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| A Tired Gala |
Now, Chris Rock has been tapped to host the upcoming Oscars. The potty-mouthed Rock made his bones using strong language and racial commentary but his shtick is old and out-of-touch. Better choices would have been Eddie Murphy or Louis CK but the Academy can't control them and that's why a Rock or one of the 'lesser' talents is chosen.
The Academy Awards have witnessed a constant downward slide in viewer ratings over the last decade as the show is too long, too boring, and too much of the same. Viewership will drop again this year as Rock doesn't have the showmanship or entertainer juice to bring it home. The red carpet runway is now the highlight of the show. Perhaps the Hollywood glitterati likes it that way - because it's safe. These hosts are counted on to jab the political 'right' and not touch upon the politically correct or, God forbid, the tinsel-town elite.
Not since Billy Crystal has there been a top-talent host who could jab thin-skinned 'A' listers and get away with it. Carson and Hope were the best at it and we see that now with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler who have been killing it at the Golden Globes.
Chris Rock is a safe choice. He knows better than to blast the Hollywood hoi polloi. He'll get in a few decent one-liners, but the Oscars are a scripted event and there is no room (or tolerance) for ad-libbing. I'm not looking forward to viewing the Awards or Chris Rock (his second time hosting). I believe, and I've said this before, the Academy Awards need a complete rework, into a much hipper, current, and terse affair. This year we'll be getting the same 'old'.
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