Why All the 'Oscar' Fuss?

Why any human being would sit at home on a Sunday night and watch a bunch of zillionaire Hollywood actors and actresses pat themselves and one another on the back is beyond me. But there they were last night, parading before the cameras on 'Oscar' night at the annual Academy Awards.

I mean, I do get it for the actors and actresses themselves, of course. Almost every industry takes time out during the year to recognize and honor those in each profession or business who excelled during the previous year. Dinners are shared, toasts are made, speeches are given, trophies and plaques are handed out.

But while the nation's leading architects, novelists, construction workers, police officers, firefighters, bankers, small business persons, mass transit employees, entrepreneurs, secretaries, priests, and many others receive their honors in near-anonymity surrounded by family, friends, and colleagues their exploits are almost never celebrated in front of a television audience.

Why would any office worker, home maker, student, or businessperson care who took home what trophy for some movie that the vast majority of them have never seen and likely will never see? Why should I care what kind of dress Sandra Bullock or Meryl Streep wears as they walk down some red carpet and into a theatre to receive their awards?

Frankly, I don't. Which is why I never watch a minute of the Academy Awards, the Emmy's, the MTV Music Awards, the Grammy's, the Espy's or any other awards show. The fact of the matter is that James Cameron, Kathryn Bigelow, George Clooney, Jay-Z, Koby Bryant, Fergie, Ray Romano, Jay Leno and every other celebrity could care less about me beyond whether or not I spend my hard-earned money on one of their products or artistic endeavors. They wouldn't watch a police awards show if their lives depended on it.

This all falls in line with my similar thoughts on television shows such as 'TMZ' and 'Entertainment Tonight' and 'Extra' as well. Why should any normal, regular, hard-working, family-raising American give a damn about what is happening between Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and Jennifer Aniston? Why do you care how many African babies Madonna is adopting this year? Why should you be giving up your valuable time to watch a bunch of paparazzi stand around and bust on some borderline star who took their baby for a walk in the park today while wearing giant sunglasses and an unflattering sweat suit?

You shouldn't, and that is the point. Now I can just hear the celebrity addicts who do watch these shows whining now. "Who are you to tell someone else what they should like or enjoy, Veasey?" Legitimate question for sure. And of course the answer is, I am no one. So why are you reading this in the first place? Why do you care what I think about anything?

My advice is simple. Stop watching these pieces of trash, junk television shows. Stop caring about Halle Berry and Sarah Jessica Parker and Tiger Woods personal lives. You want to spend your money to enjoy their music, their movies, their sporting contests? That's a whole other story, and a valid method of entertainment and enjoyment. But caring about what dress they wear or who they are sleeping with this week? I don't and never will get it. Why all the fuss?

Video: Halle Berry Making a Difference for Battered Women

From Denny: If you missed this segment you will definitely want to watch it. Halle Berry grew up with an abusive father who battered her mother. Today, the actress is helping other women get strong, help heal them and their children and build new - and confident - lives.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Celebrities Rally to Get Out the Vote: A Guide to Election 2008

Celebrity endorsements for president. Do we really care? Probably not.

What scares me about this video is knowing the names of everyone by sight. Okay, maybe one or two escape memory, but recognizing Giovanni Ribisi was a little scary. Yup, I spend too much time immersed in celebrity gossip. But I can't will myself away. Too much fun. Those who know and love me (and even those who don't) might as well get used to it.

With all the criticism -- good and bad -- about celebrities impacting the 2008 election, a star-studded cast put themselves on the line to debate an issue of vital national importance.

Getting YOU to the polls.

Think it doesn't matter? Uhm, no.

Even in non-battle ground states everyone, especially college students, have a duty and obligation to vote. If anything matters in this election, increasing voter participation and preventing voter fraud tops the list. It's our country and we can take it back, one citizen at a time. But we all must do our part.

