On With the Show

Judy and Mickey knew how to put on a show.

Hollywood seems to have forgotten the very adage upon which it was built. "The Show MUST Go On" As movie studio executives dither and procrastinate over the release date of films and the Emmys turn into a "Let’s put them on, let’s not put them on" affair, the rest of America goes on with it’s life without the option of putting work and their day to day routine on hold.

Hollywood needs to look to Broadway for its inspiration. Within two days of this country’s greatest tragedy, Broadway was back in business, with shows running only a few city blocks from Ground Zero. Sure they dimmed their lights out of respect and many of the shows performed "God Bless America" either before or after the performance, but the show still went on. And often playing to nearly empty houses. Broadway seemed to recognize that not only did they need to keep performing to keep the money rolling in, but that they also symbolized the need for America to keep going. There is no confusion or questioning on Broadway. They have a job to do and they are doing it.

Movie stars need to learn their job. During a press interview on Sunday to promote her new movie, Riding in Cars with Boys, Drew Barrymore said, "I wanted to go home this morning and I didn't think that anyone needed to hear anything from me today. I felt so trivial and so confused and so extraordinarily lost. I've never had to do my job in a time of war and I don't know how to do my job right now and I'm learning literally in front of you and that is very humiliating and embarrassing because you just do feel trivial at a time like this."

Johnny Depp is quoted as saying, "For all of us here, it's already difficult to have to sit around and talk about movies in the midst of what's happening, especially after September 11 and, now, today."

Perhaps the new Hollywood doesn’t appreciate itself. Do they not realize that to the rest of the world, Hollywood is America? That many citizens of foreign countries will never get closer to America than when they are sitting in a movie theater? A disruption of Hollywood is a disruption of America. A continuing, unaltered Hollywood, is a continuing, unaltered America.

And what about here at home? Johnny Depp also added in that same interview, "...We've gotta keep moving forward, and movies are escapism, and if people want to go and get out of reality for a couple of hours, why not?"

Why not indeed? If movies are escapist entertainment and we needed them in times of peace, than we sure as hell need some escapism now! Stop being embarrassed Hollywood! We don't want or need dressed down, somber awards shows and stars. We want glamour, excitement, thrills, sex, beautiful people doing beautiful things. Sure, movies might not be life altering, but they are life affirming.

So come on Hollywood, get down to Uncle Joe’s barn, build the stage, and "Let’s put on a show!!!!"