RAM PRODUCTIONS INTERNATIONAL
  • Home
  • How We Can Work Together
  • About Michael Russnow
  • Actor/Personality
    • Sample Reel
    • 2014 Sample Reel
    • Michael Russnow Does Stand-Up
    • Water Into Wine
    • The Time Tree - Older Alex
    • Actor's Slate - One Minute Version
    • Actor's Slate - Four Minute Version
    • Interview on Stanley Dyrector Show - Part One
    • Interview on Stanley Dyrector Show - Part Two
    • Interview on Stanley Dyrector Show - Part Three
    • Interview on Stanley Dyrector Show - Part Four
    • Michael Russnow Speaks Out Episode 1
    • Michael Russnow Speaks Out! - Episode 2
    • Commentators Shouldn't Say Trump Has Pulse of America
  • Huffington Post Articles
    • Business >
      • Abolish Tipping
      • AIG Reverse Stock Split
      • AIG Plummets: Stock Split
      • Asus Computers
      • AT&T Doesn't Communicate
      • Bernard Madoff Swindled Everyone
      • Citigroup Reverse Split
      • Citigroup to Reverse Split
      • Horrible Banking Experiences
      • Is Shelly Sterling Channeling Lurleen Wallace?
      • Los Angeles Parking Meter Signs
      • My GE Dishwasher Tragedy
      • State Controller Has Your Money Available
      • Windows 7 Not As Great As Advertised
      • You Can't Feed Parking Meters
    • Media >
      • Abolish the Electoral College
      • BP Chairman Choice of Words
      • British Nurse Suicide Overblown By Media
      • Ed McMahon's Money Problems
      • Is Media Keeping Trump Alive
      • Los Angeles Times Backtracks on TV Grid
      • Lou Dobbs and His Ilk are Wrong
      • Media Downplays Hillary 3 Million Victory
      • Media Headline Biases
      • Media Inflames Comey Letter Re Hillary
      • Media Mischaracterizes GOP Win
      • Media Props Trump Up, Even When Hillary Wins Debate
      • Media Says Hillary's Not Transparent
      • Media Scare Tactics
      • Media Sensationalizes Obamacare Premium Rise
      • Memo to the Media: Maybe It's Time For a "Spartacus" Moment
      • Obama Asks Pundits Not to Skew Words
      • Obama Gym Workout No Big Deal
      • Obama Promised Change - From Bush and Cheney
      • Obama Would Be Citizen, Even if Born in Kenya
      • Palin Accuses Letterman of Seeking PR
      • What's Happened to the LA Times?
      • White House Gate Crashers
      • Why Does Trump Get More Face Time Than Hillary?
      • Why Media Normalizes Trump
    • Politics >
      • 2012 Iowa Caucuses: Shakespeare Was Right About the Masses
      • 2012 Vice Presidential Debate: Biden Blew Ryan Away
      • 25th Amendment Might Rid Us of Trump
      • Calling for Al Gore
      • Debate 2: Hillary Held Firm, While Trump Lied
      • Donald Trump Comportment: When is Enough Enough?
      • Donald Trump Supporters Are Deplorable
      • Donald Trump Supporters Must Be Stupid
      • Electoral College Support Because Founders Created it
      • Europeans are for Obama
      • French Choose President By CItizenry
      • GOP Senators Continue to Support Trump
      • Has Hillary Given Up in South Dakota?
      • Hillary Beat Trump in Popular Vote
      • James Comey, Legal Moralist or Fool?
      • John McCain No Longer a Hero
      • McCain's Nervous Breakdown
      • McCain/Palin Debate Spin
      • McCain Pulls Out the Heartstrings
      • Obama Accepts Super PAC Money
      • Obama & Clinton Forces, Can't We Get Along?
      • Obama Becoming First Wimp
      • Obama's Decision to Go to Copenhagen
      • Obama First 2012 Debate: Gotta Do Better
      • Obama Has Every Right to Replace Scalia
      • Obama: It's Time to Play Hardball
      • Obama Must Stop Postponing Health Care Law
      • Obama Needs Marc Antony to Get it Right
      • Obama Nobel Peace Prize
      • Obama Second 2012 Debate: Romney Overmatched
      • Obama Third 2012 Debate: He Gives Romney Presidential Seminar
      • Obama Won, But GOP Doesn't Seem to Recognize it
      • Patriotism Not a Republican Virtue
      • Pence Won Debate, Not By Much
      • Political Leaders and Journalists MUST Discuss Popular Presidential Vote
      • Politician/Media Rarely Discuss Americans Preferred Hillary
      • Popular Vote Must Choose Presidency
      • Primary Ballots For Party Members Only
      • Proposition 8 Backlash
      • Redo in Michigan and Florida
      • Religion in Politics
      • Romney Acceptance Speech
      • Rudy Giuliani's Screaming Convention Tirade
      • Ruth Bader Ginsurb's Contempt for Donald Trump
