BREAKING: Sacha Baron Cohen Banned From Oscars 2012:
The Dictator is a spoof about the “heroic story of a Middle Eastern dictator who risks his life to ensure that democracy never comes to the country he so lovingly oppressed”. Whether the fact that the 84th Academy Awards will be beamed into 200 countries had anything to do with this ban is unclear. But an Oscars spokesperson acknowledged to Deadline yesterday: ”We would hope that every studio knows that this is a bad idea. The Red Carpet is not about stunting.” Oh really? then why did Trey Parker and Matt Stone of South Park crossdress down the Red Carpet as J-Lo and Gwyneth Paltrow in evening gowns in 2000? Or Ben Stiller appear as an Oscar presenter in full blue Avatar makeup and hair in 2010?
It’s about the right stunting. Everybody knows the only political leaders you can mock at the Oscars have to be Republican. And I bet you a trip to Los Angeles that the show’s script on Sunday will include at least one jab at the GOP primary contenders…or at least one mocking reference to tonight’s GOP debate…or both!
UPDATE: Academy denies.
LATEST (Feb. 23, 2012 at 5:26 PM MST): The matter is far from resolved, but it’s starting to be fun.
MORE: (Feb. 24, 2012 at 10:21am MST): General Alladeen addresses the Academy: “I Applaud The Academy For Taking Away My Free Speech”.
(Cross-posted at The Rhetorican)
Given that Cohen was beloved by the elites for making fun of American culture six years ago it will be fun to see if he’s willing to note Hollywood’s aversion to having their own highest of solemn ceremonies lampooned. (Sasha’s schtick and the reaction of those close to the action resembles the career arc of Andy Kaufman, who was beloved in the mid-to-late 70s when the butt of the joke was seeing how much bizarre crap the audience was willing to take, and less so when it Kaufman’s joke became how much crap certain TV show hosts and production people would take).
Having watched the trailer for “The Dictator” the other day, I am not surprised by this at all. It’s going to make fun of people from the Middle East – the horror!
I’m not sure why Hollywood would tolerate this stuff from the Southpark guys (who brought us “Team America,” with it’s “dirka dirka jihad” spouting puppets and terrorist-sympathizing actors’ union called the “FAGS”), but not similar material from Cohen.
Cohen must have p*ssed in someone’s Cheerios, big time.
Gee, I quit watching the Oscars years ago. Stupid, boring, too looong, etc. But if Sacha Baron Cohen was gonna be there acting up, it would definitely be worth watching.
There was actually something about Khadaffi that Hollywood liked and was offended that Cohen satirized?
Did ‘Atlas Shrugged’ get a nomination? Didn’t think so… Since it’s the ONLY movie I saw last year… I could care less what the Hollyweird crowd thinks.