Screw that, kids!
January 16, 2011 9:39 PM Subscribe
The show is actually pretty problematic to me in a lot of ways, but I thought this was pretty damn awesome. Congrats Chris!
posted by kmz at 9:40 PM on January 16, 2011 [7 favorites]
posted by kmz at 9:40 PM on January 16, 2011 [7 favorites]
Damn straight.
(which was actually my first thought and now reading it over could be read horribly wrong.)
Fuck yes Chris Colfer.
posted by Navelgazer at 9:44 PM on January 16, 2011
(which was actually my first thought and now reading it over could be read horribly wrong.)
Fuck yes Chris Colfer.
posted by Navelgazer at 9:44 PM on January 16, 2011
Glee has been an interesting show as it has developed. They've really stepped out into some fringe areas in the past year or so. But, the reality is, for kids, this isn''t strange stuff, it's the stuff they deal with every day, it's just that parents really don't want to deal/don't have the time for the fact that bullies, homosexuality, heterosexuality, or any of the other issues that kids deal with today are part of their kid's lives....
Chris has done a lot for the gay community.... he deserves some recognition, good for him!
posted by HuronBob at 9:52 PM on January 16, 2011
Chris has done a lot for the gay community.... he deserves some recognition, good for him!
posted by HuronBob at 9:52 PM on January 16, 2011
I watched the first season of Glee on DVD recently, and didn't like a lot of it - what's with the pregnant woman as Jezebel shit? But I appreciated the attention paid to music education and loved the Kurt character.
Here's to the actor. He looks so shocked at first - what award did he win? - and we see him compose himself as he walks to the stage for his moment in the sun. Which he shares. Lovely!
posted by goofyfoot at 10:09 PM on January 16, 2011
Here's to the actor. He looks so shocked at first - what award did he win? - and we see him compose himself as he walks to the stage for his moment in the sun. Which he shares. Lovely!
posted by goofyfoot at 10:09 PM on January 16, 2011
As great as Mike O'Malley is in his storylines, I think Glee has become too dependent on the "Kurt is gay" plot, to the point where I miss other characters.
That said...right on, Chris. Kid nails every bit of hard acting they throw at him and has done untold amounts for the outsider community. Screw the bullies.
posted by moviehawk at 10:13 PM on January 16, 2011
That said...right on, Chris. Kid nails every bit of hard acting they throw at him and has done untold amounts for the outsider community. Screw the bullies.
posted by moviehawk at 10:13 PM on January 16, 2011
Chris Colfer is amazing in the show throughout, and he really deserved this award. It was great to see his costars be so excited for him too. And what a kickass speech! Good for him.
I adored the first few episodes of the first season, but then it felt like they lost their way with the last half of the season. I just recently caught up with the second season, and I thought it held up a lot better. It covered a lot of sensitive topics in a very non-sermonizing way, and from what I can tell by talking to a few teenagers, it really resonates with some of them.
posted by gemmy at 10:47 PM on January 16, 2011
I adored the first few episodes of the first season, but then it felt like they lost their way with the last half of the season. I just recently caught up with the second season, and I thought it held up a lot better. It covered a lot of sensitive topics in a very non-sermonizing way, and from what I can tell by talking to a few teenagers, it really resonates with some of them.
posted by gemmy at 10:47 PM on January 16, 2011
The first thing that I noticed about that video is that the actor who plays the nerdy dude in the wheelchair...dressed like his character would. Complete with bow tie.
My first thought was Holy shit, he can stand, it's a Golden Globes miracle!
posted by Edwahd at 10:55 PM on January 16, 2011 [5 favorites]
My first thought was Holy shit, he can stand, it's a Golden Globes miracle!
posted by Edwahd at 10:55 PM on January 16, 2011 [5 favorites]
Yes, Chris Colfer certainly gave one of the many speeches at the Globes tonight!
posted by Justinian at 11:02 PM on January 16, 2011 [9 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 11:02 PM on January 16, 2011 [9 favorites]
The Globes are even more bought and paid for than the Oscars.. can't wait until this season of Hollywood's self-congratulatory circle jerk is over.. maybe this guy "deserved" to win this award.. but really it means nothing because it's a fake award/contest. Oh well.
posted by ReeMonster at 11:44 PM on January 16, 2011
posted by ReeMonster at 11:44 PM on January 16, 2011
Yeah, fake and self-congratulatory, etc... but still, good for him for taking the opportunity to say something good. Sometimes, especially with kids, this sort of thing is just what they need, and I respect anyone who can still empathize with them.
posted by spiderskull at 1:19 AM on January 17, 2011
posted by spiderskull at 1:19 AM on January 17, 2011
nobody is going to post Ricky Gervais's opening monologue?
