It is Awards Season again - or as I like to think of it, that special time of year when Mike once again finds out he is WAY out of touch.
The World Wide Interweb Thingie is alive with chatter about who is going to win which statuette at what show - Oscar, Emmy, Tony, Golden Globes, Grammy, Granny, Silver Sow, Copper Cob, Dean Martin Roast, or Hee-Haw Salute. It's a long list. I might have missed a couple.
During these months when celebritroids start handing awards to one another, I find myself completely baffled by the reactions. Not theirs. I mean regular people's.
Folks who have absolutely nothing to do with entertainment (other than as consumers) get all worked up about these prizes and I really don't know why. It's not like fans get statuettes if they back the winner. (Although if that were the case, I think I'd want an Oscar. It's just the right shape and size to crack black walnuts.)
But oh, the drama. And I'm not talking about on the screen. I mean online:
"If 'Django Unchained' doesn't get best picture, there is no justice."
"'The Master' was robbed! Robbed!"
"OK, seriously. Did the makers of 'Rise of the Guardians' p*** in someone's coffee, because that movie was great from opening to closing credits."
Wow. The way people carry on about these things on the message boards and such, you'd think it was politics. Or sports. Or something that mattered.
Here's the response I used when I was a music critic and was forever having to hear from people who disagreed with my assessments of their favorite artists by citing album sales figures and awards won: Whoop-ti-do.
There's no real way to judge artistic merit other than personal opinion.
Nobody has invented a Merit-O-Meter that can impartially gauge the worth of a film, play, television show, or album. It all rests with the individual, as it should - what has great merit for you might have very little for me, and usually does. And as far as sales are concerned, that usually is the result of marketing more than the product itself.
What you're left with, then, is a popularity contest, not all that far removed from a student council election. Of course, this argument didn't work very well on New Kids on The Block fans, but hey, I tried.
Back in my critic days, I knew what was going on, entertainment-wise. I knew all the top musical artists and latest movies and popular TV shows.
Of course, I was being paid to pay attention. It was my job. That probably had a lot to do with it.
And I was a lot more interested in keeping up with trends, which is something I abandoned when it dawned on me that trendiness takes way more time and energy than I am willing to expend. It's a lot of work being trendy and in the end it doesn't benefit anyone but the people who started the trend.
In other words, I grew up.
And so, my friends, as we head into Awards Season, I have decided that my choice for best movie is "Lincoln": First, because I loved it and second, because of all the movies that are up for awards, it's the only one I could be persuaded to see. I hope it wins a whole bunch of nutcrackers.
I hate dog movies. In dog movies, the good, loyal, lovable dog always dies at the end and I end up sitting there in the dark with big tears streaming down my cheeks.
I’ve not kept it a secret that I find people who dress their dogs in clothes to be, to put it nicely, somewhat more than just eccentric. And many friendly, helpful readers out there have not kept it a secret that they really wish I would not express my views about dogs dressed as humans.
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
It sounds like the plot from a dystopian libertarian novel. The word “patriot” and the phrase “educating on the Constitution and Bill of Rights” triggered heightened scrutiny from the most intrusive agency in the federal government.
The action at the bird feeder has been spectacular lately: Cardinals, finches, songbirds in impressive variety crowding around all day long in search of sustenance. It is truly gratifying …
Everyone presumes that Sen. Chuck Schumer, the media-hungry Democrat from New York, wants to be the next Senate majority leader. His performance in the negotiations over the Gang of Eight immigration plan should bolster his case for an eventual promotion.
An NPR broadcast examines the question of how communities can better prepare for tornadoes like the one that struck Moore, Okla. on Monday. The broadcast features commentary from Michael Fitzgerald, who reported a five-part disaster series for the CNHI News Service.
When J.J. Abrams took over the "Star Trek" franchise in 2009, he boldly went where the series hadn't gone before — romantically — pairing Uhura with Spock. Many fans disliked the change. Some loved it. Others didn't care, because they just wanted to see Kirk and Spock make out.
An NPR broadcast examines the question of how communities can better prepare for tornadoes like the one that struck Moore, Okla. on Monday. The broadcast features commentary from Michael Fitzgerald, who reported a five-part disaster series for the CNHI News Service.
Commentary
Discussion
And the award goes to ...
By Mike Redmond CNHI
It is Awards Season again - or as I like to think of it, that special time of year when Mike once again finds out he is WAY out of touch.
The World Wide Interweb Thingie is alive with chatter about who is going to win which statuette at what show - Oscar, Emmy, Tony, Golden Globes, Grammy, Granny, Silver Sow, Copper Cob, Dean Martin Roast, or Hee-Haw Salute. It's a long list. I might have missed a couple.
During these months when celebritroids start handing awards to one another, I find myself completely baffled by the reactions. Not theirs. I mean regular people's.
Folks who have absolutely nothing to do with entertainment (other than as consumers) get all worked up about these prizes and I really don't know why. It's not like fans get statuettes if they back the winner. (Although if that were the case, I think I'd want an Oscar. It's just the right shape and size to crack black walnuts.)
