After failing to include Farrah Fawcett in the Oscar ceremony’s In Memoriam montage, a representative for the Academy Awards responded to criticism of the decision. Bruce Davis, the man responsible for that Oscar segment since 1993, told People Magazine that, “There’s nothing you can say to people, particularly to family members, within a day or two of the show that helps at all. They tend to be surprised and hurt, and we understand that and we’re sorry for it.”
Still, Davis stands by the decision, telling People that he thought Fawcett’s extensive high-profile work in television shows like Charlie’s Angels made a tribute at the Emmy Awards a more appropriate honor.
They are as bad as Toyota. . failure to admit when one makes a mistake. Tsk, tsk.
Admit it, guys, when an actress has appeared in about a dozen movies, including a Golden Globe-nominated turn in Extremities and an Independent Spirit-nominated performance in The Apostle, she deserves to be acknowledged on the Oscar show, whether or not she also gets honored on the Emmys.
How do they explain the Michael Jackson inclusion??? Other than “The Wiz” what movie was he in?
No question, Farrah should have been included – but that doesn’t mean Michael Jackson shouldn’t have been.
Why does have it be one or the other? Somebody messed up at the Oscar decision-making commitee,
but yet the buck is again being passed to Michael.
Even in death, this man can’t get a break!
Excellent point crispy !!
The excuse was almost worst than the snub.
Exactly. Because we all knew what a HUGE movie star Michael Jackson was. Was it one or two movies he was in?
She should have been included. Anyone in the business deserves to be recognized, even if they put several photos up at the same time, collage-style. Shouldn’t be about whether you make the cut or not. Did we really need the So You Think You Can Dance promotion that took up a lot of time? It really is a cut-throat business…
It was appropriate to have Michael Jackson honored seeing that 1) His documentary was top grossing last year, 2) he was in the Wiz and 3) He is the reason we have music videos have evolved the way they are today. The Oscars does honor music such as best Original Score. Farrah’s work on Television was outstanding and i agree for that she was honored at the Emmy’s. I don’t believe that Michael had a mention. So fair is fair
Michael’s tribute was at the Grammy’s. I don’t care that MJ was honored, but if their lame excuse is applied to everyone, he shouldn’t have been included.
I’m pretty sure Jackson has been honored EVERYWHERE.
Sorry but Farrah appeared in several movies, including an Academy Award nominated one. MJ’s video was done after his death, the “Wiz” was no big deal nor was it an award winner. And what does “music videos” have to do with the Academy Awards??? That’s Grammy and MTV territory, NOT the Academy Awards.
Not to mention that awful Horror film tribute that had no place at the Academy Awards. Who ever thought of that should get fired.
Agreed. Lots of weird choices. Let’s not let 2 recipients talk for 30 seconds each, but let’s let Ben Stiller stand there for what felt like forever trying to get the Avatar “joke” to work.
So why have Michael Jackson??? His “contribution” to movies is what we’ll remember him for?
Sorry, it doesn’t hold. They should apologize and admit they messed up.
i totally agree, why MJ?
Who can forget THE WIZ? I saw 2 minutes of that once and it was awful.
MICHAEL JACKSON > Farrah Fawcett
In the world of movies, which is what the Academy is all about honoring, your little equation could not be more wrong.
So it would be more appropriate for the Emmy’s to Honor Farrah but not for the Grammy’s to honor MJ? Nice apology
People forget that Michael was nominated for an Academy Award (Best Original Song- Ben), and with all due respect for Farrah, was one of the most influential entertainers of our time.
That doesn’t mean Farrah should have been slighted but to suggest that MJ didn’t deserve to be mentioned as a way of protesting her exclusion is silly.
If the standard for inclusion in the Oscar memoriam montage is being “one of the most influential entertainers of our time,” then where was JD Salinger, who also died recently?
JD wouldn’t allow his books to be made into movies…he would have hated to be included…
Farrah had an extensive feature film resume. If an actor like Lou Jacobi can be included, in PR people can be included, and yes, Michael Jackson, whose connection to movies was slightly better than peripheral, then Farrah should also have been included. It was stupid of the Academy to overlook her.
Michael WAS NOT NOMINATED!
The writers of the song were.
Michael was NEVER nominated for the song “Ben.” The Best Original Song Oscar noms go to the writers of the song, in this case, Walter Scharf and Don Black.
The Wiz was nominated for 4 Academy Awards.
But MJ was not. I loved his music, but the guy was NOT an actor.
Michael Jackson deserved an honorable mention in the Memorial segment as much as anyone else. Everyone stop picking on Michael he had nothing to do with Farrah being omitted. The Academy screwed up and they are scapegoating MJ.
mj was not an actor and she was also she was part of the academy but i guess he was the bigger star
Damn right.
