginning new traditions. It was the first time my dad couldn’t get excited about Passover.

He went down to his office. My mom was leaving for some organization or another. She called his name; no answer, and found him slumped over his desk. He had a massive stroke and died five days.

My dad was the first person to see how talentless Kevin Costner was; he always did have good and edgy taste.

I have forced myself to watch the Oscars every year since; just in case somebody I know gets deathly sick the next day. More to the point I hear my dad’s voice telling me to watch it. (And no I don’t hear voices; this was the last conversation I ever had with my dad, after many years of non-stop talking, on both our parts. It’s sort of imprinted on my brain.)

I actually have a legitimate excuse; Robin Williams was planning to do a Sponge Bob routine, but was told to drop it as it’s too political.

We’re in the midst of a battle to keep The First Amendment, and we have to make sure that nobody insults James Dobson. I don’t think so.

Let the Oscars lose even more viewers. After political humor’s banned, what’s next?

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11 Responses to “I won't be watching the Oscars”

  1. February 27th, 2005 at 22:30 | #1

    I used to watch the Oscars as a kid as well. I rarely, if ever, watch them anymore.

  2. February 27th, 2005 at 23:39 | #2

    Guilty of still watching every other year or so. I mainly watch if a particular movie has moved me and am curious if it wins any worthy awards. Not sure if I’ll watch this one or not. Maybe.

  3. February 28th, 2005 at 01:51 | #3

    I’m hoping that Chris Rock will bring back something worth watching, but if he’s tame tonight, I know the Oscars will be goners forever.

  4. February 28th, 2005 at 02:54 | #4

    I haven’t seen any of the movies this year except Ray (dang life keeping me too busy), but I’ll be watching just to see what Chris Rock will bring to it. Unfortunately, it’s still network TV, so I can’t hope for that much!

  5. February 28th, 2005 at 03:04 | #5

    I can’t even watch the Oscars here in the UK. It’s airing on a digital channel I can’t get!

  6. February 28th, 2005 at 18:08 | #6

    Wow. Love your site! <3333

  7. February 28th, 2005 at 20:33 | #7

    I still enjoy the Oscars but mainly for nostaligia reasons. I like the history of the awards show and like you, when growing up it was the one night I was allowed to stay up late. The show used to broadcast on Monday nights so it was a big deal to stay up til midnight in elementary school just to watch the Oscars. My mom and I would unfold the pull-out coach and make a PJ party out of it and watch in the living room with popcorn and other treats. I tried making it fun again this year by having an Oscar viewing party and inviting my friends over, which thankfullly saved Chris Rock’s bad hosting job for me.

  8. February 28th, 2005 at 22:55 | #8

    You site is great!

    I watched the Oscars last night. You didn’t miss much! It is a good excuse to have fun munchies though!

  9. March 1st, 2005 at 01:50 | #9

    I watched them halfheartedly while writing a paper. Chris Rock was good although not as edgry as usual, that is th eonly reason I watched them to be honest. I love Johnny Depp and like looking at him. So it wasn’t all bad.

  10. March 1st, 2005 at 02:32 | #10

    I watched the Oscars for only 2 reasons last night: 1) To catch a few glimpses of Johnny Depp ;^), and 2) A boy that I know was singing with the American Boychoir accompanying Beyonce.

  11. March 1st, 2005 at 03:25 | #11

    I watched, but I was mainly doing so to see if my favorite actor and actress (Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet) won.

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