In that spirit, I'm doing mine. An easy state by state voter guide appears below. Eligibility requirements, deadlines, and online registration links, they're all there for anyone who gives a flying fig.

Now it's your turn. No excuses. Register. NOW. Because in some places (*cough* Mississippi *ptuii*) the deadline is tomorrow!

Then vote on November 4th. Early.

Most states will allow everyone in line at poll closing time to vote. And if you get turned away, demand to see the precinct captain. Plop a provisional ballot in the captain's lap and take a cell phone picture. You can always file a complaint with the election board if your state results become a point of contention.

Remember Election 2000!

Never again.


Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut [Bill of Rights]

Delaware

D.C.

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii [Register Here]

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky [Deadline] [Register]

Louisiana [Deadline]

Maine [Register]

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan [Register]

Minnesota

Mississippi [Deadline] [Register]

Missouri [Register]

Montana [Deadline]

Nebraska [Register]

Nevada

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New York

North Carolina

North Dakota [No Deadline]

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania [Deadline and Registration]

Rhode Island [Deadline] [Register]

South Carolina

South Dakota [Register]

Tennessee [Deadline] [Register]

Texas [Deadline]

Utah [Deadline]

Vermont

Virginia [Deadline] [Register]

Washington

West Virginia [Deadline] [Register]

Wisconsin

Wyoming [Deadline]



Register from anywhere in the U.S.

Additional Resource

Katie Holmes Goes Molly and Mo' Gossip

To beef up the profile of our virtual Hollywood correspondent Moan Quivers, we're starting a new Monday morning weekend wrap of tacky gossip and related oddities. No relation to celebrity politics whatsoever. Moani needs more to do around here.

Oh, oh, I'm so excited. I finally get my own regular weekly feature. This is such a step up from that tired pink bot. Thanks, peoples! I'll try not to let you down.

IT'S MOAN QUIVERS !! Wow. I'm getting slightly misty-eyed. Play it, Bruno!

No, wait. That was my other gig. Ah-hem, moving on.

These Aussie guys are party animals. Haimish and Andy, get it? You'd have to be really old. These two aren't. Feeling a tad kindred spirit with young Andy, if that is indeed his real name.

Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom continue to deny rumors of a break-up. Kissy-kissy. Next time don't be so public when cozying up to the grease.

Peek-a-boo Nahla Ariela Aubrey (aka Halle Berry's daughter). Oh, show her blink'n face already! That kid's gonna be driving a car before we get a good gawk at her.

Britney Spears would be meshuganeh to poo-poo her parents now. She looks better at this Generation Rescue gala than she has in years. Brit's back in the recording studio and taking a stab at a comeback. Now if she would drop that hideous paparazzo and date some normal people, I might have to stalk other places for dirt.

Daisy, sweetheart, no doubt you are the inspiration for this incredibly funny SNL skit. Dave, darling, there are better scraps in the dumpster.

I feel like I'm reading a spy novel. "The departure began at 3:50 a.m. .... minibus with darkened windows ... sudden spray of light ... very quickly organizing themselves inside ... 'Pouf!' they were gone." No wonder the French reported the birth of Brangelina's twins as a major American news event.

Katie Holmes has been channeling her inner Molly Ringwald. TomKat must be on the prowl for Hilary Swank roles.

Ooooo. Kelly Osbourne engaged? Doooo tell!

Dumkopf. If you hadn't pressured him to marry you in the first place you'd still be together. Sarah pines for George. Duh.

Speaking of pressure, if Jennifer Aniston knows what's good for her, she'll stop swooning all mooney-eyed. Dog Norman has taken an intense disliking to new beau, John Mayer, for good reason, I'm sure.

One of our favorite producer/directors Brett Ratner will be working with his Rush Hour trois star Chris Tucker again. The two plan to bring a big tell all Sinatra biopic to the big screen.

