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Important question of the day: Is it time to stop giving out Academy Awards by gender?

“It’s not like it’s upper body strength,” Gloria Steinem dryly observed of the requirements of acting.

The separate labeling of male and female performers is losing favor in the industry. Actresses often swat the distinction away by calling themselves “actors,” standing shoulder to shoulder with their male counterparts.

Usherettes are long gone from movie theater lobbies, after all. And defense officials said Wednesday the Pentagon will be lifting its ban on women in combat.

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Won’t happen. It would cut down the number of big-deal awards.

Steven Den Beste on January 25, 2013 at 10:48 PM

Who cares about Academy Awards? They are nothing but jokes, anyway. But they should be consistent with Hollywood and the left. Not only should they keep gender classifications, but they need to insert all sorts of classifications for every protected group and the laughably mythical roles that Hollywood constantly makes for them, such as women constantly beating up guys and outrunning the men. There are thousands of these hysterical situations that are in stark contrast to reality. Of course, reality is the enemy of the Left and Hollywood thinks that it actually has the power to shape society just by lying about it.

ThePrimordialOrderedPair on January 25, 2013 at 10:53 PM

Rapper Nicki Minaj, who’s considering launching an acting career, has a pragmatic take on the issue.

I immediately wondered what Nicki Minaj thought about this. I’m sure all of you did too.

Now we know. Thanks, internets!

Moesart on January 25, 2013 at 10:55 PM

Just stop giving out Academy Awards, period.

SouthernGent on January 25, 2013 at 10:56 PM

The only part actors and actresses don’t seem comfortable playing are men and women. Unless of course they’re cross dressing, in which case, they’re probably English.

kregg on January 25, 2013 at 11:02 PM

Should there be more classifications or fewer?

Should Hoffman and Williams gotten nominations in some trans-category for Tootsie and Mrs. Doubtfire?

What about Depp’s performance as Captain Jack Sparrow? As Mark Steyn says, his buckling was more swish than swash. Shouldn’t that count?

What about a posthumous award for Rock Hudson’s portrayal of straight men?

Drained Brain on January 25, 2013 at 11:22 PM

Anything that would make that show shorter is a good idea.

trigon on January 25, 2013 at 11:51 PM

I was thinking about the possibilities in an awards show for award shows a few years ago. I’m afraid the irony would be lost on all those self-important twits, though.

trigon on January 25, 2013 at 11:54 PM

How about we stop handing out the awards. Period.

Ace ODale on January 25, 2013 at 11:59 PM

Best Transgendered Thespian in a non-speaking role?

Best Supporting Bi-sexual playing a straight female in a drama based on other material?

Best Gay Male in a non-musical or semi-documentary?

Let’s expand the categories, if anything, for comedic value if nothing else.

profitsbeard on January 26, 2013 at 1:25 AM

And the political activist award that ruined the box office potential of a film goes to …

kregg on January 26, 2013 at 7:16 AM

Well, you also have to think that it may be time to unify gender but separate into “Best Performance By a Hispanic Actor in a Supporting Role”…..”Best African-American Performance in a Drama”……

Marcus on January 26, 2013 at 7:18 AM

And the political activist award that ruined the box office potential of a award film goes to …

kregg on January 26, 2013 at 7:16 AM

Count to 10 on January 26, 2013 at 8:05 AM

And the political activist award that ruined the box office potential of a award film award goes to …

kregg on January 26, 2013 at 7:16 AM

Count to 10 on January 26, 2013 at 8:05 AM

Sorry about that. Here I am trying to correct your line and I go and screw it up myself.

Count to 10 on January 26, 2013 at 8:07 AM

Time for equality to come to the Academy Awards.

Best Black Actor.
Best Latin-American Actor (Antonio Banderas opens with Lifetime Achievement Award)
Best Minority Actor Who Is Neither Black Nor Latino

The Schaef on January 26, 2013 at 9:16 AM

And the political activist award that ruined the box office potential of a award film award goes to …

kregg on January 26, 2013 at 7:16 AM

Count to 10 on January 26, 2013 at 8:05 AM
Sorry about that. Here I am trying to correct your line and I go and screw it up myself.

Count to 10 on January 26, 2013 at 8:07 AM

LOL!

It looks as though we’re both going to have to wait until after our first cup of coffee kicks in before we post.

An edit feature would be a nice upgrade to this site. Until then … warts and all.

kregg on January 26, 2013 at 10:57 AM

Tom O’Neil, editor of the Gold Derby awards prediction site, said strong forces are arrayed against change.

Awards shows routinely try to add celebrity-driven categories, not drop them, to increase a show’s “glamor and glitz” quotient, he said, as well as mask the industry’s unequal treatment of women.

“It’s criminal,” he said, bluntly.

Cite the code and evidence–NOT JUST NUMBERS–or shut the f up. What a self-righteous, pompous, delusional jackass.

Let’s give two-time Oscar winner Field the last word in this debate.

Actresses “should be in their own category because they ARE in their own category,” she said. “They face their own specific kind of difficulties surviving in this business that actors, bless their hearts, don’t face.”

Bless your heart, too. Geez. Two Oscars and she’s still whiny little spoiled Gidget.

JimC on January 28, 2013 at 3:15 PM