As you probably know, we have now entered the annual “awards show” season, which officially began with the Golden Globe Awards, and is due to wrap up some time in April, when David Hasselhoff hosts the coveted Intoxicated Karaoke Performance Awards live from Tijuana, Mexico.
Every year, I watch at least some of these awards shows because, as a columnist, it’s important for me to keep up with cultural trends. I also watch because seeing Nicki Minaj always makes me feel better about the way I dress. However, according to a recent poll, ratings for awards shows have actually dropped. So much so that programming executives are calling it “an alarming trend.”
Personally, I think the word “alarming” is a little strong.
Coolant levels steadily leaking from a nuclear reactor — THAT’S alarming; a decline in the number of people tuning in to see how long it takes for a fight to break out at the Rap Awards is actually pretty encouraging. The obvious reason ratings are down is because the number of awards shows is up. The entertainment industry must ask itself if it really needs The Golden Globes, The Oscars and The Peoples’ Choice Awards in order to single out Hollywood’s finest when they could just as easily save time and money by combining all three into, say…
The Peoples’ Globes Awards.
Okay, bad example (Although, it does sound like something that’s probably available on cable.)
The monumental length of these shows is another problem. When a person can receive “Best New Talent” and the “Lifetime Achievement” award during the same broadcast, I say it’s too long. I’ll go even further and say that we could actually learn a few things from the Rapp Awards when it comes to cutting the length of these programs — especially when you consider last year’s Rap Awards lasted only 11 minutes (five of which showed nothing but an overturned buffet table moving toward the exit under gunfire.)
After approaching several top programming executives about my idea, I was, of course, immediately wrestled to the ground. This led me to organize a brainstorming session with Rap producers Bigg-E-Mac, Mac Daddy, and Dubl-Bigg-Mac-Combo—with the main goal being to come up with a comprehensive list of ideas aimed at shortening the Oscars.
And the secondary goal being for me to acquire a really cool “aka,” which I was given almost immediately:
2-Wite-2-Rap
What follows is a three-step process that could potentially save the Oscars by making them shorter, more exciting, and, quite possibly, a little more “jiggy.”
Step one: Get rid of the red carpet arrival and limit each celebrity to one drive-by. Non-celebrities would also be allowed a drive-by, but only in groups of eight or more, and only from the back of a Lincoln Continental assigned before the show.
Step two: Upon arrival, each celebrity will be issued a posse which, in turn, will spend most of the evening glaring at another posse. This will no doubt speed things up as celebrities, sensing a rising tension between rival posses, cut their acceptance speeches in order to leave before things get “wack.”
And finally,
Step three: Move the Oscars to an abandoned warehouse in Culver City. There are a couple of reasons for this. First, there’s the obvious cost savings. Why rent a theater when, with a little planning and a phone tree, everyone could just arrive and take over an empty warehouse just long enough to hand out the awards? This would also add a dramatic element to the show as it tries to finish up before the police arrive.
And there you have it, a simple, three-step solution to save the Oscars, compliments of me and my homies.
Now if I could just find my posse…
(Ned Hickson is a syndicated columnist with News Media Corporation. His first book, Humor at the Speed of Life, is available from Port Hole Publications.)
Ned's Blog 
I used to love award shows as a kid, but I don’t watch them anymore. It’s a lot of time invested in other people’s lives, and yeah, I’d rather be napping. I get the highlights on FB the next day anyway,
eden
Good plan. I mean about the sleeping. And you’re right about the time investment; I’d rather invest it in myself than Hollywood.
And I’m sure they feel the same… 😉
Nope, don’t watch ’em. Who can stay up all night for all that? I rather work on my beauty sleep. 😀
That’s what I should have done. I could really use it 😉
🙂
There have been awards shows that I’ve enjoyed immensely. I like to be entertained between awards, and last night’s Golden Globes were simply not entertaining at all (to me). With all the hype for Tina and Amy, I thought it was a big letdown. One of my favorite openings ever was Neil Patrick Harris’ “Bigger” for the Tony Awards.