Going by that logic, they should have omitted Michael Jackson, and said a more appropriate venue for his tribute would have been the Grammys.
Well, the difference is that Michael Jackson was actually nominated for an Academy Award. Farrah never was.
Farrah was a member of the academy, MJ was just….well I am still not sure what he was….a staggering omission and the academy should be ashamed.
When was Michael Jackson nominated for an Academy Award?
That is erroneous! Michael was never nominated for an Oscar!
@Mike, MB & Pilot: MJ’s song “Ben” was nominated for Best Original Song in 1972. Although I’m not sure if he wrote it, in which case he wouldn’t have been nominated but the actual songwriters… but I ramble!
pilot is right–no Oscar nomination for Jackson!!
Mike is right. She was a member for the Academy for FOUR DECADES.
The song “Ben” was NOMINATED FOR AN ACADEMY AWARD. It would not have been nominated if it was sung by anyone else because Michael Jackson was such a superior vocalist. Who else could have sung that song as well as he did??? Answer: No One.
They used this justification, more justifiable in Farah’s case, to exclude Jonathan Brandis saying he was more known for TV which wasn’t so as he’d been a headlining child film star for a long time. Incidentally the Emmy’s didn’t include him either.
The Oscars also excluded Brad Renfro, another child actor but will they include Corey Haim next year?
Including Michael Jackson was inappropriate. Using a song nomination is just a fig leaf excuse.
First off, yes by the Academy’s logic Michael Jackson should not have been in there if they were not going to include Farah Fawcett. Then on the other side of the coin by each of your own logic, Alyah(SP?) who only made 1 movie, Queen of the Damned, should have been ommited from Memoriam and Isaac Hayes who only won 1 Oscar on 1 nomination should have been ommited from Memoriam too. Sorry but if they can get in one 1 movie or 1 Oscar nod then so can Michael Jackson. And Farah Fawcett is not the only Movie Status Actress to have been ommited. I point to you DeForest Kelly who played Bones in Star Trek. He has a movie pedigree that preceeded Star Trek and the films, and the Academy ommited him because Bruce Davis didn’t know that, that’s his excuse. And its his job to know who was in the movie industry to be honored.
Aaliyah did not do only one movie. She was also in romeo must die. And last time I checked she was also a musician who contributed to movie soundtracks which is also recognized by the academy.
And Isaac Hayes also had an acting career in movies. He wasn’t just “Chef” on “South Park,” he also starred or co-starred in several films in the 70′s and 80′s.
To @I-Man – Movie Soundtracks are not recognized by the academy. Only scores and original songs.
So I guess that is their defense for omitting Bea Arthur as well.
Bea Arthur did even less film work than Farrah. She worked a great deal on the stage and on TV, but had few movie credits.
So Farrah Fawcett’s at least 10 big screen movies and countless TV movies apparently don’t count compared to Michael’s Jackson’s 1, possibly 2, big screen movie roles, one of those being the Wiz? I don’t exactly see how the math works…
Too be fair, he also created that awesome song from Oscar-bait “Free Willy” and the tune to blockbuster and critical darling “Ben.”
Ben was nominated for Best Original Song in 1973. Perhaps that was the logic behind it. Still doesn’t seem right.
But he didn’t write “Ben” – he performed it and Oscar goes to the songwriter. But I think they both should have been included since they both did some movie work and were such huge stars. Bea Arthur as well, since the extra 15 seconds wouldn’t have been a huge burden.
Thriller, Bad and Ghost music videos are actually short films. They must have factored that into the equation. Plus Michael’s contribution to movie soundtracks. It is extremely narrow-minded to think of this only in terms of feature film acting.
Good god you people are so stupid – they included MJ because of his fame and left out Farrah for her lack of fame (and probably for that NASTY 2nd Playboy spread). It’s over and done with – move on!
How is that helpful?
The Wiz was nominated for 4 academy awards
they have plenty of time for all those excrutiatingly-long lame dance numbers but no time for farrah….what a-holes
Plus they had plenty of time for a John Hughes tribute starring some rehab veterans.
Nothing wrong with a Hughes tribute, he was a filmmaker, and yeah, the actors are looking mighty ripe. Made me feel old.
Saturn 3 is the greatest science fiction movie ever!
No, but I like it.