posted by empath at 1:30 AM on January 17, 2011 [19 favorites]
posted by empath at 1:30 AM on January 17, 2011 [19 favorites]
Oh that Ricky Gervais monologue is hilarious. Fantastic!
posted by awfurby at 1:45 AM on January 17, 2011
posted by awfurby at 1:45 AM on January 17, 2011
I'm waiting for a compilation of all his bits from this year. The one last year was pretty good. Especially the Mel Gibson bit.
posted by kmz at 2:13 AM on January 17, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by kmz at 2:13 AM on January 17, 2011 [3 favorites]
The Globes are even more bought and paid for than the Oscars.. can't wait until this season of Hollywood's self-congratulatory circle jerk is over.. maybe this guy "deserved" to win this award.. but really it means nothing because it's a fake award/contest. Oh well.
I dislike Glee and I dislike the Golden Globes more, but this FPP is about Chris Colfer taking a moment to speak out against bullying. It's not too many years ago that even Hollywood's self-congratulatory circle jerk would have run away from an actor like Colfer - and TV would have run away from a character like Kurt Hummel.
So, you know, this speech does mean something. And even if the Globes are easily bought, at least this purchase means a lot to many people - because Colfer knew how to make the most of his moment in the spotlight.
Screw you, ReeMonster!
posted by crossoverman at 3:38 AM on January 17, 2011 [11 favorites]
I dislike Glee and I dislike the Golden Globes more, but this FPP is about Chris Colfer taking a moment to speak out against bullying. It's not too many years ago that even Hollywood's self-congratulatory circle jerk would have run away from an actor like Colfer - and TV would have run away from a character like Kurt Hummel.
So, you know, this speech does mean something. And even if the Globes are easily bought, at least this purchase means a lot to many people - because Colfer knew how to make the most of his moment in the spotlight.
Screw you, ReeMonster!
posted by crossoverman at 3:38 AM on January 17, 2011 [11 favorites]
Colfer's stunned look when they announced his name as the winner was easily my favorite moment of the entire broadcast. He was in the company of some big heavy-hitters in that category (David Strathairn, Chris Noth, Eric Stonestreet), so I can only begin to imagine how amazed he must've felt.
posted by shiu mai baby at 5:11 AM on January 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by shiu mai baby at 5:11 AM on January 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
I have decidedly mixed feelings about Colfer's character in Glee.
On the one hand, hooray for him being there, out and proud. In high school.
On the other hand, while his character is fleshed out somewhat, he's still pretty stereotypical: best friend is a girl and an outsider, he's camp, he sings and dances rather than plays sport etc etc. It's progress, I suppose, and the whole concept of the losers as winners might be a nice ironic take on high school dramas, but Colfer's still playing queen-lite to some degree.
posted by MuffinMan at 5:16 AM on January 17, 2011 [4 favorites]
On the one hand, hooray for him being there, out and proud. In high school.
On the other hand, while his character is fleshed out somewhat, he's still pretty stereotypical: best friend is a girl and an outsider, he's camp, he sings and dances rather than plays sport etc etc. It's progress, I suppose, and the whole concept of the losers as winners might be a nice ironic take on high school dramas, but Colfer's still playing queen-lite to some degree.
posted by MuffinMan at 5:16 AM on January 17, 2011 [4 favorites]
It's weird how the Golden Globes combines comedy and drama sometimes (like in the lead actor roles) but not other times (like here in the supporting actor role.)
posted by smackfu at 5:35 AM on January 17, 2011
posted by smackfu at 5:35 AM on January 17, 2011
he sings and dances rather than plays sport
How many episodes have you seen? He's a winning field goal kicker on the football team.
posted by availablelight at 6:02 AM on January 17, 2011 [7 favorites]
How many episodes have you seen? He's a winning field goal kicker on the football team.
posted by availablelight at 6:02 AM on January 17, 2011 [7 favorites]
In Glee, you can sing and dance and play football at the same time! Single Ladies.
posted by smackfu at 6:09 AM on January 17, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by smackfu at 6:09 AM on January 17, 2011 [4 favorites]
How many episodes have you seen? He's a winning field goal kicker on the football team.
He did it to Beyonce, you've got to admit he at least bears a passing resemblence to the stereotypical teen queen... and quite right too. His message is that you should never have to apologise for what you are, or hide who you are. It doesn't work if he blends in. I wish I had half his courage when I was growing up.
Oh, and some of those great Ricky Gervais quotes courtest of the Guardian.
posted by londonmark at 6:11 AM on January 17, 2011 [3 favorites]
How many episodes have you seen? He's a winning field goal kicker on the football team.
