Comments on: The Obligatory Post Oscar Post http://forwardtoyesterday.com/2008/02/25/the-obligatory-post-oscar-post/ It's hip to be moribund! Tue, 16 Mar 2010 07:30:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: bob http://forwardtoyesterday.com/2008/02/25/the-obligatory-post-oscar-post/#comment-25950 bob Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:47:41 +0000 http://forwardtoyesterday.com/2008/02/25/the-obligatory-post-oscar-post/#comment-25950 <p>I love these kind of stories, Campuspe. When was this, roughly? Since I know you're a Manhattanite, I'm imagining that the Starbucks was right across from the studio -- except the word "local" makes it sound like it was somewhere else and maybe even pre-Daily Show.</p> <p>This definitely jibes with many other stories and comments I've heard about Stewart over the years. I always tell people that if I hear one story about a famous person being really nice or really obnoxious, I shrug it off. Could be the celeb was having a very good or very bad day; could be I'm the victim of an unreliable narrator. But over time the stories add up, one by one, and you have to conclude that Tom Hanks probably really is a terribly nice guy and, say, Donald Sutherland, probably not.</p> <p>As for Oscar host preferences, like everyone else I thought Billy Crystal did a great job the first two or three times he hosted. But the last time he did it I was kind of disappointed. I thought he had maybe crossed the line into schmaltz. My favorite recent Oscar hosts are Steve Martin, the first time around, anyway. I seem to remember the second one being less funny. Stewart, the first time around was almost as good -- this second time around also being a little less funny. I really think Stewart was holding his fire a bit this time because of all the (unjustified, I thought) heat he took last time, and I'm sure the rushed writing didn't help much either. I seem to be a contrarian on these -- I thought Chris Rock did just fine (again with those sensitive H-wood egos) and I thought David Letterman's much derided gig was quite funny as well. "Uma meet Oprah" worked for me.</p> I love these kind of stories, Campuspe. When was this, roughly? Since I know you’re a Manhattanite, I’m imagining that the Starbucks was right across from the studio — except the word “local” makes it sound like it was somewhere else and maybe even pre-Daily Show.

This definitely jibes with many other stories and comments I’ve heard about Stewart over the years. I always tell people that if I hear one story about a famous person being really nice or really obnoxious, I shrug it off. Could be the celeb was having a very good or very bad day; could be I’m the victim of an unreliable narrator. But over time the stories add up, one by one, and you have to conclude that Tom Hanks probably really is a terribly nice guy and, say, Donald Sutherland, probably not.

As for Oscar host preferences, like everyone else I thought Billy Crystal did a great job the first two or three times he hosted. But the last time he did it I was kind of disappointed. I thought he had maybe crossed the line into schmaltz. My favorite recent Oscar hosts are Steve Martin, the first time around, anyway. I seem to remember the second one being less funny.

Stewart, the first time around was almost as good — this second time around also being a little less funny. I really think Stewart was holding his fire a bit this time because of all the (unjustified, I thought) heat he took last time, and I’m sure the rushed writing didn’t help much either. I seem to be a contrarian on these — I thought Chris Rock did just fine (again with those sensitive H-wood egos) and I thought David Letterman’s much derided gig was quite funny as well. “Uma meet Oprah” worked for me.

]]> By: Campaspe http://forwardtoyesterday.com/2008/02/25/the-obligatory-post-oscar-post/#comment-25948 Campaspe Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:17:53 +0000 http://forwardtoyesterday.com/2008/02/25/the-obligatory-post-oscar-post/#comment-25948 an admittedly second-hand story about Stewart ... a friend of a friend took a major pratfall outside her local starbucks, spilling her coffee all over herself and the sidewalk. She's picking herself up and hears a familiar voice asking if she's all right. Yup, it's Stewart, who helps her to her feet, runs inside for extra napkins to help her mop off her work suit, then tells her, "I'm Jon, by the way. I gotta get to work but I hope your day improves, take care!" not that I believe such creatures exist in Celeb World, but he may be what he seems, a decent guy. I know, it's just a rumor, but one does hear stories and they start to pile up... all that said, I do prefer him on The Daily Show and the show-biz-ier Billy Crystal as Oscars host. an admittedly second-hand story about Stewart … a friend of a friend took a major pratfall outside her local starbucks, spilling her coffee all over herself and the sidewalk. She’s picking herself up and hears a familiar voice asking if she’s all right. Yup, it’s Stewart, who helps her to her feet, runs inside for extra napkins to help her mop off her work suit, then tells her, “I’m Jon, by the way. I gotta get to work but I hope your day improves, take care!”

not that I believe such creatures exist in Celeb World, but he may be what he seems, a decent guy. I know, it’s just a rumor, but one does hear stories and they start to pile up…

all that said, I do prefer him on The Daily Show and the show-biz-ier Billy Crystal as Oscars host.

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