Ian McKellen Suffers 'The View' Stupidity with Grace and Wit
Filed under: Celebrities and Controversy, Home Entertainment
Actors might make a lot of money, but at least they work for it with long hours on set, paparazzi insanity, exhausting PR tours, and the pressures of handling the same questions over and over and over again with grace and charm. But even more impressive is when they can be graceful in the face of utter ignorance or idiocy.We've watched John Cusack get interviewed by a clueless film student, and now (after the jump of course) you can see Ian McKellen handle the women from The View. Ah, there's nothing like having your television interview start out with an inflammatory rant about swine flu and socialized medicine. It's not a surprise really -- the once-sweet Survivor star Elisabeth Hasselbeck has made a career out throwing wild rants into unusual places on the show. But, sadly, that's only the start of the nonsense that McKellen handles with dashing grace. Whoopi Goldberg can't keep her actors straight, and Sherry Shepherd pulls off one of those classic moments where a clueless interviewer reads crap off the cards without knowing what the hell she's talking about.
Yet, in the face of all that, McKellen is pure charm. I always find that impressive. Sure, he's an actor and makes his living making fiction convincing, but to be ready with that clever retort, graciously correct someone who should know better, and take it all in stride ... I wouldn't say this about most of Hollywood, but I think we can all learn a little from that small part of the biz.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-07-2009 @ 2:17PM
Sparkus said...
Wow... that was a squawking train wreck. That was just embarrassing. To many hosts! Why is there so many?
One host one guest, its works the best because it doesn't become a fight for the spotlight.
Why would anyone want to listen to Elisabeth Hassleback? What does she have to offer?
Ugh. Get mckellan on some other show, such a waist of an appearance.
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11-07-2009 @ 2:21PM
Shadowtag said...
You had me at Magneto.
I would totally be gay if I got that amount of awesome in the bargain. Heartbeat level quick.
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11-09-2009 @ 2:11PM
JmB10 said...
You just made me laugh out loud. I'm with you on that one!
11-07-2009 @ 6:36PM
akaison said...
I do not have a problem with someone being conservative. You can be for or against whatever so long as you are factually based in your arguments. But, if you are going to debate someone about his health care system, which is not your own, please at least be fluent in the subject. Also, Please don't resort to calling your ignorance opinion as if that excuses it. It is embarrassing.
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11-07-2009 @ 6:42PM
BloodwerK said...
He is too awesome. Even tried to comfort Whoopi after the mistake...
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11-09-2009 @ 10:51AM
j said...
Just for the record, I have never, nor will I ever, click on a link in a blog comment solicitation.
For the love of god, can we please stop with the ridiculous spamming of these blogs?!
Reply
11-14-2009 @ 6:28PM
CindyG3 said...
Sparkus, I agree with every point you made. How unfortunate it was that he had to be subjected to such an idiotic display! We can only hope his agent will skip by The View the next time Sir Ian goes on a marketing blitz!
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11-15-2009 @ 2:48PM
Logion said...
Ian McKellen is a man of grace and wit.
The women of "The View," however, step in "Number Two" like no one else.
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