It sounds like, being in the UK, I'm a few episodes behind.
posted by MuffinMan at 6:22 AM on January 17, 2011
It sounds like, being in the UK, I'm a few episodes behind.
posted by MuffinMan at 6:22 AM on January 17, 2011
Damn Ricky burned every bridge he could find last night eh? Insulting actors and Hugh Hefner is fish in a barrel, but taking a shit on the foreign press makes my heart sing with delight. Good work you evil little man.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 6:25 AM on January 17, 2011 [8 favorites]
posted by Potomac Avenue at 6:25 AM on January 17, 2011 [8 favorites]
can't wait until this season of Hollywood's self-congratulatory circle jerk is over...
It's really not that difficult to ignore such things if you truly aren't interested in them.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 6:28 AM on January 17, 2011 [5 favorites]
It's really not that difficult to ignore such things if you truly aren't interested in them.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 6:28 AM on January 17, 2011 [5 favorites]
but taking a shit on the foreign press makes my heart sing with delight.
They did nominate The Tourist repeatedly.
posted by smackfu at 6:37 AM on January 17, 2011
They did nominate The Tourist repeatedly.
posted by smackfu at 6:37 AM on January 17, 2011
When are we going to start standing up for the bullies?
posted by oneironaut at 6:54 AM on January 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by oneironaut at 6:54 AM on January 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
It was sort of a joke, sort of not.
Bullies are sometimes not just emotionally underdeveloped, but have been abused themselves, or have a very challenging home environment. It can be a cry for help itself.
]
I was teased a lot as a kid, ostracized, and basically friendless for years. I just wasn't all that great at being a kid around other kids. I preferred to read books, use big words, and be in the company of adults. I remember when I was about 9, at summer camp, lining up to tell the counselors when our parents would be coming for visiting day. The camp had two days, for kids with divorced parents. And I noticed that all of the kids who had given me the worst time all had divorced parents.
Now, my nephew's parents have been divorced since he was 4--he's now 13, and is a remarkable, kind, compassionate kid. But all those kids who were tough on me had a stressful and unstable home life in common, whereas my parents have their 50th wedding anniversary this year (not that peace always reigned in our household).
I know, I know, that there are kids who have had a much harder time than I did, and I love that we are making the world a safer and more welcoming place for gay kids. I can't imagine being singled out in the internet age. But all this talk about bullies--it's like we've discovered a new social boogeyman; it's a strange sort of scapegoating. "Watch out for the bullies! The bullies gonna getcha!" Seeing segments about bullies on CNN, or the succession of celebrity speeches about it seems less about the issue itself than something new to spout empty, righteous words about and sell newspapers. A typical bit of social hysteria, with a certain group of kids, kids, as the new class of the enemies of civilization
The South Park bullying episode is going to be great.
posted by oneironaut at 7:14 AM on January 17, 2011 [5 favorites]
Bullies are sometimes not just emotionally underdeveloped, but have been abused themselves, or have a very challenging home environment. It can be a cry for help itself.
]
I was teased a lot as a kid, ostracized, and basically friendless for years. I just wasn't all that great at being a kid around other kids. I preferred to read books, use big words, and be in the company of adults. I remember when I was about 9, at summer camp, lining up to tell the counselors when our parents would be coming for visiting day. The camp had two days, for kids with divorced parents. And I noticed that all of the kids who had given me the worst time all had divorced parents.
Now, my nephew's parents have been divorced since he was 4--he's now 13, and is a remarkable, kind, compassionate kid. But all those kids who were tough on me had a stressful and unstable home life in common, whereas my parents have their 50th wedding anniversary this year (not that peace always reigned in our household).
I know, I know, that there are kids who have had a much harder time than I did, and I love that we are making the world a safer and more welcoming place for gay kids. I can't imagine being singled out in the internet age. But all this talk about bullies--it's like we've discovered a new social boogeyman; it's a strange sort of scapegoating. "Watch out for the bullies! The bullies gonna getcha!" Seeing segments about bullies on CNN, or the succession of celebrity speeches about it seems less about the issue itself than something new to spout empty, righteous words about and sell newspapers. A typical bit of social hysteria, with a certain group of kids, kids, as the new class of the enemies of civilization
The South Park bullying episode is going to be great.
posted by oneironaut at 7:14 AM on January 17, 2011 [5 favorites]
I love the Golden Globes -- it's a trash spectacle, and nobody takes it seriously. And Ricky Gervais's damn-the-torpedoes approach last night was thrilling. He wasn't just going to take down Bruce Willis -- he went after God. Everybody seemed annoyed at him, but they have been mocking the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for decades, right from the stage of the Golden Globes. And the HFPA deserves it, but its not as though the performers in the room didn't deserve some of it back. Gervais's greatest tactical advantage was hat he could mock Hollywood stars merely by reciting some of the lesser-remembered films from their resumes.
