Draconically Speaking: Oh, Oscar, Oscar, Oscar. draconicverses, February 25, 2013 Every year the ‘In Memoriam’ segment of The Academy Awards broadcast remembers those talents in the film industry that passed away between last year’s show and this year’s show. It seems that each year, there’s been growing controversy about who is included & who is seemingly forgotten, or apparently just not included. THIS year was no exception, and there were some UNBELIEVABLE oversights! Prince Sirki is NOT pleased! See? How do they remember Oscar winning sound man Mike Hopkins (of which I’m glad they did), yet forget his fellow LOTR win ‘alumni’, Weta Digital Executive Producer Eileen Moran? She was also involved in the Oscar-winning efforts behind Jim Cameron’s Avatar (2009) & Peter Jackson’s King Kong (2005). Veteran character actor Frank Cady was not mentioned, though some might argue he’s best known for TV as Sam Drucker. Barnabus Collins himself – Jonathan Frid – was missed. Father of Supermarionation, Gerry Anderson was apparently ignored. Spectrum is RED! Though best known for Dallas & I Dream of Jeannie, Larry Hagman acted in films (umm, remember Sidney Lumet’s FAILSAFE (1964) for example?) and directed one or two, as well. Mentioned? Nope. Western star Harry Carey, Jr. was bushwhacked! OK, Now we’re getting into the folks who in NO WAY should have POSSIBLY been overlooked. He punched cattle (and horses) in Mel Brooks’ Blazing Saddles (1974), but sadly, once more Alex Karras is ‘only pawn in game of life.’ Crazy, zany, wonderful comedienne Phyllis Diller, who was in over 30 movies including appearing opposite Bob Hope in Frank Tashlin’s The Private Navy Of Sgt. O’Farrell (1968). She also provided the voices of The Monster’s Mate in Rankin-Bass’ classic Animagic film Mad Monster Party? (1967) and the Queen Ant in Pixar’s A Bug’s Life (1998). Singer/Actor Tony Martin, not mentioned? Hit the Deck! Rugged everyman actor, and occasional heavy, Ben Gazzara, was rubbed out of the segment. Sexy girl-next-door, Anne Rutherford, forgotten? Shameful! and the one, that is surely, completely confusing to EVERYONE: HOW THE HELL DO YOU LEAVE ANDY GRIFFITH OUT OF THE OSCARS ‘IN MEMORIAM’ SEGMENT??? ARE YOU INSANE OR JUST GROTESQUELY STUPID???? You included advertising execs & publicists (no offense to them) and NONE of THESE PEOPLE???? Take a lesson from TCM. They know how to do it properly and with CLASS!! ——————————————————- Thanks for inviting me to participate in the final week of this year’s 31 Days of Oscar Blogathon. Hope I can get some more posts done for you next year. Draconically Speaking Movies News The Dragon Remembers... Andy GriffithAnne RutherfordBen GazzaraEileen MoranFrank CadyGerry AndersonHarry Carey JrIn Memoriam snubsJonathan FridLarry HagmanOscars 2013Oscars 2013 In MemoriamPhyllis DillerTony Martin
OUTRAGEOUS!!! I’M MAD AS HELL AND I’M NOT GONNA TAKE IT ANYMORE! So glad you posted this because it had to be said and there is NO EXCUSE for not including any of these. Truly unbelievable. I did a post-Oscars post/rant with a major complaint myself but this… Flabbergasted! Thanks for taking part in the blogathon! Great entry. Aurora
Thanks for including me. If I get the chance again next year, I’ll do something bigger. My main problem is, was this a clerical oversight, or simply for expediency’s sake. If it WAS a matter of time allotment, it’s SHAMEFUL, in light of these people being far more deserving of time for a final recognition, rather than the time wasted with the reminiscing about movie musicals of the last decade. They even gave THAT more coverage than their so-called Bond tribute. The Producers should be ashamed of themselves on MANY fronts. Cheers!