This is Late But...The Oscars

So the Oscars were a while back, and I wanted to say something, but I didn't. But now I am.

The first thing you notice when you watched this year's Oscar ceremony is that a bunch of celebrities standing  on a podium while Doogie Howser sang for us. Ok, so I've heard about how we elevate the status of movie stars and all that, but I've never seen them take it so literally.

I think science-y people are supposed to hate on the Oscars because it spends more money and more people care about how well somebody can play make-believe for two hours. Well, I can't hate on it. I mean, I can, but I actually can't be mad at people for loving celebrities. I mean, they're pretty, they're recognizable, and they sometimes actually make good speeches.

Who knows what Willard Boyle looks like? or Elinor Ostrom? No? Probably not. (By the way, they aren't nearly as attractive as Anna Kendrick or Brad Pitt). And what did they do? Something important, but we didn't actually see it.

As someone who has some experience in both areas, I would have to say that actors have a harder job. Any idiot can do science, but to be an excellent actor, that deserves a trophy. To be believeable and realistic and yet at the same time prototypical and idealistic, to actually cause a response in every person who watches you, that's something special.