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Me and Ruby Dee, Jon Stewart and Jamia Nash
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Los Angeles — I’ve been here only 24 hours and this year’s 80th annual Academy Awards is already way ahead of last year’s initial pre-Oscar moments.
On my first day in 2007, my car was nearly sideswiped by a moptopped man who I still believe could only have been questionable awards-show writer Bruce Vilanch. Later, Ryan Seacrest busily marched through a swarm of press with his busy, busy entourage.
This year, I first spotted Alan Thicke at a restaurant’s outdoor table. Or do you care?
But it gets better. The smaller, but just as busy entourage that next came into view was led by Oscar show host Jon Stewart.
Late Wednesday, I struck a gawking fan’s motherlode at the Black Enterprise magazine’s pre-Oscar party at the Beverly Hills Hilton.
Supporting actress Oscar nominee Ruby Dee sat centerstage on a comfy couch behind protective velvet ropes and between large posters of “American Gangster” in the ballroom that was converted into a kind of music-blaring nightclub. The DJ cranked up Beyonce Knowles’ “Crazy in Love” as the 83-year-old actress radiantly smiled for TV crews recording her every glance.
She and I, naturally, reminisced for a while about her last visit to Atlanta in 2006 when she brought her indie film “No. 2” to the Atlanta Film Festival.
Certainly with the Oscar nomination, I said, she must be feeling Hollywood’s love.
“It’s a heady situation,” she said. “I have a hard time getting my head around the whole idea.”
Dee also squeezed, laughed and talked with Jamia Nash, the 11-year-old Gwinnett County songstress who on Sunday’s Oscar show will sing best song nominee “Raise It Up” from “August Rush.”
They represent the youngest performer and oldest acting nominee who’ll appear on the show.
Among the many others I spotted at the Black Enterprise event: producer-director John Singleton, actor Tyrese Gibson and one-time Broadway “Dreamgirls” diva Sheryl Lee Ralph.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Categories: Alan Smithee
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By SRW
February 21, 2008 9:16 AM | Link to this
I have a feeling that this years oscars will suffer some of the lowest viewer ratings they’ve expereinced in quiet some time. With all the negative press in regards to Hollywood and the people that work there, we’re on overload…too much information. Couple that with some poor choices in nominations; 3:10 to Yuma not being nominated yet the golden boy George Clooney, whom Hollywood seems hell-bent on givng an oscar too, was nominated for a weak film and weak performance. Into the Wild, another great overlooked film. Once again, in grand fashion, Hollywood cuts off it’s nose to spite it’s face.
By ispeakthedrewth
February 22, 2008 9:17 AM | Link to this
If you can stop fawning over Ruby Dee for two seconds, I have a bit of a reality check for you. Dee’s limited screen time in American Gangster coupled with her overall performance as compared to the other nominees in the Supporting Actress category does not rate the Academy’s top honor. If she wins, it will be, infamously, for “career achievement.”
By Alan Smithee
February 22, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this
You are absolutely correct. If Ruby Dee wins it will most certainly be for career achievement. At the same time, she’s been a gifted actress for decades. She’s now in her 80s. And in my book, that means even though she appears very healthy any time anyone can spend with her is precious.