Chris Rock: Oscars only for 'gays'
(AP) - Was the choice of comedian Chris Rock to host this year's Oscars event a mistake?
That's what officials at Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences are said to be asking themselves in the wake of comments implying only homosexuals watch the Oscars, according to the Drudge Report.
"I never watched the Oscars. Come on, it's a fashion show," Rock recently said. "No one performs; it's not like a music show. What straight black man sits there and watches the Oscars? Show me one!"
Rock added: "Awards for art are f---ing idiotic."
Academy members are reportedly privately calling for the 39-year-old comic to be removed as host, fearing Rock may "tarnish" the Academy's reputation.
"Simply put, this is a disgrace," one veteran Hollywood mogul told Drudge. "This guy is out there saying 'awards for art are f---ing idiotic' and he is hosting the show produced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences? I guess the joke is on us!"
An actress nominated for an award is said to question whether producer Gil Cates was aware that Rock had never seen the show.
And how was Rock chosen by the producer?
"Billy [Crystal] is doing a show in New York," Cates said, "Steve Martin is doing a movie. ..."
Rock interrupted the producer to continue, saying, "Ellen DeGeneres has crabs. Jay Leno's got a gig. They got to the R's. Burt Reynolds said no."
The former cast member of NBC's "Saturday Night Live" was confident in his ability to host the show.
"How do I say this without sounding like an egomaniac?" he said. "I don't know a comedian that sells more seats than me in the red states and blue states, so I don't see where I have to change that much."
"I think Hollywood deserves better than this," opined Matt Drudge on his nationally broadcast radio program tonight. "Just go host-less."
Personally, I thought this was kinda funny. Chris Rock talking smack will only increase ratings. On the other hand, who the fuck does Matt Drudge think he is? Just because you leaked the Lewinsky story doesn't mean your the moral spine of America dude, chill the fuck out. Rock is an instigator, a realist and most importantly, a comedian and as the Team Cho Blog points out:
When was the last time you heard a white comic under fire for something provocative s/he said? Every night, a slew of white male comedians say at least one thing I consider anti-woman, anti-gay, and/or racist, and I can't remember any of them getting called on any of it. I specifically remember Dennis Miller NOT being called out on what he said at a Bush fundraiser about Kerry and Edwards acting gay.
Get over it Drudge, we'd hate to open a can of worms we don't want to have to eat.
Happy Thursday People!
