Moved

At the risk of propelling the myth that my favorite show on TV is Oprah, I have to say that last night's Oscar special was unfortunately pretty cornball up until the end.

The Julia Roberts and George Clooney interview should have been hysterical, particularly with Brad Pitt calling in. But it was clumsy and exclusionary. It was like watching the head cheerleader and quarterback vamp for anyone who is watching their explosive coolness. The attitude was, "Lets see how the world's most beautiful people giggle and self-congratulate."

It got better with Nicole Kidman and Russell Terrier err.. Crowe. But it was still awkward, like watching two ex-nerds scuffle their feet and poorly pretend to not have a crush on the other. For being good friends and Aussies, I thought they were extraordinarily repressed which Nicole alluded to in the fact they are both extremely ticklish.

I don't know what's wrong with my brain and Hollywood compass then that I though the Jamie Foxx and Sidney Poitier interview would be not even worth investing another 20 minutes in. Honestly, the producers should have sacked the 40 minutes of High School Musical that took place before and just had these two. Both actors are extremely soulful and I don't say that to mean "extremely black" - but there's an obvious kindred spirit between the two that is tangible. And more to that, it was amazing to watch two Hollywood figures - one a legend, the other a padawan and see them honorably and humbly accept the context of their success. I liked what Sidney said as well, that the measure of a man is in how he treats/raises his children. How true is that especially in this day and age where so many men view their children as an optional, negotiable add-on in their lives. There are too many single mom's out there and too many biological fathers. I've learned this in my own life by witness or by experience that men have the natural ability to walk away. Women certainly do walk away as well, but not without some extreme social penalty. Men walk away and he's normal. But I have to believe there is something biological or instinctual that permits a man to say it's OK to see your kid once a week or four times a year. Maybe that's me being extraordinarily judgemental (based on overwhelming circumstance) but I think it's so common it must be by human design.

They showed clips of "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner" - which is one of my all time favorite movies. And I realized the reason I love that movie and enjoy Sidney Poitier as an actor and as a person to respect, is because his movies have a quality that I can only describe as "hand made" in his performance. How can an actor be so much of his own person yet create a unique and magnificent character? I know I love that movie because it takes all the issues, woes and cranks of society and compresses it into a family dynamic.

Anyway, that's that. Good show.