Douglas Howe: June 2009 Archives

I read with interest the post by fellow Idol Chatter blogger Kris Rasmussen, as well as several other articles regarding the news from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences that they'll now nominate ten movies for the Best Picture category instead of five.

Contrary to what many writers, bloggers, posters and commentators seem to think...I love the idea!

For starters, let's consider the most wonderful movies that didn't get nominated for Best Picture in their years:

- "His Girl Friday," with Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell (1940)
-  "Rear Window," with Jimmy Stewart (1954)
-  "The Magificent Seven," with Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, James Coburn (1960). This is one of the more enduring westerns from 1960.

The list could go on. In fact, it does:

- "Frankenstein" (1930)
- "King Kong" and "Duck Soup" (1933)
- "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1937)
- "The Big Sleep," with Humphrey Bogart (1946)
- "Singin' in the Rain," with Gene Kelly (1952)
- "Vertigo" (1958) 
- "North by Northwest" (1959)
- "Breakfast at Tiffany's," with Audrey Hepburn (1961)

And the ones above are just the ones made before I was born!

Back when making music videos was an art form and a must for anyone hoping for chart-topping releases, Michael Jackson took it to another level. VH1 celebrated him with a full weekend of retrospective videos and provided viewers the chance to post thoughts and memories at vh1.com. It was really worth setting the TiVO for this retrospective. I suspect there will be a rush to buy Michael's video albums, all of which can be found on Amazon.com.

Working with directors such as John Landis and Michael Scorcese, and co-stars like Eddie Murphy, Iman, Magic Johnson, McCauley Culkin, and Bart and Homer Simpson, many of Jackson's videos were actually like mini-movies. Here's my top 10 list of Michael Jackson's most inspiring videos, with the disclaimer that my top picks aren't necessarily his most famous ones. [Note: Click on the links below to watch most of the music videos on YouTube.] 

10. "Rock With You" and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" (Album: Off the Wall) These were the first of his adolescent/adult videos as he stepped out from the child star days of the Jackson 5.

9. "Liberian Girl" (Album: Bad). This is a beautiful song which most have never heard of, with cameos by everyone from John Travolta to Olivia Newton-John, Steven Spielberg to Quincy Jones, Dan Akyroyd to Steve Guttenberg, Whoopie Goldberg to Carl Weathers, Billy Dee Williams to Paula Abdul, and that's just the beginning of the list.

8. Tie between "Thriller" (Album: Thriller) and "Bad" (Album: Bad). The songs themselves didn't do much for me but the long version mini-movies were a historic achievement.

7. "Dirty Diana" (Album: Bad). One of the very, very rare pieces of Michael Jackson live concert footage (or at least simulated live concert footage!)

6. Tie between "Billie Jean" and "Beat It" (Album: Thriller). I thought these were better and deeper songs than the over-marketed "Thriller," and they were great long videos rather than mini-movies.

My heart goes out to the families, friends and fans of Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Ed McMahon, and Billy Mays. I'm not sure I can remember a time when four celebrities passed away so close to each other, and it's made for a week of mourning, reflections, and retrospectives on television, especially on the news shows and news magazines.

In all of the coverage, there is one question that hasn't been asked. In fact, it is perhaps the most weighty and dramatic question that can ever be asked about anyone who passes away, especially those who are largely in the public eye. It is the kind of question that a site like Beliefnet can and must contribute to the discussion, so I'll ask it. And I ask it with all respect:

"Where are they now?"

I join with the legions who are mourning the death of Michael Jackson today. As Neil Diamond would have written--and will likely add to his stage version of the song--Michael is "Done Too Soon."

His was a genius that went unmatched when he was in his prime. And his was also a story umatched in his--to use the word that so many media outlets are using today--eccentricities.

One shame of it all was that he had more to accomplish. If much of his eccentric life was a compensation for the childhood he never had, then what if he was just ready to come out of adolescence now? What might he have accomplished in his golden years? The mentoring of young talent? Choreography at the next level, even if he couldn't do it himself? The launching of new music genres? All could have been within his realm and resources. So that is a shame and a loss.

I think the most unfortunate thing about his passing at this time is that so many people--especially anybody under 35 or so--remember him not for the musical genius he was but rather as the curious icon he was. He's has been known more for goofy wardrobes, embarrassing legal troubles, curious looks, and a nickname as "The King of Pop." Too many young people know the "King of Pop" the same way I knew of, say, Frank Sinatra, having never saw him in his prime.

Madonna's media representative released the news that the pop star has been approved by a Malawian court to adopt another child from that country. I can't tell whether I hate or love all of the press she is getting.

In 2006, she adopted David and now is adopting Chifundo "Mercy" James, but it had been held up due to a court ruling that she hadn't been in the country long enough. Their high court now has ruled that those outdated laws won't be binding in this case, which is good news for her and hopefully for Mercy, but it also got me wondering: why do the stars get such great press when they choose to adopt a child?

The part I like about celebrity adoption stories is that the plight of the countless needy children around the globe is raised in the public's eye and the option of adoption is promoted. That is a good thing; many of my friends have chosen adoption and it has changed their lives and the lives of the adopted kids for the better.

But there is also something I don't like. The challenges a celebrity faces when attempting an adoption are so far fewer than those of the typical American who's attempting to adopt a child. Further, the celebrities--whether it be Madonna, Angelina Jolie or whoever--often received favorable treatment. We need so many more people to adopt so many more children rather than just being temporarily interested in the latest celebrity news cycle. I wish there was more coverage of the issues around adoption rather than just the celebrities' involvement in them.

David Carradine, the well-known, well-remembered and well-misunderstood actor, died on the other side of the world recently, and news emerged that his death was the result of either suicide, personal experimentation gone bad, or foul play. Now the news has...

"Allow me to be blunt for a moment," said Max Phillips, in a recent Escapist Magazine article. "Most games avoid anything having to do with the subject of religion." That got my attention! And it should have. "In most cases...

Every time I travel to Los Angeles I love picking up my beloved L.A. Times. When I can't, I read it online. A recent story on Stephen Colbert caught my attention. What do you think Stephen Colbert would have to...

The fifth host of "The Tonight Show" took his place last night as Conan O'Brien launched his reign, succeeding Jay Leno, Johnny Carson, Jack Parr and Steve Allen. If you saw it, you know that there were several stunts, stars,...

One of my teenage daughters recently asked me if I'd heard that "Jennifer Hudson was preggers?" Being the responsible journalist that I am, I was able to confirm the report at several sites including ones here and here. I...

The MTV Movie Awards have always been wild, but I found myself in one of two places last night and I can't figure out which. Either I'm everything I never wanted to become in terms of being like my parents...

Last Friday, I witnessed a piece of TV history--the last "Tonight Show with Jay Leno," as it ended its 17-year run with a highly anticipated and well-marketed finale. I grew up about a mile from the set of "The Tonight...