An Awards Aftermath Question For All
Wednesday, June 11, 2014 at 12:00PM The annual Women in Film gala, which is held today always celebrates several names but the big prize is the Crystal Award and Amy Adams will present it to Cate Blanchett for "Excellence in Film". A few months later Matthew McConaughey might well be honored with an Emmy for True Detective but even if he doesn't win that he'll be collecting will the American Cinematheque prize in October. And future fall honors aside, he was just handed another trophy by Spike TV last week as their "Guy of the Year"
In short, Oscar's Homecoming King and Queen are not yet done being showered with praise and tributes. We just saw an illustration of this afterglow effect with Bryan Cranston's Tony win for "All The Way". Did he win because he was the best in the category or because it's all the rage to honor him given the super duper success of that protracted final season of "Breaking Bad"? Wouldn't he immediately be the favorite to win the Oscar this next season if he had a substantial role in a movie, solely from all this goodwill.
McConaughey, Blanchett, and Cranston aren't done collecting trophies this year
Right or wrong, and the debate will forever rage, the Oscar is viewed as the pinnacle of showbiz prizes. So what's with grabbing more trophies as you ski-lift down from that peak? Aren't they redundant? Why do organizations feel the need to rubber stamp Oscar's choices instead of starting the drums for someone else. Aren't they afraid of viewer fatigue or sloppy seconds?
And, a better question, why do the actors go for it? They all seem so exhausted after awards season that you'd think they'd hide away for a few months thereafter instead of doing more monkey dances for more trophies that don't mean a great deal in the long run.
I'm curious to hear theories.
Reader Comments (34)
Matthew McConaughey has an Oscar but ________ doesn't!
I hope Blanchett wins a third Oscar in the near future just to screw with Streep fans.
Imagine if Cranston had a Oscar bait movie role this year (instead of Godzilla). He could of won a Tony, Emmy (unless McConaughey wins) and an Oscar all in one year.
Bryan Cranston is supposedly starring as Dalton Trumbo in TRUMBO alongside Helen Mirren. Biopic? Check. Hollywood Legend? Check. Maybe next year??
As for why actors would go for it, it's still an honour and privilege coming from peers and friends. Also, I think that there's a part of them that enjoys off season awards more because there is less attention and pressure -- these awards aren't part of an exhaustive, exhausting campaign. Cate Blanchett in particular, who has displayed an icy disdain for the idiocies made mandatory by awards season, seems like someone who would enjoy the lower stakes and pressure, because it also means a break from being asked who she's wearing and what she thinks of Jennifer Lawrence falling again, plus she gets to be honoured and hang out with her friends in a less stressful environment. Seems like a more ideal awards situation to me, taking aside the merit and reputation of the award itself.
@ 3rtful, I love you :D
1) I lol-ed at the Streep sentence.
2) I'll never forget you were the first person in the universe who was brave enough to say "Blanchett gives me 2nd Oscar vibes" standing next to Woody in those very 1st Blue Jasmine set photos shared in the summer of 2012; mind you in the midst of Nathaniel's grotesque cynicism towards her.
Whew, I see we've got some bitter queens up in this joint, huh?
I agree with F that the post-season awards must be the most pleasant to receive. No pressure to "campaign," so you can just enjoy the praise.
kent, Trumbo's screenplay for Exodus is so underrated.
Bryan Cranston is gonna win a Tony. Matthew McConaughey might win an Emmy. And Cate Blanchett gets the biggest prize of all - to co-star with Toothless.
@Yavor
Thank you for your kindness and encouragement.
They like the adoration and validation,who wouldn't!!!
I am <I>really</I> trying not to dislike Cranston for reasons beyond his control (i.e. winning half of the Emmys for which Jon Hamm has been nominated and being everywhere</I> nowadays, which is a constant reminder that Hamm is still Emmy-less), but the industry is making it <I>extremely</I> difficult. I know that the universe tends to gift certain entertainers with their Big Moments, but it personally makes me resentful that some of them don't have a very short self life.
Anyway, to the question(s) at hand. I think it's the basic desire (need, maybe) to be in with the popular crowd on the side of the organizations and have one's work continue to be validated on the part of the actors, which always feels good, even this late in the game.
In descending order of EGOT pinnacles, I would imagine for most leading actors breathing that rarefied air, it's
1) Tony - Drama
2) Oscar
3) Emmy - Drama Series
4) Tony - Musical
5) Emmy - Comedy Series
6) Emmy - Miniseries
7) Emmy - Movie
8) Grammy - anything
but I may be wrong.
PS. Hamm deserves to have won an Emmy, but I don't begrudge Cranston a single one of his wins. Jeff Daniels, on the other hand...
Paul,
I will say Oscar is the pinnacle. It's like the holy grail of acting awards in Hollywood.
Nat,
You forgot 1 thing: most actors need to be worshiped constantly. The awards are just another ways to satisfy their egos. I mean, if I were an actor, I would go to accept any awards because it's very self satisfying. It makes them feel good about themselves; they feel people love them.
