Though the media ceased to amaze me some time ago, that doesn’t mean my head doesn’t shake at times in complete dismay over the way things get spun. Criticism or an honest response from another point of view is one thing. When they completely get it wrong, that’s another. Twice now I’ve gone back and re-read both articles I wrote about Ricky Gervais and twice now I have to wonder what the Atlantic and Wrap read.
The point of both my pieces seems crystal clear, narrow in their scope, and even a little repetitive. But let me repeat it again…
Hollywood has spent the last two decades hammering and insulting Middle America, Christians, and conservatives. Worse, they do it with sucker punches that insultingly come out of nowhere in what’s advertised as apolitical entertainment. Furthermore, this is an industry that prides itself on pushing the “edgy” envelope at every opportunity right in our face and when we least expect it. Sunday night, Hollywood got a taste of their own medicine and proved they couldn’t take it. It was revealing and it was deserved. Bravo, Ricky.
That’s not a political or partisan statement. It’s more of what you might call a Ms. Manners type of approach. I never said I thought Gervais was funny and I never said anything close to what many others have about all these “puffed up, self-important stars getting what they had coming.” Undoubtedly there are many stars who are puffed up and self-important but I truthfully don’t think that alone is reason enough to spoil their evening. And I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that Gervais is a little puffed up and self-important in his own right.
My point was simply… How does it feel you sucker-punching envelope pushers? How does it feel to finally have your evening ruined with unexpected “edgy” insults? Oh, and it’s kind of dumb to run around and show the world you can’t take a joke, isn’t it?
Anyway, in a response titled Don’t Throw a Tea Party for Ricky Gervais Just Yet, here’s how Michael Lee at The Wrap responded [emphasis mine]:
John Nolte should be more careful when he picks his heroes.Gervais didn’t come out swinging against Obama. He didn’t renounce his membership in Britain’s National Health System. His targets weren’t Susan Sarandon or Alec Baldwin. …
If Nolte is so naïve to think this was some brave political statement he should try to get Ricky to speak at the Republican Convention. That ought to be a lot of fun. Nolte and his friends meanwhile do what they do.
Now, I like The Wrap. You can tell because I don’t beat them up here. They really are very good at what they do, but Lee is arguing with something I didn’t write. Where did I in any way even nudge along the idea that Gervais was making some kind of political statement or was on our side?
I’m also well aware of Gervais’ politics and while I’m a fan who recognizes his genius, I have criticized him on this site more than once for his evangelical atheism, especially his sucker-punching of Christians with a poorly thought out anti-Christian diatribe intentionally released near Christmas. But let me stop here and praise him for his equal-opportunity sucker punching.
Anyway, I would love for someone to argue my actual point, because (he said modestly) I think it’s an interesting one and anyone who’s not like Hollywood knows of what I speak. Whether it’s an awards show or a movie or a television program or a novel or a magazine… If it comes out of Hollywood, we who believe in God, don’t hate Sarah Palin, love our country and know Global Cooling Global Warming Climate Change is a lie, are constantly being caught off guard and having our experience marred or outright ruined with cheap, unexpected political and social insults.
Sunday night, Hollywood sat down for what they thought would be a relaxing, entertaining celebration of their work and instead got sucker punched with similar type insults.
Sucks don’t it?
So maybe, just maybe, Hollywood will be a little more empathetic in the future when it comes to their own unceasing litany of spell-breaking, off-story cheap shots aimed at half the customers. It’s childish, unnecessary, and certainly doesn’t elevate the product.
A brother can dream, right?
One more thing to clear up in The Atlantic:
[T]he British comedian’s act has won over one hard-to-reach constituency: Hollywood-hating conservatives. … Big Hollywood blogger John Nolte couldn’t stop raving about his performance.
I don’t hate Hollywood. I hate the media.
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