Best Actor Oscar winner Ernest Borgnine, Best Supporting Actress nominee Betsy Blair in the 1955 Best Picture winner Marty
I skipped most of the speeches and presentations at the Oscar 2010 ceremony, but I made a point of watching the In Memoriam segment just to see who was going to be included and who was going to be left out. As usual, once it was over I was feeling more irritated than moved.
One thing that always both amuses and annoys me whenever I watch that tribute is that audience members applaud the names they recognize — e.g., Michael Jackson, Brittany Murphy, David Carradine, none of which was an actual movie star, but whose deaths received a lot of publicity — whereas they all but ignore a former Oscar winner and five-time nominee like Jennifer Jones, or an Oscar nominee like Betsy Blair, who also happened to have had a major role in a Best Picture winner.
The segment itself started out clumsily, with a long shot that made it difficult to see who was being honored on the Kodak Theatre's screen. Turned out it was Patrick Swayze. Inexplicably, it featured Michael Jackson, who never had a career in movies, but not Farrah Fawcett, who in 1986 was touted as a potential Best Actress contender for Extremities (above, with James Russo), and who had important roles in about a dozen other feature films, including the 1997 drama The Apostle which earned Robert Duvall a Best Actor nod. Also, 1949 Best Actor nominee Richard Todd (The Hasty Heart) was nowhere to be seen.
True, you can't include everyone who dies in a montage that lasts a few minutes. But did Michael Jackson have a bigger film career than Farrah Fawcett? Did Brittany Murphy or Variety columnist Army Archerd or Arthur Canton ("public relations") have a more important film career than Richard Todd? That's ludicrous. By the way, both Fawcett and Todd were included in the SAG Awards montage. If the SAG ceremony could find time for them, why not the Oscarcast?
Those people who create the Oscar's annual homage to the dead should take a good look at how Turner Classic Movies does it. Or even this "Forgotten Actresses" tribute found on YouTube.
Addendum: People who apparently haven't read this article very carefully have taken my comments about Michael Jackson's inclusion — but not Farrah Fawcett's — in the Academy's In Memoriam segment as a "Michael Jackson putdown." That's absurd. The point here is not whether I like or dislike Michael Jackson; instead, it's simply that if tribute organizers found time for Jackson, who was hardly known as a film personality, they should have found a few seconds for Farrah Fawcett and Oscar nominee Richard Todd as well. That's it.
Photos: Marty (United Artists); Extremities (Atlantic Entertainment)
While I have never been a huge fan of MJ or FF for that matter they both deserved inclusion in the Oscar's "In Memoriam". I am curious, since MJ's life was firmly under the microscope due to allegations, if when Charlie Sheen passes away if he will receive honors or be shunned. This is not a slam against MJ, I have always remained indifferent regarding his career, just want to stir the pot. :)
This whole debate was a media generated one. And it is high time consumers of media — i.e you and me — stopped allowing ourselves to be drawn into necessary arguments.
Both Fawcett and Jackson should have been included in the trubute.
Fawcett's exclusion was inexcusable, and Jackson's inclusion — was wholly appropriate.
To Beau,
I understand what you are saying. However, most people seem to be missing the fact that this article is not even about Michal Jackson. Yet every comment has been about Him. I think people should get perspective.
Why are people so naive?? I keep hearing about fawcett's friends and fans complaining about her absence from the tribute and not accepting the Oscar committee's apology and so on…Michael Jackson not only starred in a couple films, he also created short films for his songs from Thriller, Bad and Dangerous, etc. Is that not a contribution to the film industry? He totally changed the face of the music video. He also worked with many big name directors like Spielberg, Martin Scorcese, Coppola, and George Lucas. I think that anyone who is trying to limit Michael to just 'the Wiz' (like Fawcett's friends who are publicly not accepting the 'apology') are trying to justify why Farrah should have been included. I think people should move on.
The oscar committee's response to the hoopla (although not a great justification) was that they wanted to avoid all the blogging that would be going on if they left out Michael in the tribute. Did they not consider the same to happen with Fawcett's fans? They could have easily stuck in one or two people (couple seconds of airtime). I think they're just making excuses. It shows a lack of character and disrespect for these people to justify her absence by limiting Michael's hard work. Why do they need to almost bring Michael down? As though the committee only added him in to avoid the backlash. Geez what's happening in this world
I absolutely love,love and love Michael Jackson. It is hard to imagine that he is not longer alive, possibly because his music is so vibrant and almost timeless that it appears to keep Michael Jackson alive in our conscience. However, I have to comment that I don't believe Mr. Soares, the author here, is saying anything against Michael Jackson being included in the Oscar Memoriam mention. Rather that the Academy left some important/mentionable others out. Perhaps for reasons of time. I really believe that Farah Fawcett should have been mentioned if for nothing else for being so bold, strong and unconceited enough to have videotaped herself as she went through the throes of chemo therapy and other harsh treatments for her cancer. She invited the world to observe her fight for life and that is a candor that is hard to find among most of us, let alone cancer victims or survivors. in any case, I consider the Oscar Academy Awards rather political so it is a true shame that we test the mettle of actors' talent against such a bureaucratic group. The world should be turning away from such silly and frivolous occasions at times when there is so much economic stress and misery of life in the world; Haiti, Chile, and other areas of the world devastated by floods and food shortage. In fact, the Academy should make some mention of catastrophic plights before even commencing with the show being that it is a show watched worldwide. After all, aren't ratings everything?
