Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Sunday Morning

Political Winners on Oscar Night

Aired March 24, 2002 - 07:56   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: It's Oscar night, let's look at political stars. OK. Let's go with it.

CNN's Bruce Morton will pick it up from there.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRUCE MORTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's Oscar night and we thought you might want some advance word on who the winners will be, some of them, anyway. Best plot? That's easy. The most absorbing story of 2001 was America's response after September 11. It surprised critics in other countries. No wimpiness, no yellow ribbons. Anger this time and flags, and a government in a distant country brought smartly down.

Best actor? That would have to be George W. Bush for his role as war leader. A lot like the part Russell Crowe played in last year's big winner, "Gladiator." But critics agree Bush was more forceful. Of course, he had missiles, not just a sword.

Best supporting actor? That's harder. You could say Osama bin Laden, but we really haven't seen him enough for that to be fair. Dick Cheney would be disqualified for the same reason. You can't give the prize to a man concealed for security reasons at an undisclosed location. How about Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld? Big mojo at the TV box office these days.

Fastest disappearance from the national news stage? This man, Congressman Charlie -- no, Harry -- no, Gary -- Gary something. It's hard to remember, but, of course, that's why he's the winner.

Comedy? Tough choices this year. Washington, D.C. in a bidding war with Memphis, Tennessee for the honor, is that the right word, of hosting the Mike Tyson-Lenox Lewis fight. Which would you rather have, Graceland or all those lawyer lobbyists? Or you could give the comedy award to another fight, one that's already happened, Tonya versus Paula. It wasn't exactly a slug fest. Paula had a new nose to protect. But it was a knockout in the ratings, truly.

Silliest moment? How about a bipartisan award to Congress for huffing and puffing for months over how to cure the recession then finally passing a bill just as all the economists were saying hey, forget it. It's over. Spending money we don't have, one freshman who still's candid, grumbled, to fix something that's already ended. Most amazing? Maybe Mormon capitalist wins Republican governor's nomination in heavily Catholic and Democratic Massachusetts and is the early favorite? No. Sixteen of the U.S.' 21 b2 bombers, $2.2 billion apiece, found to have cracks? Ice shelf the size of Rhode Island disappears in a matter of days? All pretty amazing. But if you don't like those, never mind. Whoopi Goldberg will have the real skinny shortly.

I'm Bruce Morton.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com