Other Winners and How to Win!

Winners August '99

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Support Your Local Celebrity

Posted by: milhouse
Chosen Link: The Green Bay Packers

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You know, ever since Ronald Reagan won the presidency in 1980...a trend has occurred. Celebrities run for political office, and the public votes for them.

• Sonny Bono, the recently deceased U.S. Senator who entertained us all as half of the Sonny and Cher duo. He appeared not only as a musician, but acted in such films as: First Kid, Airplane II, and Hairspray. He, of course, had many tv appearances on his own show, The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, The Love Boat, Charlie's Angels, Fantasy Island, etc. He then was elected Mayor of Palm Springs California, then to the United States Congress, and finally to the Senate.
• Senator Fred Thompson from Tennessee is in his second term and received the most votes of any candidate for any office in the history of his state in 1996. He has appeared in a slew of films, such as: Die Hard II, No Way Out, In The Line Of Fire, The Hunt For Red October, Cape Fear (Robert De Niro version), Flight Of The Intruder, and many others...(although before he ever acted, he was an Assistant U.S. Attorney, and served on Minority Counsel to the Senate Watergate Comittee)
• Governor Jesse "The Body" Ventura, who's story we all know...former pro-wrestler, former bodyguard for the Rolling Stones, short list of film appearances such as: Predator, The Running Man, Batman & Robin, and of course The Jesse Ventura Story (the made-for-tv movie about his life wasn't actually all that bad, except for the acting, of course).
• Fred 'Gopher' Grandy, former U.S. Representative from Iowa, who made an ever-lasting impression on all of us as tv's loveable yeoman purser on The Love Boat series. He also appeared on film in Death Race 2000. He left office to run for Iowa Governor, losing by a narrow margin to the incumbent Terry Branstad. Fred Grandy now serves as president of Goodwill Industries.

The interesting thing is that all of these people became well respected for their political accomplishments, even if their acting careers were less than shining.

All of this has made me wonder if voting for Warren Beatty isn't such a bad idea...you see, as actors, these people's lives are completely open to the public. All you have to do is log on to one of many fan-based web sites to find out every detail of their life, as opposed to candidates like George W. Bush (who remains completely enigmatic about all things political). Celebrities give their political stance long before anyone even asks them...remember Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins using the awards shows as their own personal political pulpit?

We elect politicians to office, and all these horrible secrets come pouring out of their past. But actors already have all those past mistakes out in public view. Their lives are on the internet, in the papers and magazines, on A&E's Biography, and in the National Enquirer (sort of). As a hollywood celebrity, people like Warren Beatty have a lot of free time on their hands...which they use to criticize the government and take up political causes. Politicians don't have time for political causes, because their far too busy with other government issues as getting kick-backs, raising their salaries, and getting re-elected.

As celebrities, these people have already amassed fortunes which they can then use to campaign...without having to turn to corporations and private interest groups who donate campaign funds with the expectation of political favors after the candidate is elected. "No Bribes, Because I'm Already Rich", what a great campaign slogan.

Every four years, Elvis Presley gets dozens, if not hundreds of write in votes during the presidential elections. Why? Well, he's more trust-worthy than your average Senator or Representative...and he's been DEAD for twenty-two years. If Jimmy Stewart were alive, he'd get my vote. Talk about a trust-worthy candidate. That is a man with character, a president you could look up to, a real leader. (Maybe I'll stop voting for Elvis next year and write in Jimmy Stewart)

I apologize, I ramble on too much. BUT, it is an interesting phenomenon, and it's only getting more common, even Jerry Springer was considering candidacy for next year (and he was kicked out of office as Cinncinnatti's Mayor long before his talk show, I believe). Which is worse, the Hollywood system or the United States Government? They're both driven by greed and money...but at least Hollywood offers us entertainment. Perhaps the Academy Awards should be considered as a type of Primary Election, "And the presidency goes to...SALLY FIELD!"

- milhouse

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The Sixth Sense

Posted by: stargatherer
Chosen Link: The Hunger Site

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I'm surprised no one has started a thread on the newest #1 movie stateside, bumping Runaway Bride to third place and leaving The Blair Witch Project to continue in second.

I haven't seen it yet, but the reviews sound good, so I think I'm going to give it a go, maybe this weekend. (Yes, Robert, even though it's another horror movie, hehehe.) Has anyone else seen it? If so, what did you think? Does Bruce Willis actually show his acting chops again as some have said? (I always thought there was some talent there, but it's not always easy to pick up on in his usual fare.)

What do you think of the child actor, Haley Joel Osment? (I loved him on Jeff Foxworthy, myself. *BG*) One reviewer - I forget which one, I think it was in the Washington Post - suggested he might actually be a candidate for Best Actor nomination at the big awards this year, and that Willis really was supporting him. What do you think?

- stargather

Support Your Local Celebrity • • • The Sixth Sense Other Nominees: Movie Stars, Better or Worse With Age? • • • What British Words in Movies Mean • • • The 13th Warrior • • • The 10 best movie lines • • • Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels • • • A total eclipse of the sun • • • What IS Sci-Fi ?