Last night’s Oscar telecast was a most enjoyable affair. The acceptance speeches were short and heartfelt (I don’t think I heard a single interminable list of names!), the clips packages were nifty, and host Jon Stewart was both funny and classy (recalling Markéta Irglová to the stage for her acceptance speech was the kind of unexpected treat that makes a three-and-a-half hour telecast entirely bearable).
On the other hand, the evening’s low point had to be yet another shameless plug for Jerry Seinfeld’s Bee Movie. Oh, how I hoped a giant flyswatter would come thwacking down when that overhyped black-and-yellow beast took his spot atop the Oscar podium. I mean, Bee Movie wasn’t among the nominees for Best Animated Feature, so why didn’t the Academy give eventual winner Ratatouille the "animated presenter" spot instead? Or even one of those surfing penguins? When I can’t get a chuckle from reliving Matthew Broderick’s painful Election sting, then something is definitely rotten on the Oscar stage.
So who’s going to join me in signing the PopWatch petition to stop the deadly swarm of promotion that Seinfeld is likely planning to prepare for March 11 DVD release? If you need some encouragement, then I’ve got three words for you: Bee. Movie. Juniors. Oh yeah, I went there!
Comments (1-30) of 39 Add your comment
I’m in. When I saw the bee last night, I thought “isn’t that movie gone yet?!” No more bees! You’ve outstayed your welcome!
The Bee Movie Juniors made the movie seem unpalatable. Seeing another Bee endorsement on the Oscars makes me never want to eat honey.
By the way, Slezak, didn’t you love how all the winners were playing with their Oscars like you play with the ANTM dolls? Ha! Let’s see them make Tarjay dresses for theirs!
One writer, I’m pretty sure from EW, pointed out that the Bee Movie promos did something that the thousands of hours worth of Seinfeld Reruns could never do. They got the public annoyed and irritated with Jerry Seinfeld.
His antics were great when he had Larry David writing his dialogue, but to realize that Jerry’s only reason for exisitng post-show has been to pimp this movie (which didn’t even review very well, despite all the hype, promos and superstar cast).
Sle, let me know where to sign the petition, as I’m in! No More Bee Movie crap!
Oh god. I SO agree with you. I even mentioned the Bee Movie thing to someone this morning when recounting the ceremony–like, ugh–enough with the freaking Bee Movie!
Count me in–those Bee Movie Juniors spots were excruciatingly unfunny and I don’t want to see any more in prep for the DVD release.
Count me in too! I can’t stand to listen to Jerry Seinfeld’s whiny “comedy” anymore, and that especially includes Bee Movie! For the love of god, MAKE IT STOP.
Jerry Seinfeld needs to give up. His voice is irritating, and his “routine” is tired. Make it stop.
Please.
Please.
PLEASE!
Jerry Sienfeld, SIT DOWN! (and take your bees with you)
here here. you’ve got my vote (AGAINST the Bee placement!!!)
I believe that Jerry Seinfeld and his Bee Movie abomination is single handedly responsible for Colony Collapse Disorder.
Agree that the Bee Movie moment was cringe worthy. Also agree that Jon Steward wins for classiest host for bringing Markéta Irglová back for a much deserved moment in the spotlight, which she used to encourage others. Class Acts all around.
Ooops, I meant Jon Stewart…
Guess I’m a minority, but I have never found Jerry Seinfeld to be the least bit funny or entertaining. Hated that gimmick on the Oscars last night, but mostly because I hate Seinfeld. I don’t have anything in particular against bees, unless they’re killer bees.
Slezak, you wanted a flyswatter to squish that whiny Bee? Me, watching that piece, I was hoping Bart Simpson’s foot would loom over and flatten him. A little nod to a far better animated movie from ‘07. Seinfeld allow such a thing? Not likely. Shame. Seinfeld seems to be (sorry) so humorless now.
I was at least pleased that it wasn’t an obvious tie to someone with a Disney project. Miley Cyrus? Katherine Heigel? Patrick Dempsey? The Rock? Amy Adams singing and presenting?
Where was Mickey?
I have to say I enjoyed all the little commercials Seinfeld did on NBC last fall, and I really liked the movie. I don’t mind seeing the character or hearing Seinfeld again. It would have made more sense if it had been one of the characters from one of the nominated films, though.
with you 10,000%!!!!!!!!
The Bee Movie hype was overdone weeks before and after the movie’s release and Jerry Seinfeld’s not making it any easier for anyone else who wants to watch the film. It might be a decent film underneath, but the overexerting ads pretty much kill my interest in the film.
The Bee and John Travolta have the same hairdo.
Explain the thing about Matthew Broderick please………
Even the kids didn’t want to see the JS bee. Groans throughout the household when he showed. You’re so right. Enough of the bees, already.
Following last year’s Oscar show, EW (Popwatch) wrote: “Jerry Seinfeld was funnier in three minutes than Ellen was over more than three hours — could he have been auditioning to host next year’s ceremony?”
Maybe letting him do the Bee thing was the Academy’s way of making nice so that Jerry might consider hosting in 2009. He probably would be a great host. Having said that… I, too, was not particularly entertained by the Bee bit.
About Jon Stewart being both classy and funny, I don’t know what show you guys were watching. The opening monologue was as funny as the bee segment. With the exception of the joke about Cate Blanchett, the pregnant nominees and the montages that would have been shown had the strike not ended (look, the academy is capable of self-deprecating humor. Hope next year they make fun of the Enchanted disaster) everything else was pretty flat.
Well, to be fair Amy Adams sang because a song she sang in Enchanted was nominated
I was waiting for it to suddenly be some sort of awesome, hilarious gag–I was waiting for the punchline, for the sarcasm that could have been SO EASILY exploited from the crap we’ve been bombarded with since November.
Freakin’ jeez.
The bee bit was lame, but sorry, so was Jon Stewart. He is out of his element here and just seems horribly uncomfortable. He had acouple of good lines, but mostly I cringed when he came out.And I don’t think he had anything to do with bringing the girl back–that was the director who had made a mistake and wanted to correct it.
My thoughts exactly Michael Sleazzzze-ak!! Bee Movie and its ad nauseum promotions and gimmickry is SO annoying at all levels!
bee movie never even looked good. ill do you one better than just signing your petition. i will completely boycott all bee movie merchandise. seriously though. is there no low to which actors wont go to plug their unpopular movies??
Hey, like it or not, the Bee Movie was a big hit, and there will be a sequel. And Ep Sato, you’re dead wrong: Larry David did not write all of Jerry’s material; they usually co-wrote the episodes, especially the early years. And come on, Hollywood is all about promoting product anyway. Why single out Seinfeld? Lighten up, everyone.