Warren Beatty should have stopped the show when he realized he was holding the wrong envelope. He could have spared the television audience much confusion and the world many needless news stories if he had just had the presence of mind to signal the producers that something was wrong. Isn’t that what commercial breaks are for?
Well, we probably would have had a few comments in the news media the next day but I think the “Moonlight” and “La La Land” mixup is a lesson learned in how to produce live television. Next year the award ceremonies will probably include a rule that says, “If the envelope you have been handed is not clearly labeled for your category, go to commercial.”
We have no doubt crossed a barrier into an age where every little detail is over scrutinized and I think maybe people were longing for some apolitical news to talk about. After all, who isn’t tired of talking about He Who Should Not Be President? I’d rather talk about how broad roads can be than that.
The innocent days when our entertainment news was dominated by science fiction conventions and elf girl costumes may not be over but they have been overshadowed by the heavy handed way the US government has been taken over by crackpots and failed media stars. I would rather read articles about fruit than go back to another White House briefing.
What is it about humanity that makes us dwell on everything at length? Warren Beatty’s expression may have confused the world but we don’t need any Warren Beatty memes to help us remember a mistake that caused a few minutes’ confusion.
Did no one want to talk about something happy and positive in the aftermath of the Oscars? Frankly, I think the show is boring, although I don’t go so far as to label a self-aggrandizing extravaganza the way some people have. I believe the movie industry needs an annual set of awards to recognize the accomplishments of its very talented members.
But do we really need to see every possible moment on television? Do we need to relive these things over and over the next day?
A very wise man once said, “It only takes one person to change the conversation”. He may have had a very specific conversation in mind. I know when I try to change the conversation I just talk past the other person. But I make the effort when the conversation no longer interests me.
If we learn nothing from this year’s movie awards then we are doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past over and over again.