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PEOPLE & ARTS Friday 17 February 2017

Producers can’t keep politics from edging into Oscar show

SANDY COHEN Passionate expressions also
AP Entertainment Writer make for compelling tele-
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) vision, De Luca added.
— Meryl Streep ushered “Those feelings can create
politics into Hollywood’s moments for the telecast
awards season when she that are really memora-
used her Golden Globes ble,” he said. “And sponta-
acceptance speech to neity is our friend. Anything
condemn President Don- that’s not scripted, that’s
ald Trump for what she natural and from the heart,
called his “instinct to humili- is a good thing for the tele-
ate.” Stars were even more cast.”
outspoken at the Screen And if viewers who dis-
Actors Guild Awards, held agree with the politics de-
just days after Trump’s cide to tune out?
travel ban caused havoc “We’re of a mind of: Let
at airports across the coun- people be the people they
try. Even last week’s per- are and not worry about
formance-heavy Grammy the public reaction,” De
Awards had a political Luca said.
edge when members of A Oscar nominees and
Tribe Called Quest raised guests say they expect pol-
their fists and Q-Tip repeat- itics to have a presence at
ed a call to “Resist.” the 89th Academy Awards.
The Feb. 26 Academy This Jan. 23, 2016 file photo shows Oscars producers Jennifer Todd, left, and Michael De Luca at “I suppose each Oscar
Awards are the final stop of the 27th Annual Producers Guild Awards in Los Angeles. show represents its time
the industry’s annual two Associated Press on some level,” said Viggo
months of self-adulation, Mortensen, nominated for
and while show producers lebrities at other awards nees’ luncheon last week Winners are free to use lead actor for “Captain
aren’t planning any po- shows this season — and that the organization sup- their allotted 45 seconds Fantastic.” ‘’I think the
litical content, the night’s on social media since the ports artists and freedom of of speaking time as they Trump White House so far is
winners might be. election — some anti- expression. please. not about being, let’s say,
As much as first-time Os- Trump rhetoric at the Os- “Each and every one of us “I hope that the Oscar completely honest and
car telecast producers cars wouldn’t be surprising. knows that there are some speeches, whatever they above board. It’s not really
Michael De Luca and Jen- The show already has a po- empty chairs in this room, are, are just well said,” about intellectual curios-
nifer Todd may want their litical element: The Iranian which has made academy co-producer Todd said. ity. It’s not about listening
show to focus on the mag- director and star of foreign artists activists,” she said. “I loved when Patricia Ar- to people who think differ-
ic of the movies, they say language film nominee “There is a struggle glob- quette talked about fair ently. It’s about, to some
they support any message “The Salesman” have said ally today over artistic free- pay (when accepting the degree, shutting people
spoken from the heart, they will not attend the cer- dom that feels more urgent supporting actress Oscar in up who you don’t like or
even if it means turning the emony in protest of Trump’s than at any time since the 2015). She did a beautiful who don’t agree with you,
Oscar podium into a politi- travel ban. 1950s.” job and she spoke from her and I think the Oscars will
cal pulpit. Film academy president Oscar host Jimmy Kimmel heart. So I just think that as probably be the opposite
“The show has to stand Cheryl Boone Isaacs was hasn’t given much hint of long as you’re going to do of that.”q
behind the free exchange clear at the annual nomi- his approach for the show. it, do it well.”
of ideas,” De Luca said in
a recent interview. “I do Philbin says he hasn’t been in touch with Ripa lately
believe a little bit in the fa-
mous Sam Goldwyn quote
about movies: ‘If you NEW YORK (AP) — Regis special. In a statement on
want to send a message, Philbin says he hasn’t kept Thursday, the president
call Western Union.’ And in touch with his former TV and general manager of
there’s a school of thought co-host Kelly Ripa since he WABC, which produces the
that says people are tun- decided to leave the show show, said it was wonderful
ing in to celebrate the they headlined together, having him on the show.
storytelling that’s moved even though he last ap- “He’s also been invited
them, and should we limit peared on the show in back several times as a
what we say to a celebra- 2015. In an interview with guest, and in fact was con-
tion of that?” “Larry King Now” that was firmed for a date, but was
But Oscar-caliber artists posted online Wednesday, not able to make it,” said
“are the kind of people Philbin says Ripa took it per- Dave Davis.
that do get moved by the sonally and was offended Philbin, who’s 85, told King
environment and the world when he decided to leave he left the show because
they live in,” De Luca said, their show “Live! with Regis he was getting older and
and they may want to use and Kelly” in 2011. He says it “wasn’t right for me any-
their moment on stage she thought he was leav- more.”
“to share those feelings ing because of her. He also Philbin said he still misses
the same way you shared said he hadn’t been invited hosting. Asked if he would
the story that you’re be- back since his departure. come back to television, In this Friday, Nov. 18, 2011, file photo, Regis Philbin and Kelly
ing nominated for, and we However, Philbin did ap- he said it would depend Ripa appear on Regis’ farewell episode of “Live! with Regis and
Kelly”, in New York.
want to honor that, too.” pear on “Live! With Kelly” on how often he would Associated Press
Given the tone set by ce- in 2015 for a Halloween appear.q