FameCrawler : picket

Tropic Thunder: Have They Gone Too Far?

Whit Honea — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 22:47:00 GMT

Tropic Thunder stars some of our favorite celebrity dads: Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey, Jr., and Tom Cruise, and it opens on Friday. It is already pissing people off.

Apparently the film makes a lot of fun at issues that some find taboo. The majority of complaints are coming from the various groups that represent people with mental disabilities. Dozens of people from these organizations picketed the premiere of Tropic Thunder.

The movie is about a group of Hollywood actors that blur the lines between fiction and reality. The actors themselves are characterized as stereotypes and many of their actions are unthinkable- it's a comedy.

The uproar stems from a movie within the movie in which Stiller's character has portrayed a mentally disabled person in order to achieve Oscar consideration, spoofing the likes of Rain Man, I am Sam and Radio, to name a few. Their handling of the subject matter and the wordage used to describe the character isn't PC, and for better or worse, such things are no longer deemed acceptable, not even in a comedy.

A Dreamworks representative says, "We have had productive discussions with representatives of disability advocacy organizations and look forward to working with them closely in the future. However no changes or cuts to the film will be made.

"Tropic Thunder is an R-rated comedy that satirizes Hollywood and its excesses, and makes its point by featuring inappropriate and over-the-top characters in ridiculous situations. The film is in no way meant to disparage or harm the image of individuals with disabilities."

I'm torn on such things. On a personal level, the one I teach my children, I am 100% against discrimination against anyone based on anything (within reason), but as a whole I'm sick of America being handled with PC gloves. I prefer a society with a backbone, not hurt feelings and lawsuits (the favorite pastime out here in CA).

I like a little offense in my comedy. I get what Stiller is doing and it sounds funny. I want to laugh at something because it is absurd and ridiculous- things I know better than. Unfortunately, not everyone does know better and often the result of such comedy is that it carries out of the theater and into the daily scheme of things. It's a catch-22.

What do you think?

Source/Source

Baby Mama Clip

Whit Honea — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:12:00 GMT

Man, this looks so much better than Mad Money.

Baby Mama starring Tina Fey and Amy Poelher will be out this spring. Here's a clip to pass the time:

Source: Popbytes

The Writer's Strike: Prelude to a Talk

Whit Honea — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 18:53:00 GMT

The Studios are reaching out. I guess they read my piece. Hopefully some talks will start and the stoppage will, um, stop.

Man, I hope so. I'm sick of reality- TV and otherwise.

Source/Photo: People

The Foo Must Go On

Whit Honea — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 02:19:00 GMT

Despite picketing writers vowing to disrupt the Grammys the big stars are still planning to attend. Beyoncé Knowles, who is also a SAG member, has already committed to performing as have the Foo Fighters.

I feel for the writers, I do, hell, that's my bread and butter too, but I'm afraid that they're going to start hurting themselves in the arena of public opinion if they start attacking the likes of the Grammys and the Oscars (which they also plan to picket). The people might forgive cut seasons of Heroes, but calling someone a scab because they want to pick up their Oscar- the pinnacle of their career and most-likely a lifelong dream, is a bit much.

What they need is an agreement. The feeling on couches across America is that we're looking for weapons of destruction all over again. Patience is wanning.

The award shows also offer a pipeline in the still developing talents of the future. That's where the Foo Fighters come in. According to People:

Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters, who are nominated for album and record of the year, said he and his band are still planning on participating in the second installment of My Grammy Moment, a competition on YouTube in which unsigned musicians vie to perform with the Foo Fighters on the telecast.

"We're participating in My Grammy Moment because it creates opportunities...to write, compose, play and study music – skills that absolutely need to be passed on to generations to come," said Grohl.

Why can't we all just get along?

Photo: Theithacan

Tina Fey Would Vote Abdul Off

Whit Honea — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 22:42:00 GMT

Tina Fey thinks that Paula Abdul is "disastrous ... in the way she generally appears to be." She tells Playboy (via Us) that Abdul is "awful."

When Paula Abdul hosted SNL she left quite the impression on Fey, "I was pregnant at the time and probably a little moody, but I remember thinking, 'She's a disaster! I gotta prop this lady up and get her on TV.'"

I guess that's why they let her sit down on American Idol.

Thanks for the take, Tina. Let's get Abdul on 30 Rock!

Photo: Us

Pregnant Celebrities: The List!

Whit Honea — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 02:03:00 GMT

There must be something in the water. There sure are a lot of pregnancy rumors floating around. For instance:

Brooke Burke following up Heaven Rain with a new baby. She should name the kid Chocolate.
Keira Knightley dresses the part.
Are the hormones making Britney Spears crazy?
Angelina Jolie is rumored to be pregnant. She is definitely naked.
Jeri Ryan is expecting a girl.
Jessica Seinfeld is not pregnant, but if she was she'd sneak cauliflower into the breast milk.
Desperate housewife Nicollete Sheridan is having Michael Bolton's baby. That's the word on Wisteria.
Apparently J-Lo and Marc Anthony are expecting someone new on the block. CONFIRMED!
Jordan does two things- show her stuff and make babies.
Giada De Laurentiis has a bun in her oven.
Xtina's finally admitted the obvious.
~~Bob Dylan~~ Cate Blanchett is with #3.
Nicole Richie is smokin' hot.
Ellen DeGeneres isn't just crossing picket lines!
Katie Holmes- I'm guessing the marathon disproved this rumor.
Halle Berry is enjoying the fruits of her labor, but not as much as her husband.
Do we hear the sound of little Posh feet? The Beckham boys could use a sister!
Julianna Margulies and a shotgun.
Jessica Alba? Again?
Katharine McPhee married and expecting?

See? That's a lot, right?

Amanda Peet Teaches Daughter How to Fight the Power

Whit Honea — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:34:00 GMT

Amanda Peet takes it to the street. Peet and husband David Benioff thought a picket line would be a good place for daughter Frances Pen to learn the lessons of Public Enemy. Frances has big plans to fight the power. Someday.

In the meantime, don't offer unions pizza.

Photo: Celebrity Baby Scoop

Rosie Back to MSNBC: Writers Thankful They Don't Have to Work for Her

Whit Honea — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 23:26:00 GMT

The striking writers are winning already. Rosie O'Donnell is returning to television and none of them are going to have to fill her trough with slop. Apparently MSNBC wants to give the "comedian" her own show in the slot against "Larry King Live" on CNN and "Hannity & Colmes" on FOX News. Just think, now you'll have three reasons to drink more.

Photo: Backseat Cuddler

Tina Fey and the Writer's Strike

Whit Honea — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 18:27:00 GMT

Tina Fey is mad as hell, and she's not going to take it anymore!

I'm torn on this Hollywood strike. On one hand, I'm a writer. I've created some shows for television. I get it.

On the other hand, they're just so whiny. I've never been a fan of unions, especially for the white-collar crowd.

Can't we all just get along?

Tina Fey is one of the only working writers in TV that is actually any good. "30 Rock" is funny as hell. The rest of the writers should just keep waking in circles until they think of some better script ideas.

I wonder how long she walked the line after the photographers left.

I just hope that the powers that be realize they're wrong and give the writers their share before we're left with nothing but informercials and porn. Those don't use writers, right?

Photo: New York Magazine