JON STEWART SCORES WITH OSCARS
In case you missed Jon Stewart on the Oscars Sunday night: (I thought he was terrific -- more laid-back than a Billy Crystal or Chris Rock, but his jokes were FUNNY -- every single one of them)
One of the telecast's 22 cameras isolated Steven Spielberg as Stewart talked about the nominated Munich and the director's 1993 Schindler's List.
"I think I speak for all Jews when I say I can't wait to see what happens to us next," Stewart said, the deadpan quip triggering a huge laugh.
The political baiting was kept to a minimum during the monologue, save for a joke involving Bjork, the singer who famously wore a swan dress to the Oscars in 2001. Explaining her absence this year, Stewart said: "She was trying on her Oscar dress and Dick Cheney shot her."
Taking a look at the giant Oscar statuette as part of the set, he asked: "Do you think if we all got together and pulled this down, democracy would flourish in Hollywood?"
"And none of those issues were ever a problem again," [Stewart] deadpanned after a montage of issue-oriented movies like "Silkwood," "The Grapes of Wrath" and "In the Heat of the Night."
On comparing "Capote" and "Good Night, and Good Luck": "Both films are about determined journalists defying obstacles in a relentless pursuit of the truth. Needless to say, both are period pieces."
On best picture nominees: "They deal with racism, corruption, terrorism and censorship. It's why we go to the movies. To escape."
And his best joke of the night, because it was so true: "A lot of people say that this town is too liberal. Out of touch with mainstream America. An atheistic pleasure dome. A modern-day beachfront Sodom and Gomorrah. A moral black hole where innocence is obliterated in an orgy of sexual gratification and greed. (Pause) "I don't really have a joke here, I just thought you should know a lot of people are saying that."
posted by Motherlode at 1:40 PM
4 Comments:
Jon Stewart rocks! He's the best thing that happened to Oscars, and they seriously need to consider removing all the other parts of the show :-)
I think John did a fine job, and had a good balance.
I thought, if anything, he poked a little more fun at Hollywood itself than they were prepared for. I was laughing much harder here at home than the live audience appeared to be.
But that's Jon -- irreverent, tearing down the icons of privilege and influence and reminding all of us to take OURSELVES a little less seriously and the ISSUES a little more so.
I thought Jon was great too - and acted like typical Jon. I was surprised by one comment he made. While pretending the camera wasn't on him, he stated something about Scientology being good for everyone in the nation and not just California. That probably ruffled a few feathers in the audience, but he's definitely an equal opportunity insulter.
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