Do you find the Academy Awards a bit humdrum, as far as 3-and-a-half-hour shows go? Did you think that the Golden Globes was the "fun" awards show?
Then you haven't seen the Independent Spirit Awards. It's live at 4 p.m. Saturday on IFC Channel, digital cable channel 207, lasting a mere two hours or so and being repeated that night and on Sunday.
This bastion of bawdy behavior and cable-worthy laughs is can't-miss TV for the arthouse crowd and lovers of low-budget cinema.
There will still be plenty of big-name stars who make independent films, and plenty of fashion of the trendy-casual sort. For example, "Rachel Getting Married" leads the nominees for this event, so see what Anne Hathaway is wearing when she's not wearing a bright ball gown and decked out in diamonds.
The past couple of years have had their own special joys (2007 host Sarah Silverman, so smutty and so hilarious), but my favorite moments are when they trot out various performers for tribute songs to the five nominated best feature films.
These are of the Mad magazine variety, something wacky playing off of that movie's theme, done to the tune of some song we all know. You should hear Minnie Driver do "Pan's Labyrinth" to Melanie's "I've Got a Brand New Key." It's on Youtube.
Example: "Little Miss Sunshine," as done by Taylor Dayne a couple of years ago to the tune of "We Are Family":
"Screwed-up family, that's what mine has turned out to be....screwed-up family, such dysfunctionality...." and you get the picture. Or the sound.
Give this awards show a try, and tell me you didn't giggle yourself silly a couple of times.
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