SAMUEL JOHNSON & THE OSCARS

Perhaps some of you watched the Oscars on Sunday. I found some '24' reruns to watch on WGN instead. But yesterday I came across a fun little book, Samuel Johnson's Insults (Jack Lynch, ed.). Here, Johnson on actors:

Among Johnson's favorite targets for good-humored insults were actors, whom he dismissed as talentless buffoons:"I look on them as no better than creatures set upon tables and joint-stools to make faces and produce laughter, like dancing dogs."

"But, Sir," someone objected, "you will allow that some players are better than others?"

"Yes, Sir," he said, "as some dogs dance better than others."

I would have loved to see Dr. Johnson covering the red carpet.