Jamie Reidy tells Jonah Hill to “lighten up” about people acknowledging his weight loss.
I dunno about you, but if Billy Crystal mentioned me in his Oscars opening song, I’d be pretty psyched.
And if the nine-time host specifically referenced my recent weight loss, I’d be happier than a fat kid with a fried Twinkie.
But not Jonah Hill.
Skip to 1:56 to see.
The 28-year old nominee for Best Supporting Actor barely managed a tight grin when Crystal crooned, “Jonah used to have much more to his middle. It’s great that you shed weight, but kid if you lose tonight I think that you should know, they’re serving cupcakes after the show.”
Big laugh from the crowd. Even Brad Pitt, Hill’s costar in “Moneyball” chuckled. But not Jonah.
Which makes me want to write him a letter:
JH –
Mr. Crystal didn’t link you to NBC’s hit show “The Biggest Loser.” He didn’t reference the Biblical story of Jonah and the whale. All he did was gently kid you about one of Hollywood’s most noticeable disappearing acts since Cuba Gooding’s career.
Dude, why drop a baby seal’s worth of poundage if you don’t want people to acknowledge it? Wasn’t that the point of all the effort and sacrifice, so that people would take notice? You’re young, wealthy and not in danger of diabetes; what are you so uptight about?
Ryan Seacrest had a lunatic unload an urn on his tux, and he handled it with far more good humor.
I’m sure the producers of your upcoming movie “21 Jump Street” loved the free publicity their star received. You should have, too.
Speaking of your being a movie star and all, that reminds me: why were you seated so close to the stage? Oh, that’s right, you got nominated in a film that got nominated for Best Picture. You’re a damn fine thespian whose eye-opening turn in “Moneyball” stunned Hollywood. So, Mr. Ack-tor, act! Pretend you’re cool with it.
If that’s too big a stretch, try to remember that you’re a comedian! Laugh it off. And if you can’t manage that, then waddle up to the buffet again, because you were a lot more fun the other way.
My mom says when people make fun of you it means they like you. Billy Crystal joked about you in front of one-billion people. They like you, Jonah, they really do.
AP Photo: Chris Pizello
Jonah was so embarrassed by the dig because what Crystal and obviously everyone here doesn’t realize, but that a google search will easily confirm, is that Jonah has actually already put back on about half of the weight he’s lost. That’s why the joke really made him cringe – he’s already been hitting the cupcakes hard for some time.
i dunno, if that had been said anywhere else but at the oscar’s, it would have been “rude”. i think he’s entitled to whatever reaction he feels. i also agree, the joke did not really hit my funny bone. why mock someone at all for weight loss, even as a comedian, he’s entitled to some pride.
I wonder if he’s just tired of people commenting on it. Any time I see a public appearance by him someone always mentions his weight. As someone who’s gone through a few weight issues myself, I know that when someone is talking to me about weight (whether it’s theirs, or mine…whether it’s losing it or gaining it), I just want to roll my eyes and ask them to shut up. Part of that is to do with how monotonous it gets to have the conversation always start or end up on the same topic. But a large part of it,… Read more »
Jaime,
Dismissing “Borat” as a lunatic? He is absolutely brilliant my man. Hope you are well. Love reading your work. New Canes schedule came out today, can’t wait to see ND game.
Watching Borat is, for me, like watchings someone else vomit. Sure, it’s exciting, but pretty soon you start to feel sick yourself.
Yeah, I guess you have to have the “stomach” for that kind of comedy. I understand. I guess I’m slightly more twisted than most.
Same here, Joanna. I’m the girl who can watch gruesome violence in a movie, or graphic sex and not get embarrassed or feel sick or whatever. But whenever I see anyone do something embarrassing, I have to close my eyes. I can’t stand watching someone get laughed at. And that’s all I can see in the Sacha Baron Cohen style of comedy…someone doing something outrageous to someone else so that people will laugh at their reactions. I didn’t really like Tom Green either, though.
I guess that’s the weird thing with humor, it’s so subjective.
Yes!! Me too Heather. It’s torture!
Don’t get me wrong, Tango! I think Sasha Baron Cohen is a comedic genius. But he’s a lunatic, too, as evidenced by ruining a $5K tux on worldwide TV. It’s one thing if you set that up beforehand, i.e. Howard “Fart Man” and M&M a few years ago. But to ambush the red carpet host like that? I wish Seacrest had decked him; woulda been great for his career, as well as given Dictator even more hype. I am definitely going to see that movie.
Point well taken Jaime. Yeah, that would have been cool if Seacrest decked him. I guess it was a missed opportunity to stick it in SBC’s face. I just hope the Dictator is better than the one trick pony that was Bruno. When you coming to Charleston???
Don’t disagree with anything you wrote… but wonder if he didn’t laugh because it was a sub-par joke. (I admit, I didn’t laugh either.) Shame on Billy Crystal for not coming up with a better topper.
Shawn, I’ll agree it wasn’t comic gold, but I chuckled.
Formerly known as “Fun”. Formerly fat, still known as “Fat”.
Probably as frustrating as being known as the guy who used to have a full head of beautiful hair.
j/k!
(see?)
Now, THAT made me laugh! Alas, no one ever described mine as “a full head of beautiful hair.” I mean, except for me. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Jamie, are there any pictures of you with said “full head of beautiful hair”? I’d like to see them.