Farrah was bigger than any one entertainment genre. She was an icon whose status is as indelible as Marilyn Monroe’s. Her career crossed many platforms – TV, movies, theater, fashion, art, etc. To catagorize her in one specific medium does not do justice to her many contributions to the entertainment industry or her legacy. Sorry, but Bruce Davis got it wrong, wrong, wrong. His decision to exclude Farrah (as well as Bea Arthur)from the Oscar memorial tribute is an embarrassment to the The Motion Picture Academy. Davis should be ashamed of himself and issue an apology to her family and fans, instead of continually defending his bad judgement for her omission – especially in light of his decision to include Michael Jackson!
Yes!
Um, no. They made the right decision.
Um…your an idiot
I’ll second that
I’ll second that Mark’s an idiot
She should have been put on for Saturn 3 beacuse you got to see her boobies.
well that comment certainly justify’s your name….
I think they left her off because she showed her boobies (and her peekachoo) in Playboy.
@wizard62
“Farrah was bigger than any one entertainment genre. She was an icon whose status is as indelible as Marilyn Monroe’s. Her career crossed many platforms – TV, movies, theater, fashion, art, etc. To catagorize her in one specific medium does not do justice to her many contributions to the entertainment industry or her legacy.”
That goes for Michael Jackson as well and unlike farrah who was an American Icon Mj was an GLOBAL ICON. He had a major impact in every aspect of entertainment.
But I agree farrah should have been mentioned.But Why are the comments about Farrah Fawcett versus Michael Jackson being in the memorial when there were 29 other people recognized they weren’t all actors.
Agreed…I only used Michael Jackson as an example. If he was included Farrah should have been as well. Both deserved to have been there.
I don’t think people feel MJ should be taken out, but their excuse was that Farrah and Bea were known mostly for TV. Well, MJ was known mostly for music and you included him, so why not include the other two as well. I think people are just illustrating that it was a poor excuse.
Farrah was as much as global icon in the late 70s as Michael Jackson was in the 80s. Sorry. You have a very short-term memory.
Farrah’s movie career goes from memorable roles pre-Charlie’s Angels (_Logan’s Run_, for example), to 80s travesties (_Saturn 3_ and _Cannonball Run_), to 90s/00s critical acceptance (_The Apostle_, _Dr T and the Women_). On top of that, she was the face of the 70s, even used to great effect in _Saturday Night Fever_. She should have been included.
Jackson had a major impact in music. Period. He was not a literary giant, he contributed nothing to the American theater, and he certainly contributed nothing of substance to the history of cinema other than a good performance is a lousy movie (“The Wiz”). I know Jackson’s got his avid suppoters and zealous fans, but let’s not credit him with the discovery of fire or walking (or “moonwalking”) on water, alright?
Brett, I have agree.
I love MJ’s music, but God, MJ has some super crazy fans! The insane fans outnumber the sane ones.
I was not a huge Farrah fan but she overcame critical and sometimes public dismissal as a lightweight to deliver some solid, memorable work in films like Extremities, Logan’s Run, The Apostle, and The Burning Bed. Why quibble that some of it was for TV? It seems petty and cheap. And the Oscars would have been diminished in no way or any lengthier to include her lifetime of contribution to the medium. It’s almost indefensibly tacky that they excluded her deliberately, as if to court controversy.
Plus Dr. T & the Women
Quibble? Because if it was on TV, it’s recognized by the EMMYS. This is show BUSINESS and most of the posters here are too emotional to stop and actually think about it. If she was indeed this brilliant film actress you all are proclaiming her to be why haven’t Robert Duvall, Richard Gere or the very respected Alfre Woodard (her costar in Extremeties) said anything yet?
She wasn’t a movie star… the academy awards are FOR MOVIES… she was a television star, plain and simple… if you were ask the average person on the street, they could not name for you one Farrah Fawcett film… she was a tv star.
So jackson is a movie star now….
Pervert, movie star, drug addict – perfect for the Oscars, after all.
happydog1960 -
With the descriptors you gave, Robert Downey Jr. and Roman Polanski fit in quite well, I’m sure.
Yeah, he made This Is It, right?
Erin, did you not see The Apostle? Or Extremities? (which she won a Golden Globe for). Farrah was much more than just a TV Star. The average person on the street wouldn’t know half the people included in the montage, so that has no relevance at all. You don’t know what you’re talking about.
It’s pretty clear that the Academy made a mistake and should just apologize. Days of comments could be ended by one “We made a mistake by ommitting Farrah from the montage and apologize to her fans, friends and family.”
Name a movie in which Lou Jacobi appeared. He died last year, he got a spot in the “In Memoriam” segment. Name me ONE movie without going to imdb.com or some other reference.
She was a Super-Star and everybody knows it. This is the second time MJ eclysped attention that she deserved. If you looked in basements and attics all over the world you might find a few old recordings of “Ben,” but you will find thousands of copies of the famous Farrah pin-up poster in the red bathing suit. You know it’s true.