Why is Michael Jackson's inclusion in the Oscar's In Memoriam, a reason for Farrah's exclusion?
In 2009, the Thriller video was inducted into the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress, the first music video to ever receive this honor, for being “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant " and will be preserved for all time.
Yes, Farrah should have been included, but it is not Michael Jackson's fault she wasn't.
In case anyone hasn't noticed, Michael is dead – he's not making the decisions anymore!
It seems even the great leveller, death, can't cut this man a break.
To N smith
well nobody is saying mj cured cancer or he saved the world.we are just tired of people putting him down,we knew he had faults but who doesnt?
I am sure if you had the media spotlight on most of your life people might find some of your actions odd too.
I love how most of the comments here are picking up on the fact that you brought up Michael Jackson.
Guys, I know you were fans of his but seriously… get a grip. This man was not God, and does not need you defending him against someone who didn't even insult him or put him down. He was just a man, who was hugely successful but had an odd, disturbing private life. So no need to act like this man changed humanity and is beyond criticism. Besides, if you actually read the article you will see that the writer was merely using him (and others) as a comparison to someone with a far more illustrious movie career. So really, stop worrying and find something worth moaning about.
Besides, the article wasn't even about him…
Perhaps not only were they looking at Michaels roles in The Wiz and Moonwalker and his short films, but also the fact the his voice graced several big sreen film movie soundtracks such as The Wiz, Ben, Free Willy, and the This is It (which will probably be up for several awards in 2010's academy awards)
However, if Farah had a strong role in at least one big screen film, then yes, she should have been included as well, even if early in the montage.
Category: Michael Jackson — love that!
MAY "MJ" BE INCLUDED AND HONORED IN WHATEVER AWARD CEREMONIES IN THE YEARS TO COME. WE SIMPLY WANT HIM TO BE REMEMBERED….ALWAYS..
Michael should be on the top of the list. He innovated short film, made unparalleled contributions to the movie making world.
i love michael jackson.
media made michael's life a living hell! why targetting michael for this! please leave him alone for god sake! enough already! this is too much.
thank you academy for including MJ!
media sucks,michael's the best!
For leaving FF out please send your complaints to the Academy, MJ has nothing to do with it,he is righully on the list. And please add to his accomplishments already mentioned by other posters the OSCAR NOMINATION FOR HIS SONG BEN in 1973 AT THE AGE OF 14. His performance at the Oscars back then, presented by Charlton Heston was amazing, keep watching it. A little Oscar history. Mj was no'Idol' hed been in the business for almost 45 years .And the Academy this year did the right thing not put him in any category . The man is in a leage of his own: Category Michael Jackson.
YES…..By all means Michael Joseph Jackson should have been included!!! Thank you, KITTY, Michelle Beech, SK, Andre,Beau,Brian for the indepth report, you were on the Money, E, Dimple,and John Odeh….. Your Comments took the words right out of my mouth. It is good to see that some people really LOVED MIchael for the Artist and Person he was. Sorry that some were not included, they did not have the impact Michael did, besides he was in entertainment 45 of his 50 years on this earth!!
Thank you for remembering the Worlds greatest Entertainer, for there will never be another Michael Jackson.
Brittany Murphy isn't in "The Notebook."
Though of course, Murphy did have a film career and should have been included in the tribute.
No one said she shouldn't have been. No one was putting her down.
I Love Farrah Fawcett, and also noticed that she wasn't included in the memoriam. However Michael Jackson totally deserved to be included. He did act in at least eight movies, and was nominated for a Golden Globe for his role as the Scarecrow in Ben (Best Song), so he is no stranger to the movie world. Additionally he was enamored of movies, and contributed to both movie making and the Film Media via his major impact and contributions to the Art of the Music Video (of which he was the undisputed Master and Pioneer). It's a shame Farrah Fawcett was left out because she was a major icon of TV and starred in many notable films. But though we can and should ask the Academy why the failed to acknowledge her, we should not put down MJ, Britanny Murphy, or anyone else who got snubbed. And what the hell do you mean by saying Britanny murphy is not a major movie star? Didn't you watch any of her wonderful movies, like "The Notebook" just to mention one! Michael Jackson planned to retire from musical entertainment after his planned "This Is It Concerts," and devote the rest of his life to movie directing (especially in the genre of horror films), so he was part and parcel of the movie making world (or at least would have been) if an untimely death had not so effectively conspired (and indeed successfully managed snatch) to him away so tragically before he realized his dream. Thus it was fitting for the academy to bid him adieu. If the belief in reincarnation is really true (and I am not here saying that it is), then maybe in MJ's next life, he will devote his immense talents to the arts of film making, and I think the Academy will welcome him then. May MJ, Farrah Fawcett, Britanny Murphy, and all the dearly departed artists of Hollywood, RIP!
