Posted on 01/18/2003 2:03:39 PM PST by TLBSHOW
Hollywood star stands up for decency
Patricia Heaton walks out of music awards because of lewd tone
For "Everybody Loves Raymond" star Patricia Heaton, the last straw came when a performer at the 30th annual American Music Awards made graphic references to three-way sex. That, and, perhaps, Sharon Osbourne's joke about what she called Mariah Carey's "fake" endowments.
Patricia Heaton
Though the actress was at the awards show to introduce a pre-recorded retrospective of executive producer Dick Clark's annual music show, enough was enough. She walked out of the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, disgusted by what she called "an onslaught of lewd jokes and off-color remarks."
A two-time Emmy winner for her portrayal of Debra Barone on "Everybody Loves Raymond," the sitcom star had grown increasingly upset with the raw and raunchy comments made by presenters, performers and the hosts for last Monday's show the infamous Osbournes.
"I'm no prude, but this was such a vulgar and disgusting show," Heaton told the Cleveland Plain-Dealer.
Heaton marches to the beat of her own drummer in an industry not known for such politically incorrect thinking. She even boasts Rush Limbaugh among her personal friends.
"I arrived a little late and was seated in the audience," Heaton said. "I was going to present what's called a video package a look at 30 years of the American Music Awards. Well, what was passing for humor basically ranged from stupid to vulgar, and I just thought, 'I'm not going to be part of this.' So I walked out and said, 'Get me my car. I'm leaving.'"
Even the show-business industry publications and reporters covering the event noted the Osbournes and other performers kept the ABC network censors working overtime. Print advertisements for the live awards event showed a roaring Ozzy Osbourne saying, "I'll be bleeped!"
"The entire evening became about bleeping," said Heaton. "It was as if they were trying to become more like the MTV awards. But it's one thing if this kind of stuff is on MTV at 10 at night. It's quite another if it's on ABC at 8 o'clock. I don't know what Dick Clark was thinking."
She continued: "I really didn't know what I was getting into. I mean, there was Ryan Seacrest pulling open his co-presenter's shirt, then noticing there was a 12-year-old girl in the front row. And he says, 'Don't worry, honey, you'll have a pair of these soon.' And everybody went crazy. It felt like I was in the Roman Colosseum. As far as I'm concerned, it was an affront to anyone with a shred of dignity, self-respect and intelligence."
Will Heaton take heat in Hollywood for her decision? She's not expecting it.
"And if there is," she said, "who cares? When I was waiting for my car, one of the security people came up to me and said, 'I just want you to know how much I admire what you're doing.' So I wasn't the only one who felt this way. The camera coordinator for the awards was our camera coordinator from 'Raymond.' And when I walked on the set the next day, he started applauding."
|
|
|
Donate Here By Secure Server
FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794
|
It is in the breaking news sidebar! |
Good thing Heaton doesn't read FR. A distate for raunchy comments is routinely castigated here.
I wouldn't know as I gave television up a few years ago and now only watch it very infrequently.
Since the export of the products of Hollywood now constitute the majority of US dollar-export-product, she poses a threat to us economic interest.
Arrest her.
Convict her, and sentance her to 48 hours alone with Chinese agent X42 (Bill Clinton).
Any American who produces a useful, tangible product in the US that is not tainted by sex / perversion / warfare / diminution of individual liberty or personal freedom or PRIVACY (the most vile of human concepts) - is a traitor against the 'WAR-ON-WHATEVER-WE-WANT' - and should therefore be eliminated from (so-called) civilized society.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.