      • Sarah Palin's Appeal is That She's Annie Oakley
      • Sarah Palin's a Right-Wing Gidget
      • Sarah Palin, A Stepford Wife
      • Sarah Palin Is No Dan Quayle
      • Scalia Should Recuse on Gay Issues
      • Senate Refusal to Vote on Scalia Replacement a Sham
      • Should Anthony Weiner Resign?
      • Super Delegates Caved to Obama
      • Trump Is No Populist
      • Trump Name Calling: Why Hasn't it Backfired?
      • Trump Paris Pull-Out, Time To Elect Popular Vote President
      • Trump Performance as President Might Be Best Solution to Change Presidential Election System
      • Trump's Problems Aren't Going Away
      • We've Finally Got Health Care
      • When Does Political Correctness Go Too Far?
      • Will Hillary Have Last Laugh?
    • Show Business >
      • Movies >
        • A Most Violent Year
        • Black Swan a Must See
        • Boyhood: An Engaging Film
        • Che The Movie
        • Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino
        • The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
        • Deborah Kerr, Rhymes With Star
        • Defiance
        • The Fighter
        • Good
        • The Hateful Eight Bloated But Intriguing
        • Honorary Academy Awards Ceremony a Travesty
        • Inception
        • Jackie Chan Should Not Get an Oscar
        • Leonardo DiCaprio Deserves the Oscar for "Wolf of Wall Street"
        • Michael Moore"s Where to Invade Next: Documentary or Propaganda?
        • Minority Report and the Oscar Controversy
        • Mitch Reinholt of American Teen
        • Movie Theatre Etiquette
        • Nicholas Hoult of A Single Man
        • Jackie Chan Gets an Oscar?
        • Quentin Tarantino Afraid Aging Will Make Him Out of Touch
        • The Reader
        • Revolutionary Road
        • Seven Pounds
        • Texting in Theatres Is A Blight
      • Television >
        • The Amazing Race
        • Big Brother: Danielle's Stupid Decision
        • Big Brother: Frank Eudy's Ouster
        • Celebrity Apprentice 2011
        • Charlie Sheen's Rant
        • Conan O'Brien's Pissed
        • David Letterman's Apology to Palin
        • David Letterman Gag Didn't Work
        • Do We Need Intrusive Network Logos
        • Glee Message of Tolerance Misguided
        • Golden Globes 2010
        • Golden Globes 2011
        • Golden Globes 2012
        • Golden Globes 2016
        • Hell's Kitchen's Gordon Ramsay
        • I Can Die Now, I've Met Betty White
        • Lost Finale
        • NBC's Decision to Bring Back Leno
        • Political Correctness on TV
        • Racial Advancement on TV
        • Survivor Caramoan: Why Was Erik Reichenbach Ignored by Jeff Probst?
        • Survivor Nicaragua 2010
        • Survivor Redemption Island 2011
        • Survivor: Samoa 2009
        • Susan Boyle I
        • Susan Boyle II
        • Susan Boyle III - The Finals
        • The Amazing Race: Amazing that Brooke and Scott Made the Top 3
        • The Emmy Awards 2014
        • The Oscars 2010
        • The Oscars 2011
        • The Oscars 2012
        • The Oscars 2013
        • The Oscars 2013 Afterthought: Why MacFarlane's Lincoln Joke Didn't Work
        • The Oscars 2014
        • The Oscars 2015
        • The Oscars 2016
        • The Oscars 2017
        • TV Cops Get Away With Murder
        • TV Shows and Films Shouldn't Screw Talent
        • Young Actors in TV Roles
      • Book of Oded Review
      • Chekhov Alive in Hollywood
      • Cutting Meat in Movies and TV Shows
      • Hal Kanter Memories
      • I Never Cried For My Father
      • Perceptionism is the worst "ism"
      • Robert Anderson Has Died
      • SAG Actors Must Remain Strong
      • SAG Negotiations Marred by Clooney and Hanks
      • Ted Lange's Lady Patriot Onstage
      • Trump Bails Out Ed McMahon
      • WGA Strike For Dummies I
      • WGA Strike For Dummies II
      • WGA Strike For Dummies III
      • WGA Strike For Dummies IV
    • Travel >
      • Airline Fees Are Chintzy
      • Airline Service Is a Sham
      • Bitching Can Be Effective
      • Morocco Can Be Intriguing
      • Volcano in Iceland
    • It's Not Easy to Become a Juror
  • My Novel
  • LA Fitness Has Terrible Customer Service
  • Political Correctness Should Be Challenged
    • Contact
  • Sarah Palin Says She's Not Responsible
  • Remedies When You've Been Cheated
  • The Iguassu Falls
  • Getting to Rio
  • Rio de Janeiro
  • São Paulo
  • London Film Award Certificate

