Out of this world:
There are plenty of ways to send award show ratings through the roof (or at least lift them a little). For example, we'd tune in to see Sly Stone host next year's Grammys.
(Mark J. Terrill / AP)
Recent Columns
March 6, 2006
March 6, 2006
It's appropriate that Oscars are gold, since winning one can make a fortune for talent or a studio. This column will look at the business of Hollywood's awards season, and what all that money being spent really buys. Send your ideas, comments, criticisms, tips and pontifications to James.Bates@latimes.com
Behind the Screens
To review...
Final thoughts and parting shots on the awards season that was.
By James Bates
March 12, 2006
This is the last of these columns for this year's season of endless kudos.
In the spirit of a Hollywood awards show, I'd like to start by thanking my agent, except I don't have one.
So instead, I'll tie up some loose ends and offer a handful of random thoughts:
Best missed opportunity for a trade headline: "Oscars get Bird flu'' (had singer-songwriter Kathleen "Bird" York won best song for "In the Deep" from "Crash").
Oscar winning song that will inspire a thousand headlines: "It's Hard Out Here for a (fill in the blank.)"
Awards show that should be put out of its misery: The "People's Choice" awards. This made-for-TV event is as much a relic of the 1970s as "Battle of the Network Stars." This year's show even featured a lame product placement infomercial for a stomach acid pill disguised as a People's Choice viewing party (know anyone who ever had one of those?)
Best tip on how to win your "People's Choice office pool": If stars shows up, they will win. If star are a no-show, they won't.
Democracy, Hollywood style: The People's Choice award nominations are determined by editors at Entertainment Weekly, the production team and a panel of pop culture fans, then subjected to Internet voting.
Best Grammys suggestion: Make Sly Stone the host of next year's awards.
Worst Oscars injustice: Werner Herzog's "Grizzly Man," the best-reviewed feature documentary last year, not even making the first cut of 15 films to be considered for a nomination.
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