Although he most brutal moment was when he introduced Bruce Willis as Ashton Kutcher's dad. Willis looked ready to kill.
posted by Astro Zombie at 7:16 AM on January 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
Although he most brutal moment was when he introduced Bruce Willis as Ashton Kutcher's dad. Willis looked ready to kill.
posted by Astro Zombie at 7:16 AM on January 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
This was the best moment for the Golden Globes. The most disconcerting (after the opening monolouge) was Trent Reznor, in a tux, winning an award. For someone who grew up on NIN, KMFDM, etc, seeing him be "establishment" even if for one night, was odd.
posted by SirOmega at 7:17 AM on January 17, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by SirOmega at 7:17 AM on January 17, 2011 [3 favorites]
He wears suits now.
TBH it's a lot cooler than if he didn't.
posted by Artw at 7:23 AM on January 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
TBH it's a lot cooler than if he didn't.
posted by Artw at 7:23 AM on January 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
Long hair is back for men! Oh how I have waited for thus day.
posted by The Whelk at 7:35 AM on January 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by The Whelk at 7:35 AM on January 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
nobody is going to post Ricky Gervais's opening monologue?
Wow. And you could see it on everybody's face in the audience, too: Did he really just… Wow.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 7:56 AM on January 17, 2011
Wow. And you could see it on everybody's face in the audience, too: Did he really just… Wow.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 7:56 AM on January 17, 2011
Did Ricky Gervais go too far with 'Golden Globes' jabs?
posted by ericb at 8:20 AM on January 17, 2011
posted by ericb at 8:20 AM on January 17, 2011
This is weirdly timely for me, because after avoiding it for a year and a half, I sat down at watched the first season last weekend (23 episodes over about two and a half days), and I went from having no opinions of the show, to really strong feelings over an incredibly short period of time.
The bullying thing from this season has been surprisingly grim, but like the pregnancy issues from the last one, it's a mechanism whereby they can explore a socially relevant topic through the characters reactions to being alienated. It's a bit ham fisted at times, but I can see why they are doing it. As simple devices go, it's more than effective.
Personally, I'd have liked to see an award for the actress that plays Brittany for the absolutely perfect delivery of the wonderfully ridiculous lines they give her character, but I suppose that Colfer (who's been really carrying this season's dramatic arcs) better deserves all the recognition he's getting.
posted by quin at 8:33 AM on January 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
The bullying thing from this season has been surprisingly grim, but like the pregnancy issues from the last one, it's a mechanism whereby they can explore a socially relevant topic through the characters reactions to being alienated. It's a bit ham fisted at times, but I can see why they are doing it. As simple devices go, it's more than effective.
Personally, I'd have liked to see an award for the actress that plays Brittany for the absolutely perfect delivery of the wonderfully ridiculous lines they give her character, but I suppose that Colfer (who's been really carrying this season's dramatic arcs) better deserves all the recognition he's getting.
posted by quin at 8:33 AM on January 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
The best part about Ricky Gervais hosting was the sour grapes dispensed in the Washington Post and other celeb-fawning press outlets this morning. Actually, that was second best. The best was Robert Downey Jr.'s pissy uptight reaction. Pure gold.
Ricky, you were fan-fucking-tastic.
posted by blucevalo at 8:38 AM on January 17, 2011
Ricky, you were fan-fucking-tastic.
posted by blucevalo at 8:38 AM on January 17, 2011
Wow. And you could see it on everybody's face in the audience, too: Did he really just… Wow.
Here's what's weird to me about that: NOTHING he said was a revelation. Nothing he said was shocking in the sense that no one has said it before. Whether it's true or not, "Tom Cruise is gay" is old, old news. As are jokes about Bruce Willis and Ashtun Kutcher, etc.
The people he's talking about can't possible think "Oh, shit! My secret is out" or "What? How dare he make up something about he that isn't true!" They've heard it before, over and over and over. It may be false or mean-spirited or penetratingly truthful or whatever -- but it's not new ground to anybody.
And Gervais's "naughtiness" was hyped way before the show. So everyone there knew the sorts of things he was going to say.
I guess the shock is that he's breaking a taboo. He's saying it ON NETWORK TELEVISION WITH (SOME OF) THE PEOPLE HE'S TALKING ABOUT IN THE ROOM! It just seems to me like the shock meter should be wavering between 2 and 3 -- not all the way past 10.