Ridiculous they had Michael Jackson but not Farrah Fawcett. Only the Academy would come up with something like that. And those people and their show are supposed to be representing and honoring the world of FILM.
MJ was the biggest and best known entertainer of the 20th century, therefore it makes sense to include him in the biggest award show of the year… MJ will be remembered in thousands of years to come, Farrah sadly will not. get over it
Farrah Fawcett was an icon, but principally a television actress. She should have been honored, perhaps, but there's no reason to set her and MJ against each other, which presumably neither would have wanted. The bulk of Fawcett's work was in television, as well.
Michael Jackson had a great presence and influence in the film industry, and deserved to be honored at the Oscars. He was an actor with an extreme interest in film and in pushing the limits of film in new ways. His live concert in London was to be the first ever to include 3D short films. MJ pioneered the music video, and made many short films, working with some of the greatest directors and producers around (Martin Scorcese, Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas, Stan Winston, Spike Lee, John Singleton, to name a few). He wrote music for film. His style and music had a great influence on all pop culture over a span of decades. He had a great influence on the film industry as well as on the entire entertainment industry. There's a reason they couldn't put a single profession under his name as with every other person in the tribute. His importance in the film world shouldn't be in question by anyone who is familiar with film.
The Oscars are a celebration for the film industry. Few of the general public read Variety, but everyone in the industry does. Why is being a "movie star" that the average Joe knows somehow the yardstick for this?
Here goes an article that may explain why some famous people are "overlooked" and why others are included…in The Oscars@ and The "In Memoriam"
Michael Has been in eight feature films, besides how the hell is it his fault that farrah wasnt included, people can be so ignorant its unbelieveable. He was an actor although he was not primarily known for that because he was the worlds biggest entertainer. But you cant say he doesnt belong their as much as Farrah, The academy should have made the segment a bit longer cut a few speeches short. Blame the academy not MJ , give the man a break ,hasnt he suffered enough because of the media bloodsuckers when he was alive?.Geez.
1978 The Wiz
1986 Captain EO
1988 Moonwalker
1997 Ghosts
2002 Men in Black II
2004 Miss Cast Away and the Island Girls
2009 Michael Jackson's This Is It
Michael This is it film is the highest grossing documentary of all time making 260 million dollars surpassing michael moores farenheight 9/11 that made 222.6 million. so yes he does deserve to be there. RIP to them Both.
You dont have to put MJ down just because the producers did not include some of your favorites.His worked encompass all genres and he acted in a few movies.his thriller video was just inducted into national film registry.His work impacted so many peoples life and he has millions of fans that miss him and are grateful he was deservedly honoured
Farrah and the rest should also have been acknowledged but you should direct your anger at the oscar producers not mj cos he didnt put himself in the montage.
You should be ashamed of yourself for putting MJ down. In case you missed the news HE IS DEAD. He didn't ask to be put up there. Media wirch hunt begins again. Leave him alone. Media sucked his blood when he was alive. Yes Farah should have been there. How dare you torture MJ over this. Long live the king!!!! like it or not he will always be remembered so get used to it.
Michael jackson
starred in The Wiz, plus many short films Captain EO, ghosts and some cameo roles such as Men in Black. He made "movies/film" a legitimate part of music, in the music video. His creativiry and vision in these "short" films was revolutionary and changed the way music industrt presented itself. This is it, was to incortporate short films as well. He was inextricably linked to film and used film in unique ways……He belongs on the list.
No, Michael Jackson didn't have a bigger film career but he had a much bigger career in general and he touched SO many peoples hearts and souls…and always will. He has changed peoples lives and is one of the most amazing people this world has EVER been blessed with.
He deserved to be there…he is a King and he will never be forgotten.
You cannot deny his lasting legacy and the way he has impacted on the world.
So…he was not in the movies…but it would have been scandalous to leave him out.
Farrah Fawcett should have been there too but don't you dare bring down Michael Jackson just because she wasn't.
We love Michael.
>>>>>>>>>>Media wirch hunt begins again. Leave him alone.
Clearly, you didn't read my piece.
You must be referring to some other article that put Michael Jackson down.