Why Seth MacFarlane's John Wilkes Booth
Joke Didn't Work For Most:

Bob Newhart Got it Right When
Less Than 100 Years Had Passed


                                                                                                                              The Huffington Post, February 27, 2013


In the aftermath of my review of the Oscars and that of many others who seemed to agree Seth MacFarlane's humor was often wanting, I thought I'd offer a postscript as to why for most people the John Wilkes Booth joke didn't work.

It had nothing to do with Lincoln being a sacred cow, nor as MacFarlane defensively rejoindered when his joke bombed,
"150 years and it's still too soon, huh?"  It wasn't too soon at all.

Simply put, along with a host of national critics I found Seth MacFarlane sophomoric, appealing to the basest form of humor, rather than seeking what many might prefer as a cleverer approach, finding unexpected irony while satirizing a situation.
And before you point out that the ABC ratings were higher than last year's, it had little or nothing to do with MacFarlane.
The host's popularity or lack thereof has only a small degree of audience pull.   It's been proven that the highest ratings usually accompany the popularity of the year's nominees, and most of the 2012 best picture nominees grossed more than $100 million.

Nonetheless, in a discussion with a young actor Monday night, he said he found the Oscar host quite funny, including the
John Wilkes Booth remark.  I tried to explain my point of view, which was that, rather than cutting edge, to me it was cheap,
sort of like banana peel humor.  He responded that there were many fans of MacFarlane and that there should be room for
that sort of humor on the Oscar show, in order to appeal to all segments of society.   I should add that, during all this, he was most respectful and accepting of my point of view, as opposed to the personally insulting comments my review engendered
from mostly anonymous readers.

I don't mind the sort of argument my friend put forth, but still believe the Oscar show should elevate itself above playground or frat party humor.  A lot of tween types find gross situations very humorous, and this extends into the teen years and for some even into their third decade.  However, it is also true that life among school-age kids can be hell for those who are dissimilar, with cliques abounding, separating the in-crowd from those it deems wanting.

If you're different, maybe not athletic or pretty or, God forbid gay (yes, even in today's more tolerant age) life can be pretty horrid.  Fortunately, there is a moderating trend regarding those prejudices as one matures, at least to the extent that one doesn't for the most part openly abuse folks who are not in the main stream, because there is usually an understanding of
what might be appropriate conduct and what might not be.