I know what you mean. To me, the shows have adopted a new formula: Lots of hype, little content. Kind of like the Macy’s Parade, which used to be about the floats and Santa coming. Now it’s basically one long commercial for TV shows and broadway shows.
And yes, Neil Patrick Harris’ opening was the best. And so were Billy Chrystal’s early openings to the Oscars.
I loved Billy Crystal’s openings! He has been a hard act to follow.
I skipped the awards in lue of shopping. I loath shopping slightly less than Hollywood Awards, so it was a win. I got new boots and missed the craptastic show that is the Golden Globes.
That officially makes you the big winner of the night 😉
Is there a time limit for my acceptance speech?
Not for you, Melanie.
However, if this were the Twitter Awards, you would be limited to 140 characters.
That damn word count. Stumps me every time.
There was an awards show on?
The easy way would be to disqualify any movies or shows that were remakes or spin-offs. Cuts the field in half at least.
That would cut the show in half, too. If I could, I would give you an award…
Yay! Can it be shiny?
How do you feel about bowling trophies?
They are usually shiny…is it more yhan one tier?
It’s about 14 inches tall and very shiny. As long as you don’t mind “Ed Hickson 200 series age 12” on it, I’ll send it along.
😀 I win!
I don’t watch based on principle. Do I get an award when I do my job really well? No. Well, ok, once I did get Outpatient Nurse of the Year but my son got in a bus accident so no ceremony. Do I get paid millions to stick my mug in front of the camera? No. Do I get to wear cool outfits and loads of bling and wiggle my juicy booty in front of the camera? No. So if I don’t get to do it, I don’t want to watch it. There is enough narcissism in the film industry without giving them an award for it.
Amen to that. Although I think the film industry would disagree; there’s always room for more narcissism in Hollywood…
If I had an award, I would give it to you for your comment. You dont even have to wiggle your juicy booty 😉
I understand this completely. My friends used to have an Oscar party and make $1.00 bets on each category. I was the one in the corner, glass of wine in hand, rocking back and forth until it was over!!
I actually used to love watching the Oscars. I’m a movie nut, and for me it was like the Super Bowl. I had certain movies, composers, actors, directors and even costume designers I wanted to see win. Then it just got so boring and self serving that I stopped watching. Last year, my wife and I decided to give it a shot. Seth McFarland (I’m not sure if it’s spelled right) reminded me of why we stopped watching…
I love movies as well, but just can’t bring myself to watch all the hype over who’s wearing what designer….who cares? I usually watch a movie while the Oscars are on. 🙂
Much, much better option 😉
And my designer of choice is usually some athletic wear, hair and make-up are done by cottage country casual. 🙂
And a line of door mats instead of red carpet. I see where you’re going with this and I like it.
If I’m ever in Oregon near awards season, I’ll be the one that shows up on your doorstep wearing a onesie. 😀 Don’t worry, I’ll bring wine and snacks.
Lol! Well okay, as long as you’re wearing a onsie!
😀
I am so befuddled with the watching choices on Netflix, that I have no time for awards shows. Not owning a TV also helps. But, I do love to check out the red-carpet fashion for the ‘whose dress sucked?’ journal I’m maintaining.
Haha! That’s as good a reason as any. Possibly even the ONLY reason to watch 😉
The Golden Globes were on? I wish you would have activated the Phone Tree and informed me.
As far as getting you a posse–so simple! You have an entertaining fan base of bloggers–we’d look fab in bling. And dude, I can drive a Lincoln!
It’s settled then. Next year, Culver City. I’ll reserve the Lincoln and we can all meet at LAX. It’s gong to be a blast! As long as we can make it past security…
I think all award shows would be more democratic and less stressful for celebrities worried about being judged for their fashion choices if there was a strict rule that everyone attending had to wear something made from a red carpet. Plus it would be a advertising great tie-in for the Roomba people and personally, I think their products are just swell.
Lol! And think about the endorsement possibilities from Rug Doctor and Hoover products!