There's always been a weird (to me) rubicon that is "network television." Once something happens on network television, no matter how often it's happened other places, it has ARRIVED. This seems to be true for many people. "Oh my God, someone said 'shit' on network television!" "Oh my God, there's a gay character on network television!"
I am not saying this is meaningless. I understand that once something is on network television means, it's been accepted -- or at least the producers think it WILL be accepted -- by average Americans. It means that this subject -- homosexuality or whatever -- is finally on the table for the entire country. And it can backfire, too. As with Janet Jackson's boob.
Although this is true -- it IS meaningful when something appears (or is said) for the first time on network TV -- it sometimes seems a bit like an arbitrary symbol to me, one agreed upon by all sides. What I mean is this: the people who were OUTRAGED by the Jackson incident had seen boobs before. Most of their kids had, too. Or at least the kids knew what boobs were and their parents knew that they knew. These people also knew that breasts are on TV every day, on stations like HBO and Showtime. We've just all agreed to let network TV be our ideological battlefield.
What's interesting to me is how my liberal friends genuinely seem to be shocked when these taboos get broken -- even when the taboos AREN'T taboos to them. I guess that means they've "owned" the conventional etiquette. One can intellectually think it's stupid that you're not supposed to put your elbows on the table, but still be shocked when someone does it. If you're raised with that as a rule, you're likely to flinch for a moment when you see it broken, even if you disagree with the rule or find it stupid.
How much the "shock" is everyone agreeing to play out a fantasy together? "We've been primed to expect Gervaise to say shocking things, and that's part of the fun. So let's all have fun and react as IF he's saying shocking things." How much of it is genuine shock?
posted by grumblebee at 8:38 AM on January 17, 2011 [6 favorites]
Here's what's weird to me about that: NOTHING he said was a revelation. Nothing he said was shocking in the sense that no one has said it before. Whether it's true or not, "Tom Cruise is gay" is old, old news. As are jokes about Bruce Willis and Ashtun Kutcher, etc.
The people he's talking about can't possible think "Oh, shit! My secret is out" or "What? How dare he make up something about he that isn't true!" They've heard it before, over and over and over. It may be false or mean-spirited or penetratingly truthful or whatever -- but it's not new ground to anybody.
And Gervais's "naughtiness" was hyped way before the show. So everyone there knew the sorts of things he was going to say.
I guess the shock is that he's breaking a taboo. He's saying it ON NETWORK TELEVISION WITH (SOME OF) THE PEOPLE HE'S TALKING ABOUT IN THE ROOM! It just seems to me like the shock meter should be wavering between 2 and 3 -- not all the way past 10.
There's always been a weird (to me) rubicon that is "network television." Once something happens on network television, no matter how often it's happened other places, it has ARRIVED. This seems to be true for many people. "Oh my God, someone said 'shit' on network television!" "Oh my God, there's a gay character on network television!"
I am not saying this is meaningless. I understand that once something is on network television means, it's been accepted -- or at least the producers think it WILL be accepted -- by average Americans. It means that this subject -- homosexuality or whatever -- is finally on the table for the entire country. And it can backfire, too. As with Janet Jackson's boob.
Although this is true -- it IS meaningful when something appears (or is said) for the first time on network TV -- it sometimes seems a bit like an arbitrary symbol to me, one agreed upon by all sides. What I mean is this: the people who were OUTRAGED by the Jackson incident had seen boobs before. Most of their kids had, too. Or at least the kids knew what boobs were and their parents knew that they knew. These people also knew that breasts are on TV every day, on stations like HBO and Showtime. We've just all agreed to let network TV be our ideological battlefield.
What's interesting to me is how my liberal friends genuinely seem to be shocked when these taboos get broken -- even when the taboos AREN'T taboos to them. I guess that means they've "owned" the conventional etiquette. One can intellectually think it's stupid that you're not supposed to put your elbows on the table, but still be shocked when someone does it. If you're raised with that as a rule, you're likely to flinch for a moment when you see it broken, even if you disagree with the rule or find it stupid.
How much the "shock" is everyone agreeing to play out a fantasy together? "We've been primed to expect Gervaise to say shocking things, and that's part of the fun. So let's all have fun and react as IF he's saying shocking things." How much of it is genuine shock?
posted by grumblebee at 8:38 AM on January 17, 2011 [6 favorites]
I'm really stunned, frankly. People actually watch the Golden Globes?
posted by jonmc at 8:42 AM on January 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by jonmc at 8:42 AM on January 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
For the sheer craptacular spectacle that it is, absolutely. Why else would you watch it?
posted by blucevalo at 8:44 AM on January 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by blucevalo at 8:44 AM on January 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
Watching celebs get drunk and fall out of their dresses/make awkward racist jokes/spazz out on free chocolate? It's pretty damn fun.
