Monday, January 16, 2012

Golden Globes Awards doesn’t have to be dirty to be funny, fun or sexy

Is it just me, or did you notice anything different Sunday night about the 67th Annual Golden Globes on NBC? NBC thinks it has a winner, Nielsen said 17 million viewers. They kind of won the ratings battle at #2, but lost the ratings war to #1 Fox with NFL playoff game. (Superbowl Sunday next weekend.)

At the the Golden Globes, NBC brought back the controversial host Ricky Gervais. And instead of following the rules, he read them live on the air like the rebel that he is. It was almost expected that he would be dirty, but not funny at all to families gathered around the TV for one of the most watched international shows, put on by the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn.

I get it that, “Sex sells,” but what I don’t get is why they try to glorify an already high profile, industry respected show with sick, sexual jokes about your “penis” or “like a virgin, why don’t you come over and do something about it,” Madonna fired back.

The award winning Madonna, took home another Golden Globe for Best Song - Motion Picture: "Masterpiece" (Best Original Song - Motion Picture.) But not without conflict with Elton John's significant other.

It is the kind of program and raw material a parent would expect on cable TV, where there are no FCC rules, and sex, drugs and rock n’ roll do sell. But come on! Number three rated NBC Network, used to be #1 for shows they used to air primetime weekends, too.

I remember when family sitcom shows that had dynamite writers for Cheers, The Golden Girls and #1 The Cosby show were so big, then #1NBC used to delay NBA and World Series play off games for 30 to 60 minutes just to get the prime time stuff in. It would irritate me then, because I was always producing a NBC affliliate newscast before or after huge rated NBC shows. You'd hurry up and wait.
But, there was no swearing or dirty jokes. In fact the FCC wouldn’t even allow you to be seen drinking alcohol on the air. 

This is why I do not watch loser, number three News Network, CNN, which said this about the Golden Globes, "Likely to the relief of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Sunday's Golden Globes ceremony went off more or less without a hitch."


It reminds me of how lazy, cheap, and often misguided Hollywood can stray when they allow this to happen while our children are watching. These are kids look up to the stars, whether they are in Hollywood, on the baseball field or on the basketball court. 


It all started with the CBS' costume malfunction of Janet Jackson years ago. Now,with giant cable companies buying out network TV stations and radio stations, the family, prime time programming has become desperate at a minimum and below standards at best.

The more descent moments included huge winners George ClooneyMeryl Streep, Idris Elba, and the films “The Artist” and “The Descendants.”

But even George Clooney cracked a dirty joke talking about "full frontal," roles.  


For me the highlight of the show was when Morgan Freeman was honored during the three-hour ceremony, with the Cecil B. De Mille Award, presented to him by legendary actor Sidney Poitier.  Freeman said, "it was an honor to receive it from you, and it will be called the 'Sidney Poitier' award at home.”

It’s okay to admire and spotlight great people but to call them “God” in an acceptance speech? Meryl Streep referred to Harvey Weinstein as "God" in her acceptance speech for actress in a drama. Hello? 

Among the few keeping it clean and family oriented was legendary film producer Stephen Spielberg, who won for “Best Animated Film- TinTin” with his partner Peter Jackson, another legend (King Kong), who also brought us the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

On the red carpet, where the dirty jokes actually began, I also noticed all the dresses looked the same, just in different colors?  It appeared as if one dress designer got a RFP bid to designed all the dresses and outfits for the show.
It was one of the biggest nights in TV, movies, but lacked a lot of fashion pizzazz. But if you ask MTV, of course they would disagree. And if you missed it there is always someone who will highlight the Best and Worst Dress at the Golden Globes. The LA Times has a list of the rest of the winners, too. They have a pretty good spread each year in the Envelope.

My personal observation and suggestion is like posting Online. Think, and pause before you do it, but ask yourself would I offend my Mom, children or anyone else if I said or allowed them to see this?  If the as answer is yes, you need to reboot yourself and program.

Let’s hope the Oscars are cleaner with Billy Crystal at the helm, and yes they are more prestigious than the Globes, which is about the only thing Ricky Gervais said was true.

You might start with bringing back the gimmicks, and lively, talented hosts such as Bill Crystal, Steve Martin, Martin Short or someone more pleasing, understandable and less negative in general. And someone who doesn't need a napkin for his sweaty forehead all night. Remember “If isn’t broken, don’t fix it” Hollywood!


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