Monday, Louisville, Kentucky

The Screen Actors Guild Award awards was held in Hollywood last night. It was enjoyable as these events always are, but there is something pretentiously creepy about the repeated assertion that we are “actors.” I am reminded of the Jon Lovitt sketch on Saturday Night Live with John Lithgow where they played affected classical “ACTORS!!” Yes, we know, you are “ACTING!!”

Throughout the ceremony, such emphasis is placed on their career identity that it gets lost that they are…let’s face it…you know…like…actors. Actors, for heaven’s sake! the aura of the evening overplays the significance of the jobs that, while surely a curiosity, reflects the absurd inflation of the status of show business in comparison to other, far more significant professions contributing more fundamentally to the good of society. Yes I know that art has a critical place in social health. But it’s not on the same plane as the work of a scientist seeking a cure for cancer or a soldier in combat in the Middle East.

A recent survey of six-year-old children revealed that when asked what they wanted to be when they grow up, the vast majority answered entertainment stars! Huh!? Let’s get some perspective here!The Screen Actors Guild motto from its inception has been, “He who best serves, serves others.” Seems to me that the stain of self involvement has crept into the culture and ethos of the membership. Does anyone really believe that the millionaire actors who get featured on the awards shows are truly motivated by service to others? Ah, sorry, I’m a skeptic.

Now of course there are many actors who have preserved an awareness of the uniqueness of their jobs. It was delightful to hear some of the speeches of the winning actors who clarified that they had spent many years - often over a decade as non-working actors. Charles Durning’s story was exceptional, conveying his humility and gratitude earning him the praise of the admiring audience. It was too bad they chose knucklehead Burt Reynolds (who appeared to be drunk!) to introduce him.

A Lesson From Standup Comedy

I believe actors can take a lesson from standup comedy. I can attest to the career and ego purity of the comedy culture. Aside from the irony that the content of night club comedy is anything BUT pure, the self identity of professional comics indeed is without real pretension. That’s because comics face real audiences in unfiltered settings. If you are funny, they laugh; if you are not funny, you bomb. If you are engaging, you get immediate appreciation; if you are really obnoxious (and I don’t mean an act that is satirizing obnoxiousness) you will be derided right then and there. It’s brutal; it’s an amazing experience.

So predictably, with some exceptions, of course, comics have less of the self conscious awareness that so many actors express. The performance environment of standup is unprotected compared to the set of a film or television show. Granted these situations have their pressures. But there is clearly more cushion of support around the actual work of an actor. So they have the luxury of their fragile ego and sensitivity.

It shows.