In the case of the Oscars, while it is hardly a papal conclave or royal coronation, it is a major worldwide event, as opposed to
an Animal House toga party. Certainly, acid humor has its place, and it's okay to mock people's idiosyncrasies and personas.  And while I was sneered at for saying I wasn't a prude, which, according to some, meant I actually was one, I really do enjoy much of MacFarlane's comedy on Family Guy (but let's not forget it's a cartoon), find the unorthodox and unforgiveable antics
on Showtime's Shameless mostly hysterical and truly appreciate comics who take the time to think about what might be
funny as opposed to shooting from the hip, using the lowest common denominator to get the sort of laugh that sends a
12-year-old wild.

For those who are cognizant of Bob Newhart (and my young actor friend wasn't) I thought of the comedian's breakthrough album, The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart, which featured a series of monologues, many of them priceless in which Newhart was having a conversation with someone unseen and unheard.  One of them was in the course of giving a driving lesson to an incompetent student, but for the purpose of this piece I recall his classic Abraham Lincoln versus Madison Avenue.  In this sketch, a press agent was advising Abe Lincoln, who was about to deliver the Gettysburg Address.

By the way, this was 1960, less than a hundred years after Lincoln's death.   In the course of this routine, he counsels Lincoln against changing Four Score and Seven to 87.  But to the case in point, at the conclusion, when it appeared that Lincoln would be home alone with Mary and couldn't get anyone to play bridge with them, the PR man said, "Listen, Abe, why don't you take
in a play?"   The audience burst into hysterics, even though the connotation was evident, the advice would lead to his assassination.  (Yes, fact checkers, I know that the assassination was a year and a half after the Gettysburg Address, but the tie-in was clear).

So, here are two punch lines that remind us of Lincoln's death.  One worked for most, the other only for a minority.  It had nothing to do with sensitivity about Lincoln's passing, rather it was the approach.  One used irony.  Oh, my God, he was killed
for following a bad suggestion.  The other attempted to do word play about getting into someone's head, first indicating
Daniel Day-Lewis had done so to prepare to play Lincoln in the film, but that John Wilkes-Booth had done a better job of doing so.   And how?  Obviously with a bullet.  And the audience in the Dolby Theatre and most of those at home felt the Oscar host had gone too far.

What's next?   Making fun of those who are crippled?  Homely people?  Fat people?  Would we have laughed if MacFarlane had done such a joke at the expense of Melissa McCarthy?  Perhaps some of you would.

And that's your right.   And that's why there are avant-garde, underground clubs, not to mention all sorts of music and art forms.  But the Oscars are an important venue, and while it's okay to evolve to new mores in our society, it doesn't mean it's appropriate or even smart to go to the basest levels.  If that means losing a small percentage of the audience -- and it would be a small percentage, believe me, so be it.

By the way, I find it interesting that the harshest among my readers only saw my critical remarks about MacFarlane, ignoring many of my positive plaudits.   I mention this, because among the other reviewers who mentioned the mixed to critical reportage, they quoted other sources for the harsh attacks and seemed to get a different feel from what I wrote.   In the
Christian Science Monitor:

Even the more positive reviews rated his performance a mixed bag, with Huffington Post writer Michael Russnow writing that "when he played it straight, he was great -- poised, handsome and charming.  But on occasion he spewed classless material, which I'm sure he thought was very funny."

And from Mstarz.com:

The reviews weren't all bad.  Huffington Post's Michael Russnow criticized MacFarlane's performance as host but did give him some credit, "During these moments and when he played it straight, he was great -- poised, handsome and charming."

It's great to be a super fan of someone.  I've been known to tout a few favorites myself, ranging from the legendary
Deborah Kerr to the more currently in vogue Leonardo DiCaprio.  You may not appreciate anything but accolades uttered
about the entertainers you admire, but it might be wise not to zero in only on what you don't like, ignoring completely the stuff with which you might agree.  Please don't forget there's a reason why the word fan emanates from fanatic, and when the latter takes over it's neither fair nor pretty.


                                               Follow Michael Russnow on Twitter: www.twitter.com/kerrloy

                                                                                                                                                          Contact Us
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.