We're coming down to it.
We'll probably only have one more “Ask Drew” before the end of 2014, but it's been fun to see how well it's gone so far. The video team tells me there are always way more questions than we can use, and they love the breadth of stuff you guys ask about.
I'll admit that I may have stammered my way through one of my answers this week a little more than normal. I've always tried to stick to a couple of simple broad rules in what kind of material I'll publish about film: no gossip, no numbers, no Oscars. I'm sure I've broken all of those rules at some point, but for the most part, I stick to them. When I was asked what my feelings are about dealing with the art of someone who has a public scandal about their personal lives, I'm not sure I explained myself in the most elegant way possible.
If you follow me on Twitter, you know that I've had some fairly pointed things to say about Bill Cosby in recent weeks. I find that I am genuinely angry about Cosby, about the idea that the allegations which have dogged him for as long as I've lived in LA, whispered as common knowledge among comedians, finally gained traction this time around, too late for any real justice for many of the women who have tried over the years to find some redress. I can't imagine listening to his comedy albums again any time soon, if ever, and that box set of the full run of “Fat Albert” is now mocking me from one of the bookcases in my living room.
What really bothers me is that I spent part of last summer playing all the old Cosby albums for my kids, and we bonded over how hard they laughed. I remember the first time I heard “Buck Buck,” and the afternoon my kids listened to that as we were driving around LA was amazing. Now my kids are seeing Cosby's name and face everywhere, and they're asking questions about why. I'm not angry that I have to explain what's going on to my kids. That is, after all, part of the job of being a parent. Instead, I'm angry at myself because I'd heard these rumors and whispers for years, and I told myself that was less important than being able to listen to his albums with my kids. If I had believed the overwhelming noise that has followed him around for years, I wouldn't have put myself in the position of being a giant hypocrite.
You guys also wanted to discuss the “Star Wars” trailer, and that was no problem at all. I'm feeling pretty good about “Star Wars” in general right now. The more I hear about the plans they all have, both for this first film and for the spin-offs and sequels that follow, the more confident I am that there is a plan for these films, and it may well turn out to be a great plan.
Enjoy this week's Movie God, because I didn't. I sometimes wonder why I would want to play a game that causes me as much squirming discomfort as this one does, but then I remember how much you can learn about someone's real priorities when they are forced to consider what they would keep and what they would save. This week's game was especially difficult, and I can honestly say that I would have rather saved both people instead of having to erase one. Brutal.
We'll see you for another “Ask Drew” before the end of the year, and thanks for making this such a fun new part of 2014 for all us here at HitFix.