Why the Hef is my hero

Over the weekend I had the privilege of watching a documentary on the Hef's life titled: Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist and Rebel. This film goes far beyond portraying Hugh as simply the founder of Playboy, the masturbatory companion of choice for countless men. It also delves into the aspects of Hefner's life that may be lesser known such as his commitment to equal rights and progressive politics.

Not only is Hef the most enviable heterosexual male around, he is a maverick, not fearing to tread where others dared not. Back in the '50s, he hosted a television show that included white, black and Jewish performers alike, at a time when this was unheard of or at the very least, sneered at with derision. 

A few token "feminists" were included in the documentary, criticizing Hugh for portraying females as merely sexual objects. To which he replied, and I'm paraphrasing from memory: "They are sexual objects. This ensures the propagation of the species. But they are also so much more." He championed women's reproductive rights and the repealing of abortion laws, and brought to the forefront the idea that it's ok for women to like sex, and that "nice girls" like it too.

The Hef has been criticized time and again for his "questionable" morality. The documentary aptly portrays a man who is nothing but honest about his intentions, has never led any of his female companions astray with false expectations and lays his cards on the table. Even during his eight-year marriage to Kimberly Conrad, he remained faithful to her. If anything, Hugh Hefner is a very moral man. Much more so than the hypocritical Christian fanatics who are among his loudest critics.

While Ronald Reagan was selling out his fellow artists to the FBI during the McCarthyan Inquisition of the '40s and '50s, Hugh Hefner chose not to judge his neighbours based on political views but rather accepted differing ideas with an open mind. The Hef was also involved in freeing a man from a 15-year jail sentence for having received a blow job from another man, following a letter sent by the inmate to Playboy magazine describing his situation.

I already admired the Hef but after watching this documentary, my respect for him has only deepened. He is an intelligent, caring, courageous, generous man. Hugh Hefner is who he says he is, and his actions are not discordant with his words. He has done far more to advance black, gay and women's rights than he is given credit for, especially during periods of American history when it was incredibly risky to do so.

Hugh is indeed a rebel, but with a cause. He asked a simple question in his youth, when still following in his elders' footsteps, before founding Playboy: "Is this all there is?" It was his yearning for more, his desire to go beyond what was perceived as possible that indelibly changed the American cultural landscape forever. 

It's Hef to the rescue!

Leave it to Hef to come to the rescue of a Hollywood landmark. This impressed me. Actually, Hugh Hefner has always impressed me. He is one of very few who blazed his own trail, and made his own unique impression on our collective consciousness. 

In an era of deception, with Tiger Woods and Jesse James being the latest offenders, there is no doubt as to who the Hef is. He makes no apologies. He also does not deceive. 

In the wake of the Jesse James scandal, Hugh weighed in, stating that yes indeed, what Jesse James did was wrong. This coming from Hugh Hefner, you ask? The Godfather of the Playboy legacy? As Hugh put it: Jesse done wrong because he lied and deliberately deceived Sandra. In Hugh's case, a woman knows what she's getting into. He's not monogamous, and he says so. There is no deception. Go Hef.

And now he's plunked down $900,000 to save a piece of land containing a historic landmark. This dude is the shit. He's also looking pretty fab at 84 which means he's doing something right. 

Despite his many detractors, Hugh Hefner is a visionary, one who was bold enough to think outside the box in a time when conformity was fed to a post-war population aching for some sense of security. Playboy is not only a household name but an American legacy, one that has left an indelible mark on mass culture. 

Thanks Hef. Lala land wouldn't be the same without it.

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Celebs stepping up to help Haiti

There are so few class acts in the celebesphere that I feel compelled to underline their good deeds when the occasion presents itself. 

Sandra Bullock has donated $1 million to Haiti relief, following the lead of George Clooney and Brangelina. That is some serious dough. These are examples of celebs stepping up to the plate when called to do so by devastating events. They have the means and influence to make a difference and some use these wisely. 

I've always liked Sandra Bullock. She's a gifted comédienne and strikes me as a person with integrity which is so rare in show business. She's also a bona fide celebrity, not one of those fame whoring faux celebs who are too numerous to count.

George Clooney and Wyclef Jean are also organizing a telethon to air this Friday evening at 8 pm across multiple networks to collect funds for several non-profit aid agencies on the ground in Haiti. They've gathered a few of their famous friends to help out.

Events such as the Haiti earthquake certainly put things in perspective. It's a reminder that the world does not revolve around celebrities and their latest movie/TV show/conquest/divorce/plastic surgery, etc..., and that other people on this planet are merely surviving or doing critical work toward the betterment of humanity with no publicist to advertise them, no makeup artist to beautify them, no stylist to dress them and no agent to represent them. 

It also calls into question our values as a society. We readily acquiesce to entertainers and athletes being paid ludicrous amounts of money while doctors, teachers, firefighters, police officers, aid workers, etc... are paid a pittance. 

It's a good thing loaded celebs are stepping up. Frankly, we've given them that responsibility. They're the ones with the serious coin, and that's our doing. 

For my Canadian readers, if you'd like to contribute to the aid effort for Haiti, the following organizations have been recommended by the Department of Foreign Affairs:

Canadian Red Cross www.redcross.ca

The Humanitarian Coalition – www.thehumanitariancoalition.ca

Unicef Canada www.unicef.ca

Doctors Without Borders https://msf.donorportal.ca

Baldwin bestows blessing upon NYU

My first blogging milestone: this is my 50th post!Woohoo!

I do a lot of bitching in this blog so when something good happens on the celebrity front, I feel I must balance out the bitch with benevolence. I adore Alec Baldwin. But I adore him even more after this. Alec has donated $1 million dollars to establish a drama scholarship at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. How cool is that? 

I've seen Alec in many movies but I really started to appreciate the full breadth of his talents when I watched him, on numerous occasions, host Saturday Night Live. I had no idea he was so comedically gifted. 

Then I saw him interviewed on Inside the Actor's Studio with James Lipton. Alec was one of the most entertaining guests that show has ever had. The way he was able to completely transform himself in a matter of seconds into any character, without inhibition, was astounding. Again, I was dumbfounded by how talented an actor this guy really is.

Then came 30 Rock, and that sealed the deal. Jack Donaghy is Alec Baldwin's crowning jewel. The delivery, the timing, the physicality, and his awesome chemistry with my girl crush, Tina Fey, make this one of my all-time favorite shows. 

All this makes me practically forget his earlier, more volatile days with Kim Basinger, and calling his daughter a "rude, thoughtless little pig". Hey, nobody's perfect. I'm not excusing his behaviour but I sense he's been through the ringer, big time, post-divorce. Kim strikes me as unstable. This is never good. 

On another note, Alec will be co-hosting the 2010 Academy Awards with Steve Martin. I think I just wet myself thinking of the ridiculously high comedic quotient of this duo. Kudos to the Academy for this judicious choice. Please use them wisely and often. The show tends to get seriously dull right around the time the host wraps up his/her opening spiel.

Here's one of the best segments of Alec on Inside the Actor's Studio. Awesome.