Writing an end to the writers’ strike
This Hollywood writers’ strike is taking the fun out of awards season. Someone usually wears something totally insane to these shows, so that we can all point and laugh and get a few minutes of mindless entertainment! Or they say something silly in an acceptance speech, or bring someone unexpected as their date. But not this year.
The Golden Globe awards last night was reduced to a half-hour news conference. Boooooring! Who wants to watch that? No one, it seems. Where’s the joy if there are no acceptance speeches, or wardrobe malfunctions, or inside jokes? There isn’t any.
It’s a drag for the stars, too. They like to trot themselves out for the cameras and strike a pose, not to mention thank their mum, their God and their bestfriend’s brother’s Pekingese for the support.
The grand-daddy of awards shows, the Oscars broadcast, is now in jeopardy. This may seem like frivolous stuff for those of us on the outside — how many pats on the back to these folks really need? But struggling clothing designers count on the attention for their creations on the red carpet to grow their brands and ordinary folk like caterers, florists and limo services all wait for this night for a guaranteed boom.
And let’s face it, when Bjork shows up on the red carpet wearing what looks like a dead swan around her neck, it’s worth a look and a laugh.
George Clooney is trying to heal the rift in the strike. He has already donated cash to help struggling writers and now he is offering to set up a strike mediation panel reportedly involving himself and friends Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and others. Clooney apparently envisions the key players being locked in a room and not emerging until a deal is reached. Locked in a room with George Clooney? Ladies, the line for volunteers forms to the right!