I thought most of Gervais' mean stuff was funny - "Ashton Kutcher's dad," hee! - but he lost me when he made fun of the organization's aging head, saying he had to help him off the toilet and put his teeth in. I mean, where's the humor there? Dude is old? Plus, he was in some manner his guest. Seemed tacky.
posted by CunningLinguist at 8:48 AM on January 17, 2011
I thought most of Gervais' mean stuff was funny - "Ashton Kutcher's dad," hee! - but he lost me when he made fun of the organization's aging head, saying he had to help him off the toilet and put his teeth in. I mean, where's the humor there? Dude is old? Plus, he was in some manner his guest. Seemed tacky.
posted by CunningLinguist at 8:48 AM on January 17, 2011
Yes, Chris Colfer certainly gave one of the many speeches at the Globes tonight!
Look, I don't give a shit about the Golden Globes or Glee, but I watched part of the broadcast last night and at the time I thought to myself, "Jeez, is this the first time an out gay actor has won an award for playing a gay character on screen?" There's a whole host of straight actors who get lauded for the risks of playing gay, from Tom Hanks to Eric Stonestreet (and as I recently rewatched the heralded HBO version of Angels in America, it struck me that of the five major gay male characters, guess how many were protrayed by gay actors? Zero.) and we don't need to talk about the unknown number of gay actors playing it straight.
Grumblebee is right: there is a Rubicon here. Hollywood, for all its liberal noisemaking, is still a very conservative town. Bullying is still a problem, and still the root social issue for the gay community. Chris Colfer has balls and this is still--today--a big fucking deal. It shouldn't be, but it is.
posted by kittyprecious at 8:51 AM on January 17, 2011 [9 favorites]
Look, I don't give a shit about the Golden Globes or Glee, but I watched part of the broadcast last night and at the time I thought to myself, "Jeez, is this the first time an out gay actor has won an award for playing a gay character on screen?" There's a whole host of straight actors who get lauded for the risks of playing gay, from Tom Hanks to Eric Stonestreet (and as I recently rewatched the heralded HBO version of Angels in America, it struck me that of the five major gay male characters, guess how many were protrayed by gay actors? Zero.) and we don't need to talk about the unknown number of gay actors playing it straight.
Grumblebee is right: there is a Rubicon here. Hollywood, for all its liberal noisemaking, is still a very conservative town. Bullying is still a problem, and still the root social issue for the gay community. Chris Colfer has balls and this is still--today--a big fucking deal. It shouldn't be, but it is.
posted by kittyprecious at 8:51 AM on January 17, 2011 [9 favorites]
I thought it was a lovely speech, and it's genuinely wonderful that there are out gay people playing out gay people on hugely popular shows. I was slightly ticked off with the show after this and I've never really cared for it much anyway, but social change can be kicked along by the TV (see: Captain Jack on Doctor Who doing wonders in that respect) so I'm chuffed.
I watched the Gervais stuff and I'm slightly non-plussed that it's raised a stinker, since none of it seemed any more outrageous than anything Graham Norton (to pick a name out of a hat) might say on his (popular, prime-time) show. I went to youtube expecting amazing scenes; what I got was a light roasting (with an angryish fuck-you I'm-an-atheist shot at the end).
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 9:02 AM on January 17, 2011
I watched the Gervais stuff and I'm slightly non-plussed that it's raised a stinker, since none of it seemed any more outrageous than anything Graham Norton (to pick a name out of a hat) might say on his (popular, prime-time) show. I went to youtube expecting amazing scenes; what I got was a light roasting (with an angryish fuck-you I'm-an-atheist shot at the end).
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 9:02 AM on January 17, 2011
I thought his speech was great, and seeing his castmates so thrilled for him was awesome. I generally don't watch much of the Globes in general, but Ricky Gervais was pretty funny. His little "god/atheist" bit at the end seemed to me to be one of his silly off the cuff attempts at being funny/offensive, but it definitely fell flat. Stick to the scripted stuff, Ricky.
posted by antifuse at 9:09 AM on January 17, 2011
posted by antifuse at 9:09 AM on January 17, 2011
I've never seen an episode of the show, but it's hard to knock that cool little speech. Well done. (Do ensemble casts usually sit together at a big table like that? That was sort of neat.)
Long hair is back for men! Oh how I have waited for thus day.