Logan’s Run
The Cannonball Run
That’s enough of a movie star to me!
Army Archerd is a movie star? May the guy rest in peace but his inclusion shoots Bruce Davis’s excuse to pieces.
Army Acherd was an important entertainment journalist (lengthy career at VARIETY) who actually appeared on multiple Oscar broadcasts. The montage is NOT just for actors.
Thanks Kiki for helping make my point. The excuse by the Academy and Bruce Davis is lame. They made room for Army, they could have done the same for Farrah.
SHE APPEARED IN SEVERAL MOVIES!! Have you not been reading any of these posts????? She belonged up there way before Jackson should have been – he was NOT an actor.
What’s also sad about it is how her death is still being overshadowed. I don’t mean it like an event, but after fighting cancer for years, when she finally lost her battle, and you would expect comments and memorials like they gave Patrick Swayze, she was kind of pushed aside by Jackson dying on the same day. I was at work, and their rarely say anything over the speaker, but they made an announcement that Michael Jackson had died. It was the next day before I found out Farrah had died. Now it doesn’t matter to either one of them now, but I don’t see how, when they had a discussion over who was to be included, they could keep Jackson but omit Farrah. You could make the argument that Jackson would be better suited for the emmys as well, considering his career rise on American bandstand, his videos on MTV, and that show where he wowed the audiene doing Billie Jean(don’t remember what that was for, an awards show? a tribute?). What about someone like James Garner? Now when he goes, do you think he won’t be included on the Oscars? On the basis of the many fine films he was in, of course he should be included. But you could make a case that he was a bigger star on tv. I just think the whole thing is silly. Remember a year or so ago, Brad Renfro died and their excuse was that they couldn’t include everyone.
Well that’s too bad because he was an International Pop Icon. I would almost compare his death to Princess Diana’s when she died.
Oh yes, Mr. Davis, it’s more appropriate to honor Farrah at the Emmys despite her many films because she’s best known as a television actress. And you honored Michael Jackson because he’s best known as a movie star? Hypocrite! Just have the guts to say you FORGOT her.
The academy does not only represent actors, stupid. They represent all aspect of the movie industry and music is an important aspect of film. There is a category for music at the Academy Awards. There is no TV award. That’s the difference. MJ performed at oscars when he was a child for Ben and contributed to ET and Free Willy soundtracks. He did moonwalker, this is it, and the wiz. Some of his legendary music videos are actually short films like Thriller. I can’t name one Farrah fawcett movie to save my life.
Anna why the name calling, are you a child or just a simpleton? Just because you can’t name a movie FF was in means ZILCH.
To Mike
It means her contribution to the movie industry is not as significant as Michael Jackson’s. Think about that before you stupidly state MJ shouldn’t be recognized because he is not a movie star.
No, it means that you, Anna, know more about Michael Jackson than you do about Farrah Fawcett. That’s pretty much ALL it proves. “This Is It” was a concert film dredged together from rehearsal tapes; are we REALLY going to call that a cinematic masterpiece? You probably couldn’t name any movies for several of the people who were listed in the memorial section without resorting to a reference guide, but does that mean that they should have been excluded. (“Oh, I’ve never heard of Jennifer Jones or Karl Malden – oh wait, wasn’t Karl Malden that guy on TV’s “The Streets of San Francisco” and those American Express commercials? He was a TV guy – he shouldn’t have been remembered at the Oscars!”) Perhaps it’s better to think before you speak (or, in this case, write).
@Anna Hey! Maybe you should take a pill? NO ONE is saying Michael Jackson shouldn’t be recognized, we are just saying Farrah should ALSO have been recognized. You are very young, aren’t you, Anna?
You’re calling someone stupid, yet you are ignorant of Farrah movie. You’re not even smart enough to imdb her before making a comment.
I can name a Farrah Fawcett movie, she was on the poster in John Travolta’s room in the movie “Saturday Night Fever” that was her best role. A 2 dimensional poster hanging on a horny guy’s wall….
I want Sundance to NAME her many films! Folks, 98% of Farrah’s work was on television. It’s true. I personally had a walk on in the original Hairspray. I don’t expect the Academy to flash my picture up there!
Michael Jackson contributed FAR more to the world of movies than Farrah. He was in them, created them, did music for them. There is no comparison. Quit bitching and just think about it for a minute, people. Seriously.
Yeah, Michael Jackson made short films and he starred in “The Wiz” a movie actually nominated for 4 Academy Awards. Farrah Fawcett’s best role was being on John Travolta’s wall in “Saturday Night Fever” on a poster.