Exactly plus inside it validates their work they must feel proud to have other people in the same craft say "you were number one".
As the Marquise de Merteuil said, "Immaturity?"
I think they show because it becomes a story about their rude behavior if they don't, to be honest. Awards bodies copy because they don't like to get flack for making "strange choices," but the reason smaller awards exist is to spread the love. I suppose a bunch of post-Oscar awards for Amy Adams would have led to "Do people think she should have won?" article silliness.
Oscar is the highest honor in the EGOT, no? The others seem like you can edge your way in easier ways (examples: Anne Hathaway has an Emmy for voice work on a Simpsons episode; several big names have won Grammys in the Spoken Language category, if I remember right; Tony might be harder, but once you have one of the other honors, I feel like it helps your chances). Cranston's Tony after his Emmy love could have easily been like Melissa McCarthy's Emmy win while feeling the love for her (ultimately Oscar nominated) Bridesmaids performance. People want to find a way to reward the names they like. Oscars are different though. There's a reason "Academy Award nominee" means more in advertising than Tony or Emmy nominee/winner.
Plus, these are basically business appearances. Who knows what professional connections they have to these various awards bodies? It could be seen as insulting or unprofessional to not go to to some of them (not including Spike TV, probably).
Drew: "...in Hollywood..."
Nathaniel - think of this award as one for that wonderful speech at the Oscars that you like so much. After all it is from "women in Hollywood".
I want Viola/Meryl levels of love from Cate and Amy.
3 theories:
The fashionista theory.
They (the actors) had some unused outfits from the Oscar season and they need to be used. See Blanchett.
The Weinstein-ish theory.
My guess is that they sign some contract with a management/marketing agency speciallzed in award/events season (I'm sure there are some, like the men in black, but in lamé) that meakes them attend every single award ceremony.
The common sense theory.
Once you've been to every single award event before the Oscars, and once you have rested for a couple of months, how can you say no to this one? They might get offended which is not good for future campaigns.
Can't really say Cranston's Tony win was because of Breaking Bad. He won all the theatre critic precursor awards as well for his performance and received rave reviews. McCarthy winning the Emmy on the other hand was 100% because of Bridesmaids. Mike and Molly is a critically reviled show.
What's with the hateful trolls today? Did they wake up with hives?
I agree with the comments above that if you're invited to receive an award for the work you've done, why wouldn't you go? It's pretty logical to me and a sign of appreciation that one gets to be recognized.
Groups -- It's a severe case of laziness and lack of personality. Sometimes I think all they care about is the red carpet and the post-parties. After all, it's what gets all the attention in the media. It's only in blogs like this where we even consider to disagree.
Actors -- Ego plus insecurity and the need to be constantly in the public eye to get more offers. No one needs all these statuettes especially when it's the same one.
And if McConaughey wins the Emmy this year people are going to say it's because of the Oscar win which is a shame since he's incredible in True Detective.
The Emmy voters love pairing up their awards with Oscar winners.
Attention whore is why they became actors in the first place, so attention whore is why they go to these vacuous public events where they're told how wonderful they are.
The biggest mystery for me is always the exceptions, like Kate Hepburn and Woody Allen. They must actually like the challenge of participating in a film.
Actors do not need constant worshipping and attention, although I'm sure they like to get awards. Sometimes they just want to go out and be left alone to lead their daily lives..
Marsha Mason - Katherine Hepburn loved getting awards, and was known to boast about them. She just didn't like picking them up in person!
What an odd question. It's not like these "other" honors are the People's Choice Awards. Why wouldn't they go? The odds on making it as an actor at all are long and none of them are guaranteed a lifetime in the sun. Every prize and honor might be their last. If people are going to praise you professionally and say you're really good at your job, why would you ignore that? Movies really aren't the be-all and end-all of everything.
Matthew deserves the Emmy because his performance in True Detective was truly something worth celebrating (and I hope he wins). I can't comment on Bryan's Tony win as I've not had the fortune of watching it given I don't live in the US. It's great that Matthew and Cate are being showered with more awards after their Oscar wins and like someone mentioned earlier, the ensuing awards are off the 'pressure' radar and they can bask in their glory without any tension whatsoever.
To quote Roxie Hart-
My audience loves me. And I love them. And they love me for lovin' them and I love them for lovin' me. And we love each other. And that's cause none of us got enough love in our childhoods. And that's showbiz, kid.
To a little bit alter Sally Field's legendary quote:
I can't deny the fact that they like you, right now, they like you!
I would give awards to Blanchett as long as she lives for that matter
And yes so true, Jon Hamm deserved to win an Emmy!
"why do the actors go for it? They all seem so exhausted after awards season that you'd think they'd hide away for a few months thereafter instead of doing more monkey dances for more trophies that don't mean a great deal in the long run"
- They're actors! It will never be enough for them, they want everything! And they're very competitive and insecure!
@Rizz
Yeah, I love that line.
Of course every actress/actor loves to get awards as long as they are given to them. Except for Brando, maybe?