A Bit Unexpected

I wasn't exactly thrilled about watching the Oscars this year. I didn't have a horse in the race. I hadn't seen many of the films that had been nominated. I wasn't enthusiastic about seeing many of them – the subject matter was either very intriguing but too emotionally upsetting at this time in my life (12 Years A Slave) or had absolutely no appeal for me (Wolf Of Wall Street).

I do like to watch the red carpet dance. I know absolutely nothing about fashion, and the longer that I'm out of the day-to-day grind of the work force, the less style I seem to have. As a stay at home writer, my clothes only have to pass the sniff test. Comfort is key. Style is not even a consideration.

I was appalled at how bad the coverage was of the red carpet. Every network had a team of D-listers dressed up in bad prom dresses commenting on what the stars were wearing. I saw more of these chicks lined up in a row with iPads on their laps than I did of the stars. WTH? Who thought this was a good idea? I just want to see stars dressed up in pretty clothes. I don't even care 'who' they are wearing. Just put them in the clothes and parade them past the camera dripping in jewels and clean hair.  I'll enjoy some shrimp cocktail and a nice red wine on my sofa. That to me is what the Oscars is all about.

And so this year, the bit that was unexpected for me was how much fun the actual telecast was. Yes, it is an endurance marathon rather than a well-designed sprint. But I want to see the guys below the line troop up on the stage and collect their awards. I want to see the people who win for best short feature and animation thank their kids. And most of all, I want to hear Idina Menzel sing "Let It Go" and watch Pink turn into a superstar with her version of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow." Bravo! Talent, pure, simple and unadulterated.

And while we are waiting for the next announcement of something big, why not a pizza and a #Selfie? That's what we're doing at home. It is all part of what the Oscars are about. For the first time in as long as I can remember, I actually enjoyed watching the Oscars. I felt good afterwards. Maybe I'll continue to make the effort to go see movies despite all the other distractions on my time.