Brenda's back. Shannen Doherty will return for multiple guest spots on the new Beverly Hills 90210 spin-off, 90210. That muffled sound you hear is Aaron Spelling turning over in his grave.

So... ya think they should expand this spot to a daily?

Celebrities Make A Fashion Statement for Barack Obama

As primary season rolls to an end, Barack Obama remains poised to claim victory on the campaign trail. Obama's uplifting message and charisma have inspired hoards of Americans to register for the vote, as well as cross party lines.

Meanwhile, the racist horse's patoot selling Curious George Obama t-shirts is about to be sued. You bet people are coming out of the woodwork to protest. Silly bigot. Doesn't he realize the Obama Camp and its supporters already control the t-shirt market?

Industry insiders say a run on political merchandise is a reliable indicator of electability. In that case, the Democrats can breathe a sigh of relief. The sparkly famous crowd is up to their ears in designer Obama.

Perez Hilton [Source]

Kim Kardashian [Source]

Ryan Phillippe [Source]

Jessica Biel [Source]

Halle Berry [Source]

The Original Obama Girl [Source]

Illinois State Senate President Emil Jones [Source]

Pete Wentz [Source]

Hayden Panettiere [Source]

Joel Madden [Source]

Spike Lee [Source]

Celebrity Presidential Endorsements on Parade

Less than three weeks from the first primary election of 2008, celebrity presidential endorsements are hitting the big time. Oprah made her big splash for Obama last week after Streisand, Bill, Mrs. Rodham, and Chelsea went to bat for Hillary.

Before that, of course, we had Clooney, Halle, and Matty The Sexiest Man Alive for Barack. And before any of them hit the scene, way back over the summer, there was Taryn Southern in "Hot4Hill" and that spicy little Obama girl who got plastered all over TV. Suddenly, there's Chuck for "Huck," and Lieberman for McCain, not to mention Fred Thompson who is a celebrity in his own right. The other candidates have some Hollywood appeal as well, but apparently not enough to make the national news media stand up and applaud.

How can anyone help but notice all the Tinseltown draped over Election 2008? The parade of celebrity endorsements keeps going and going and going ad naseum like the Energizer Bunny in a bad Twilight Zone episode. Rod Serling could not have conceived of anything more terrifying, I mean, the thought of all these celebrities somehow influencing voters to cast their ballot for the celebrity's choice of presidential candidate is positively horrifying. Barbra Streisand is a wonderful entertainer with a voice like buttah, but honestly, what does she know about running America?

There's no sense in complaining. There are too many Americans who are too busy to pay attention to the presidential election and/or don't have the brains or interest to care. These are the same people who will vote for a candidate because Oprah tells them to, or because they want a minority in office, or because they like the way a candidate plays a guitar on stage. Forget about foreign policy, or ability to lead, or domestic policy....none of that actually matters.

It's gotten so bad that if a candidate hasn't gotten a celebrity endorsement of some sort by now, they might as well throw in the towel. Otherwise qualified candidates like Dodd, Biden, Tancredo, and Hunter (if you just said "WHO?" out loud, you really have not been following the election and don't deserve to cast a vote in the primary) haven't got a prayer. These men lack the necessary star power, will not pass their screen tests, and mark my words, will start dropping like flies after February 5th.

This is the state of politics in 2008. A hundred years from now, someone will look back on this moment and designate 2008 as the year politics became undone. Slowly, slowly, ever since Reagan became president, America has been drifting into a Hollywood mindset, equating the ability to lead a nation with the ability to open a movie, electing presidents the same way they become fans of movie stars.

Quiet! That twilight zoney music is playing faintly in the background. Oh, no, wait, it's the theme song from Back to the Future.

Might as well have some fun with this. Like a celebrity parade before it passes by, everyone on the other side of the baricades should stop and watch the action. Yeah, that's the ticket. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Think of each video as an overblown Macy's Day Thanksgiving Parade float.

Just be careful to avoid getting subliminally slimed.