Queen Latifah, host of last night's 35th annual People's Choice Awards ceremony on CBS, kicked things off by telling the audience "This past year we have all seen what the power of the people can do...I have one important question for these good people up front. And just so you know, the correct answer tonight is yes, we can! Say it with me now everybody!"
It's awards season, when Hollywood pats itself on the back while championing liberal causes under the guise of acceptance speeches, so Latifah's enthusiasm for president-elect Barack Obama's campaign phrase shouldn't come as much of a surprise. In light of the fact that none of the winners or even the nominees contained overtly political themes, other celebrities, including Ellen DeGeneres who has been outspoken in her opposition to California's Proposition 8, managed to avoid mentioning politics and controversial issues.
But Latifah and British actor Hugh Laurie just couldn't help themselves.
Latifah went on in her introduction to ask comedians Adam Sandler and Robin Williams the question "Can we make the people laugh?" to which they replied, "Yes we can!" She also asked Laurie and his fellow "House" cast members "Can we heal the people?... "Man, that sounds so good."
Politics' only other intrusion came roughly midway through the ceremony when Laurie accepted his Favorite Male TV Star award by saying:
I love people. Really, I am in favor of them. It's a particular honor to be the people's choice, especially because the people have been choosing pretty well recently. You seem to be in a good choosing space. I don't know who won this award eight years ago, but that was double-edged I think. I would like to thank all of the people who voted for me. To the people who didn't vote for me, I want to say I will be your male actor in a TV drama too. Thank you very much.
The People's Choice Awards are a reflection of how people like to be entertained as the nominees and the winners are chosen by regular people. Given the absence of overly controversial material and political propaganda from the choices, it's clear that people want to be entertained and not indoctrinated.
"The Dark Knight" won five awards, including Favorite Movie and Favorite Cast. Actresses Reese Witherspoon, Kate Hudson, Angelina Jolie, singer Carrie Underwood, and actors Brad Pitt and Will Smith were among the other winners.
—Colleen Raezler is a research assistant at the Culture and Media Institute
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Who said Ebonics was dead?
January 8, 2009 - 15:27 ET by SickofLibsWho said Ebonics was dead?
Make me gag! Say it with
January 8, 2009 - 15:27 ET by MichelleCMake me gag! Say it with me now everybody!
Republicans believe every day is the 4th of July. Democrats believe every day is April 15th ~ Ronald Reagan
"I'm gonna get
January 8, 2009 - 17:44 ET by kg"I'm gonna get sick"
"Forget change, I want improvement!"
There will come a day when
January 8, 2009 - 15:34 ET by KillgraveThere will come a day when these liberals won't be able to run these victory laps, pat themselves on the back, and give each other high-fives. They're going to have to do this thing called "running the country".
And won't it be funny when they discover that unicorns and rainbows don't pay the bills?
Unfortunately, we're in
January 8, 2009 - 16:27 ET by moderncommentaries83Unfortunately, we're in this together. As amusing as it would be to see Obama melt in crisis and fall flat on his inexperienced face, we'd all suffer for it - not just the liberals.
It's sad how they have no sense of decorum or decency. There's a time and place for politics; an awards show (or a concert, or a play, or a musical) isn't the place to do some grandstanding.
It's annoying. What were the ratings for the PCAs? What about the Oscars or Grammys?
Aut viam inveniam aut faciam
Embarrassingly
January 8, 2009 - 15:35 ET by bigtimerEmbarrassingly Pathetic.
Pass the barf-bags around.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
You knew it was coming
January 8, 2009 - 15:36 ET by nkviking75The promos for the PCA on CBS had featured the phrase as well, so you knew it was coming.
Once again, we're subjected to a European (Laurie) giving his blessing to our country's liberal actions. YECHH!
Welcome to the era of unity, you racist!
Oh man, I missed the People's Choice Awards!
January 8, 2009 - 15:43 ET by R D HelmCrap, that means I missed out on the entertainment choices of a bunch of obese couch-potatoes, 99.99% of which probably voted for PEBO.
And who the hell is Hugh Laurie, and why should I give a rat's left testicle what he thinks about anything?
-Dave
“Them that’s going get on the wagon. Them that ain’t get out of the way.” -Because enough is enough.
Dave not all Obese Couch
January 8, 2009 - 16:07 ET by dark_dsDave not all Obese Couch Potatoes voted for Lord Barry .. you will have to pry my donut out of cold dead fat hand ;)
dumb bombs for dumb people
dark,
January 8, 2009 - 16:12 ET by R D HelmLOL-I was including us in the 0.01% that didn't vote for PEBO.