But oh, the drama. And I'm not talking about on the screen. I mean online:
"If 'Django Unchained' doesn't get best picture, there is no justice."
"'The Master' was robbed! Robbed!"
"OK, seriously. Did the makers of 'Rise of the Guardians' p*** in someone's coffee, because that movie was great from opening to closing credits."
Wow. The way people carry on about these things on the message boards and such, you'd think it was politics. Or sports. Or something that mattered.
Here's the response I used when I was a music critic and was forever having to hear from people who disagreed with my assessments of their favorite artists by citing album sales figures and awards won: Whoop-ti-do.
There's no real way to judge artistic merit other than personal opinion.
Nobody has invented a Merit-O-Meter that can impartially gauge the worth of a film, play, television show, or album. It all rests with the individual, as it should - what has great merit for you might have very little for me, and usually does. And as far as sales are concerned, that usually is the result of marketing more than the product itself.
What you're left with, then, is a popularity contest, not all that far removed from a student council election. Of course, this argument didn't work very well on New Kids on The Block fans, but hey, I tried.
Back in my critic days, I knew what was going on, entertainment-wise. I knew all the top musical artists and latest movies and popular TV shows.
Of course, I was being paid to pay attention. It was my job. That probably had a lot to do with it.
And I was a lot more interested in keeping up with trends, which is something I abandoned when it dawned on me that trendiness takes way more time and energy than I am willing to expend. It's a lot of work being trendy and in the end it doesn't benefit anyone but the people who started the trend.
In other words, I grew up.
And so, my friends, as we head into Awards Season, I have decided that my choice for best movie is "Lincoln": First, because I loved it and second, because of all the movies that are up for awards, it's the only one I could be persuaded to see. I hope it wins a whole bunch of nutcrackers.
And a Copper Cob.
© 2013 Mike Redmond. All Rights Reserved.
I hate dog movies. In dog movies, the good, loyal, lovable dog always dies at the end and I end up sitting there in the dark with big tears streaming down my cheeks.
May 21, 2013
Mr. President, the buck stops with you.
President Truman set that standard, with these very words posted on a sign on his Oval Office desk.
But now, with over a thousand days left in this second Obama administration, we find a Nixonian stench emerging from the “W. House.”
May 21, 2013
Rarely has the White House briefing room so resembled the main ballroom at a meeting of the Conservative Political Action Conference.
May 21, 2013
I’ve not kept it a secret that I find people who dress their dogs in clothes to be, to put it nicely, somewhat more than just eccentric. And many friendly, helpful readers out there have not kept it a secret that they really wish I would not express my views about dogs dressed as humans.
May 17, 2013
Distrust of government secrecy has been elevated to an exceptional level with the disclosure the Justice Department covertly examined two months of Associated Press phone records to determine who leaked details to the AP about a foiled terrorist plot.
May 17, 2013
The federal government recently announced new regulations for buying fast food.
May 17, 2013
It sounds like the plot from a dystopian libertarian novel. The word “patriot” and the phrase “educating on the Constitution and Bill of Rights” triggered heightened scrutiny from the most intrusive agency in the federal government.
May 17, 2013
The action at the bird feeder has been spectacular lately: Cardinals, finches, songbirds in impressive variety crowding around all day long in search of sustenance. It is truly gratifying …
For my neighbor.
That’s what it’s like at his feeder.
May 14, 2013
On April 27, Dr. Jeff Butts demonstrated a rare form of servant leadership as he participated in the Go Love Indy westside service project.
May 13, 2013
Everyone presumes that Sen. Chuck Schumer, the media-hungry Democrat from New York, wants to be the next Senate majority leader. His performance in the negotiations over the Gang of Eight immigration plan should bolster his case for an eventual promotion.
May 13, 2013
Follow me on Twitter
Will you be attending this year's Indy 500?
Tires
Telecommunications
Beauty Salons
Government
An NPR broadcast examines the question of how communities can better prepare for tornadoes like the one that struck Moore, Okla. on Monday. The broadcast features commentary from Michael Fitzgerald, who reported a five-part disaster series for the CNHI News Service.
May 22, 2013 1 Photo
Complete Report:
Part I: Are We Prepared? | Part II: Disaster Dollars
Part III: Lessons Learned | Part IV: Warning Signs
Part V: The Big One
When J.J. Abrams took over the "Star Trek" franchise in 2009, he boldly went where the series hadn't gone before — romantically — pairing Uhura with Spock. Many fans disliked the change. Some loved it. Others didn't care, because they just wanted to see Kirk and Spock make out.
May 22, 2013 1 Photo
An NPR broadcast examines the question of how communities can better prepare for tornadoes like the one that struck Moore, Okla. on Monday. The broadcast features commentary from Michael Fitzgerald, who reported a five-part disaster series for the CNHI News Service.
May 22, 2013 1 Photo
Complete Report:
Part I: Are We Prepared? | Part II: Disaster Dollars
Part III: Lessons Learned | Part IV: Warning Signs
Part V: The Big One
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Telecommunications in avon
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