Clooney's Oscar Blarney
Good for George Clooney on his Oscar win but to clarify on his defense of Hollywood for being "out of touch" and for talking about AIDS when no one else was: those with long memories will recall all the way back to 1984 when Burt Reynolds was injured on the set of his movie City Heat.
During his long recovery period, the very sensitive Los Angeles rumor mills geared up to the effect that Reynolds was falsely rumored to have AIDS. At that point, to official Hollywood, Reynolds became a pariah and no one would even call his house to wish him well. (A notable exception, reportedly, was Johnny Carson, which speaks volumes about the kind of man he was).
As a postscript, Reynolds got well again and, a few years later, at the Emmy Awards where Dan Quayle was a punching bag for his comments about Murphy Brown's single motherhood, Burt Reynolds was in the audience looking particularly unamused throughout. He'd gotten a good look at Hollywood's sensitivity and compassion up close. Now, go back to your moral preening, George.
During his long recovery period, the very sensitive Los Angeles rumor mills geared up to the effect that Reynolds was falsely rumored to have AIDS. At that point, to official Hollywood, Reynolds became a pariah and no one would even call his house to wish him well. (A notable exception, reportedly, was Johnny Carson, which speaks volumes about the kind of man he was).
As a postscript, Reynolds got well again and, a few years later, at the Emmy Awards where Dan Quayle was a punching bag for his comments about Murphy Brown's single motherhood, Burt Reynolds was in the audience looking particularly unamused throughout. He'd gotten a good look at Hollywood's sensitivity and compassion up close. Now, go back to your moral preening, George.
posted by Oa Rove at 5:44 PM
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