-Dave
“Them that’s going get on the wagon. Them that ain’t get out of the way.” -Because enough is enough.
Hugh Laurie???/ Don't you
January 8, 2009 - 17:00 ET by motherbeltHugh Laurie???/ Don't you know, he's the actor who plays Dr. House on TV!!!
So that makes him qualified to talk about "healing." You know, like Sissy Spacek (?) got to testify before Congress about farming, because she played a farmer's wife in a movie!!
..let's not forget Meryl
January 8, 2009 - 17:07 ET by bigtimer..let's not forget Meryl Streep and apples.
...good ol' Alar.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
mb,
January 8, 2009 - 17:15 ET by R D HelmLOL-Well, I guess that means that I am just not "hip" enough.
-Dave
“Them that’s going get on the wagon. Them that ain’t get out of the way.” -Because enough is enough.
Another know-it-all Brit
January 8, 2009 - 16:31 ET by Tom PaineI was dialing through the channels just in time to catch Hugh Laurie’s acceptance speech. I used to enjoy watching his performance on House until he chose to infect me with his politics. Why are all the Brits so concerned with who our president is? Why do we have to accept all of this political indoctrination from these so-called awards shows? Will all of this sycophantic fawning only become worse over the next 4 years?
Yes-it-will
Donk
January 8, 2009 - 16:35 ET by jdubyaHi Everyone,
I really do not watch TV programs anymore unless it is old war documentaries showing things blowing up or some science buzz on astrophysics, so I guess I am worse than flyover country.
Anyways, listening to this dribble about this service based industry (Hollywood; their service is beginning to suck), I was wondering, was there some sort of crabmeat stuffed effigy of Obama that the Queen was worshiping?
Just wondering as Tivo is full of military channel goodies.
Look it, I am sorry. I
January 8, 2009 - 16:46 ET by jdhawkLook it, I am sorry. I missed the People's Choice awards last night. I mean, I can't be everywhere at once. And, I do have my priorities.
At the same time that the awards were on, another channel had an hour long advert on the Obama Coin! Yes, I know you thought that they stopped selling it, but you are just wrong. It was on last night!!! And, let me tell you, that business about limiting the number of coin sets per family . . . Well, I was able to talk the telemarketer on the phone into . . . I am sorry, I promised not to say . . .
Anyway, that is why I didn't see the awards.
Nevertheless, I just want to give a shout out to all those that did. And, of course, say to you, Yes, we can!!!
<The above moment in TV history brought to by those people that make the barg bags that we so love that are in those little pouches in seat backs on airplanes>
Excuse, me. I'll be right back . . . Wow, I feel much better now. Those little bags sure come in handy . . .
jdh... I'm with you, as I
January 8, 2009 - 17:00 ET by bigtimerjdh...
I'm with you, as I noted above...barf-bag time indeed.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
Umm, Queen, apparently you
January 8, 2009 - 23:16 ET by SvenUmm, Queen, apparently you haven't been listening to The One lately!
No we can't!
With Adam Sandler And Kid Rock At That?
January 8, 2009 - 23:30 ET by The7SticksCorrect me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Kid Rock supporting John McCain as recently as Election Day? I heard he played a concert for McCain or something like that. And Adam Sandler donated money to Rudy Guliani's campaign. How did the People's Choice Awards manage to get Adam Sandler and Kid Rock to say "Yes We Can!"? I mean, Adam Sandler is one thing, but KID freakin' ROCK?
We have truly leapt through the looking glass here, people.
Conservatives are capable of
January 8, 2009 - 23:39 ET by choselife3xConservatives are capable of 'rising above' and being polite. I believe they were simply refraining from rudeness.
In order to be pro-choice, one must first be born. Ah, the irony.
You know something 7S...I
January 8, 2009 - 23:40 ET by bigtimerYou know something 7S...I was wondering the same exact thing, I was thinking maybe I had these two that you gave examples for mixed up with somebody else, as I don't keep all that close attention to La-La-Land and the leftist vs right....glad you posted this, so I wonder too...must not have had to give them more than a doggie-bag with super-duper goodies for those three words.
"America isn't the problem...America is the solution." ~ Rush Limbaugh
I forget...
January 9, 2009 - 00:51 ET by RedboneProI forget - which country is she queen of again?
Queen Latifah
January 10, 2009 - 01:27 ET by ToddonCapeCodIs apparently Queen of Idiotland.
I wish I didn't know about Hugh Laurie!
I don't want to hate "House"!!