But the Oscars ceremony. What happened to the truth in that Ricky Gervais joke?
"For any of you who don't know, the Golden Globes are just like the Oscars, but without all that...esteem."
Ellen handing out pizza to the celebrities?
Pharell Williams wearing shorts to the red carpet?
Celebs crowding with Ellen to take the self-anointed 'world's greatest selfie'?
Esteem?
I'm not saying that the ceremony should be stuffy, or take itself too seriously, but who actually enjoys this shtick besides the celebrities themselves?
'We're normal people too!'
'We' just happen to be millionaires who get paid to play pretend, but we take selfies like you!
There is actually nothing philosophically wrong with the ceremony, and the behaviour within, being made all about the celebs. It's their event after all.
Just don't broadcast it.
'Woah! Let's not be hasty here. People WANT to see the Oscars. We do this silly stuff for their entertainment.'
But do they?
Like the elaborate selfie Ellen hastily arranged. Just some good old fashioned tomfoolery for the enjoyment of John Q. Public, right?
No.
http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/entertainment/a/21805673/was-ellens-epic-oscars-selfie-a-product-placement-stunt/
http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2014/03/ellen-degeneres-oscar-selfie-preplanned-product-placement-plug-f/
Yes, Ellen got busted.
Her 'selfie' phone, prominently displayed, was a Samsung. Her real phone, the one she actually AUTHENTICALLY owns and uses, is an iphone.
So now, through the prism of honesty, what was a moment of celebs engaging in adorable 'buddy' behaviour is seen for what it really was.
A carefully orchestrated piece of product placement for the main sponsor, Samsung.
Feels icky now, doesn't it?
Not light hearted celebs taking themselves with a grain of salt. But selling. Whoring for the sponsor.
The problem for Ellen is that, these days, it's easier than ever to get caught out being a shill. And we, the public, don't like being manipulated. The power of authenticity is degraded.
Then, the news breaks that two Academy voters chose '12 Years a Slave' as Best Picture, without having seen it.
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/academy-members-voted-for-oscarwinning-12-years-a-slave-without-watching-it-9177352.html
Authenticity deteriorates further. And now it's a slippery slope Oscar is riding.
The Academy can fix this now. Stop trying to give every film the 'Oscar Bump' at the box office. Limit the number of Best Picture nominations back to five again.
Send Pharell Williams, or anyone else for that matter, home if they show up in shorts.
Cut the blatant product plugs and let the ceremony run with some dignity. Faster too, I might add.
Or, do nothing.
And lose your greatest commodity; the one the other awards wish they had.
No, not bigger sponsors.
Esteem.
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