Awesome, can we please be tiny, too? 'cause I'm like a muscle-free Danzig, seriously.
posted by mintcake! at 9:23 AM on January 17, 2011
Long hair is back for men! Oh how I have waited for thus day.
Awesome, can we please be tiny, too? 'cause I'm like a muscle-free Danzig, seriously.
posted by mintcake! at 9:23 AM on January 17, 2011
My column about the Golden Globes today, in which I wallow in the sheer trashiness of the thing.
posted by Astro Zombie at 9:47 AM on January 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Astro Zombie at 9:47 AM on January 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
The Golden Globe are the warm up to the Oscars, which will no doubt be complained about also but which are the Superbowl of movies, so of course we watch them.
posted by Artw at 9:53 AM on January 17, 2011
posted by Artw at 9:53 AM on January 17, 2011
Long hair is back for men! Oh how I have waited for thus day.
I gotta say, I was surely NOT waiting for this (general UGH on the concept), buuuutttt.....CHRISTIAN BALE OY MY SWEET JESUS AY CHIHUAHUA AOOGA AOOGA HOMINA HOMINA HOMINA.....
Ahem.
posted by tristeza at 10:04 AM on January 17, 2011
I gotta say, I was surely NOT waiting for this (general UGH on the concept), buuuutttt.....CHRISTIAN BALE OY MY SWEET JESUS AY CHIHUAHUA AOOGA AOOGA HOMINA HOMINA HOMINA.....
Ahem.
posted by tristeza at 10:04 AM on January 17, 2011
I do not get it. He thanks the cast and crew and spends about 12 seconds on bullying. He never once says "gay"- is being anti-bullying (wow, what a brave stand!) the new metaphor for "gay" or something? Why not say "gay kids, love yourselves" instead of this dancing around?
I've said it before, but one of the things that sets my teeth on edge about Glee is that it has precisely ONE gay character and that's in a fucking GLEE CLUB. I am deeply cynical about this. Half of those boys- at least- should be gay, but you only get one gay character per US television show (two providing they are a couple), or else it becomes a "gay show." In 2011. Do not get me started on Will and Grace.
Celebrating this trite little speech is a sign of how desperate queer Americans are.
posted by ethnomethodologist at 10:31 AM on January 17, 2011
I've said it before, but one of the things that sets my teeth on edge about Glee is that it has precisely ONE gay character and that's in a fucking GLEE CLUB. I am deeply cynical about this. Half of those boys- at least- should be gay, but you only get one gay character per US television show (two providing they are a couple), or else it becomes a "gay show." In 2011. Do not get me started on Will and Grace.
Celebrating this trite little speech is a sign of how desperate queer Americans are.
posted by ethnomethodologist at 10:31 AM on January 17, 2011
ethnomethodologist
To be clear, there are actually at least 3 gay characters. One in another school, and one closeted gay character who is on the football team and hid his homosexuality in the form of bullying Kurt.
posted by leviathan3k at 11:02 AM on January 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
To be clear, there are actually at least 3 gay characters. One in another school, and one closeted gay character who is on the football team and hid his homosexuality in the form of bullying Kurt.
posted by leviathan3k at 11:02 AM on January 17, 2011 [2 favorites]
I know it's metafilter and all, and everyone has to race to be more cynical than the next, while displaying zero sense of perspective about relationships or whether to eat something questionable, but I simply can't understand how barren of feeling you'd have to be to trash that sweet little moment with such deep contempt.
A young actor tried to buck up teens who are being picked on at school because they are different. That's it. Nobody even said anything about gay. Sheesh.
posted by CunningLinguist at 11:06 AM on January 17, 2011 [5 favorites]
A young actor tried to buck up teens who are being picked on at school because they are different. That's it. Nobody even said anything about gay. Sheesh.
posted by CunningLinguist at 11:06 AM on January 17, 2011 [5 favorites]
I do not get it. He thanks the cast and crew and spends about 12 seconds on bullying.
Yeah, I don't get how this is a "speech" of any kind; it's a few seconds at the end of a minute-and-a-half video, most of which consists of him making his way to the stage and standard-issue thanking of the coworkers. Sure, a few seconds of (nonspecific) encouragement is...nice...I guess, but I don't get how this rises to the level of A Thing of Awesomeness.
posted by Gator at 11:08 AM on January 17, 2011
Yeah, I don't get how this is a "speech" of any kind; it's a few seconds at the end of a minute-and-a-half video, most of which consists of him making his way to the stage and standard-issue thanking of the coworkers. Sure, a few seconds of (nonspecific) encouragement is...nice...I guess, but I don't get how this rises to the level of A Thing of Awesomeness.
