I didn't watch the Oscars

I don't watch too many recent movies, largely because I'm not into the comic book stuff and there's not a whole lot showing at the local sixtyplex that I'm interested. This was the case even before the previous operator (Regal) shut down the local theater (NCG eventually reopened it) and then the pandemic hit. (Apparently the theater is back open; I didn't check to see if they require masks and all that other crap.)

Anyways, I mention that mostly to say that I've seen very few of the movies that have been nominated for Oscars over the past few years. I've got Minari on my DVR, but because I usually space out my foreign film watching and did a post on another Korean film back in February, I probably won't get to it for a little while yet. So I'm not particularly interested in the actual ceremonies for the Oscars, especially when you add in the bloat, and havent watched one in ages.

This of course, means that I missed the little contretemps that took place. Granted, it wouldn't be the first Hollywood incident:

Now, if I really wanted to be uncharitable, I'd think about how Smith wound up winning the Oscar for playing Richard Williams, and post the video of the time Serena threatened to shove a ball down a line judge's throat for calling a foot fault on her. But instead, as I think about what prompted Smith to go up on stage and smack Chris Rock, I find myself thinking about the reaction being dependent on whether you're the sort of person who can make light of oneself in the face of an unflattering event such as an illness, or worse, something self-inflicted. Some people can, such as Richard Pryor's memorable monologue at the end of Live on the Sunset Strip:

Other people can't, and maybe Jada Pinkett is the sort of person uncomfortable joking about her alopecia. I would, however, suggest that it's the sort of thing better handled in private between Smith and Rock, and not on camera like that. (Unless, of course, it was staged, as I've heard some people suggest.) I thought the joke was funny, but then, I wasn't the subject of the joke.