The Oscars aired this evening and like millions (billions?) of people, I tuned in. I am quite the movie lover and although it is rare that I even see the nominated films of the year, I cannot help myself in watching the ceremony.
I think for me, it’s a little bit of old time Hollywood that still exists. There is a sense of pageantry and history associated with the evening’s events that still draws my attention year after year. They keep with the traditions that have been going on since legendary figures like Crawford, Stewart, Grant and Hepburn walked the Red Carpet all those years ago. It is an evening of glamor, excitement and these days, unlike years ago, now brings people together from all around the world. For in 2013, as opposed to the late 20’s early 30’s, there is social media and folks the world are indeed plugged in.
I’m sure the ‘Monday morning quarterbacks’ of the entertainment community will be criticizing to death the performance of first time host Seth McFarlane as well as the presentations and musical numbers, nominees and winners…but this is not why I’m writing this tonight.
Personally, I liked the tribute to the Hollywood musical as the theme for the evening. The show is always better with a theme and it was refreshing to see that, forgetting that “Les Miserables” was a nominated film, the industry remembered that musicals were once a very large part of what made the movies so great.
I grew up on musicals. “Mary Poppins,” “Music Man” and of course the “Wizard of Oz” were just a handful of movies that I watched religiously as a kid and still do when they’re on. Of course many forget that most movie-musicals are based on Broadway shows, which is a shame. However, the fact that the writing and music get out there is at least exposing those who don’t normally take in a live show to a whole new genre.
Celebrating the music this evening was a nice treat for someone like me, who not only loves old Hollywood, but also has a theater background. For others, it may have just been nice to have the numbers break up what was all in all a very long evening.
It was also a perfect fit for Mr. MacFarlane who has a love of musicals and quite the amazing singing voice as well. When it came to the musical numbers, he seemed right at home on the stage. I could definitely envision him in old Hollywood hob-knobbing with the likes of Cary Grant and Fred Astaire with a martini or big glass of whiskey in his hand and getting the girl in the end.
Again, I could sit here and write a basic review of tonight’s festivities. Criticize who wore what and who said what in their speeches…and don’t get me wrong, I did a lot of that via social media. But by noon Monday, everyone is going to be sick and tired of hearing about the Oscars and I’m including myself in the mix.
Why did I write this? To take a minute and appreciate that even though the show ran long, very, very long, for a few hours we got to escape the news and revel in a tradition that has been going on for generations. For a little while, share in that old Hollywood feeling. And finally, to get caught up in the glitz and glamour and forget that, as Scarlett O’Hara once said, “Tomorrow is another day!”