posted by Gator at 11:08 AM on January 17, 2011
rule 152#
do not upset Tim Allen, Tom Hanks and Robert Downy Jr. at the same event.
hurrah for the kid and bravo his message ya
posted by clavdivs at 11:16 AM on January 17, 2011
do not upset Tim Allen, Tom Hanks and Robert Downy Jr. at the same event.
hurrah for the kid and bravo his message ya
posted by clavdivs at 11:16 AM on January 17, 2011
I think the crowning irony of the night was while Chris Colfer has his moment in the sun Ricky Gervais dragged Travolta and Cruise out of the closet one more time for a quick but thorough thrashing.
posted by Ber at 11:26 AM on January 17, 2011
posted by Ber at 11:26 AM on January 17, 2011
Do not get me started on Will and Grace.
That show's been off the air for almost 5 years.
posted by blucevalo at 12:10 PM on January 17, 2011
That show's been off the air for almost 5 years.
posted by blucevalo at 12:10 PM on January 17, 2011
Robert Downey J's bit was actually pretty funny in its own right/
posted by Potomac Avenue at 12:22 PM on January 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Potomac Avenue at 12:22 PM on January 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
I saw that as more of a colaboration than anything else, TBH.
posted by Artw at 12:36 PM on January 17, 2011
posted by Artw at 12:36 PM on January 17, 2011
To be clear, there are actually at least 3 gay characters. One in another school, and one closeted gay character who is on the football team and hid his homosexuality in the form of bullying Kurt.
There's also Brittany and Santana who are bi.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 1:45 PM on January 17, 2011 [4 favorites]
There's also Brittany and Santana who are bi.
posted by Serene Empress Dork at 1:45 PM on January 17, 2011 [4 favorites]
Hollywood, for all its liberal noisemaking, is still a very conservative town.
Jane Lynch on gay actors playing straight: “I do think the straight folks will continue to play the straight roles.”.posted by ericb at 3:41 PM on January 17, 2011 [1 favorite]
Rupert Everett: Gays are last in Hollywood's 'Pecking order'.
Ian McKellen on closeted Hollywood stars.
I said it on metachat, but I'm going to submit Christian Bale and Matt Damon and evidence A and B for the case Why I Don't Need A Haircut.
It is understood that if I ever put it in a ponytail I forfeit my right to have hair.
posted by The Whelk at 4:34 PM on January 17, 2011
It is understood that if I ever put it in a ponytail I forfeit my right to have hair.
posted by The Whelk at 4:34 PM on January 17, 2011
From last years Oscars:
Colin Firth: I'm Part of Hollywood's Gay Problem
posted by Artw at 10:12 PM on January 17, 2011
Colin Firth: I'm Part of Hollywood's Gay Problem
posted by Artw at 10:12 PM on January 17, 2011
Oh, Colin, don't worry. The biggest problem with A Single Man is that director (and ostensible gay man) Tom Ford made you look like Senator Webb, still posited that every man in town wanted to sleep with your character, and then wasted half the movie on extreme close-ups of your eye.
posted by kittyprecious at 4:19 AM on January 18, 2011
posted by kittyprecious at 4:19 AM on January 18, 2011
"Ricky Gervais Is Still Alive
Ricky Gervais' face is on a WANTED poster currently being passed around by the Offices of Xenu, but he didn't seem to mind when he flaunted his eclipse-like nipples and sucked-in stomach for Ellen this morning. Ricky can put those International Male chonies over his head later when he needs to block the thetans from digesting his thoughts. Ricky can also wear this when he hosts the Golden Globes again next year. Even though the president of the HFPA says that Ricky crossed the line, I'm pretty sure he's coming back next year. This is what the HFPA president told HuffPo:posted by ericb at 2:38 PM on January 18, 2011'He definitely crossed the line. And some of the things were totally unacceptable. But that's Ricky. I had absolutely no idea what Ricky was going to say so anything I heard was heard was the same time you heard it. When you hire Ricky Gervais, you expect the unexpected.'Grab each one of your face cheeks and flap them against your teeth really fast. That is the same sound that echoed through the HFPA's offices this morning from the president fapping at all the attention they're getting. They are loving this shit. Dude is slapping Ricky's hand with a ruler in front of all of us, but behind the scenes he's probably telling that ho to offend everybody next year. If the Beliebers don't threaten to run Ricky over with their baby walkers and the Twihards don't record themselves attacking his pictures with their plastic fangs on, he hasn't done his job!"
Wow. That writing is super annoying.
posted by CunningLinguist at 4:12 PM on January 18, 2011
posted by CunningLinguist at 4:12 PM on January 18, 2011
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posted by tristeza at 9:40 PM on January 16, 2011