Monday, October 20, 2008

No Tears for Mr. Blackwell

The famous Mr. Blackwell, the guy who started the celebrity put-down industry with his "Worst-Dressed List," died yesterday at 86.

It's hard for anybody to die but I have little sympathy for Mr. Richard Blackwell.

Originally published in 1960 after Blackwell failed as an actor, his "Worst Dressed List" grew from a clever bit of bitchiness to a nasty annual ritual, a principle attraction of Oscar night with Joan Rivers, and finally an on-going gig for the "entertainment news" specialists like Kat Giantis.
It's an ugly business that's become a major public abuse ritual in our ugly public culture.

I wouldn't want to be remembered for starting it all.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

What's uglier and pettier?

His trashing the way celebrities dress, or you pissing on him after he's dead?

(I'm sure you won't post this comment, BTW).

Anonymous said...

I'm going to vote for Mr. Blackwell for focusing on such garbage. What a miserable fool...