I know, I thought that was pretty upsetting. Both women were icons and role models, and it was sad to see them get passed over by the academy like that.

I guess we will have to suffice with Bea being remembered for the hilarious comedienne that she was, and Farrah for being not only an icon and an incredibly talented and underrated actress, but for sharing her heartbreaking battle with anal cancer with the world, which I know inspired many women to not be embarrassed about getting checked, and exploring alternate treatments when their doctors tell them there is nothing they can do.

Both women will be remembered, even if the academy didn't feel like adding them.

I agree. It shouldn't matter that they were predominantly TV stars; both women were a large part of the Hollywood community and icons in their own right.

Um... what exactly did Farrah Fawcett contribute? She was on tv for A season and as far as I can tell didn't do much after that...

Thats like saying Jennifer Aniston (who was also made a hairstyle famous) is not important to American pop culture.

After leaving Charlie's Angels, she starred in several Lifetime movies (back when they were good) that specifically dealt with women's issues, as well as several feature films. She originated the main role in William Mastrimone's play Extremities, which openly and powerfully dealt with the subject of the politics surrounding rape victims.

After she was diagnosed with anal cancer she produced several documentaries about her disease, specifically about her trips to Germany to seek alternative treatments after American doctors told her that they couldn't help her. She gave a generation of women a new language with which to discuss an embarrassing disease. Now instead of just saying "I have anal cancer" you can add "Just like Farrah Fawcett".

To make a long story short, that's what Farrah Fawcett did with her life.

I have to disagree, the Oscars are about honoring movies and while Farrah faced her illness with grace, she was a tv actress/pop culture figure not a movie actress. I can't name a single non-tv film she was in. I would much rather see an unsung movie writer or cinematographer who actually contributed to movies and who didn't have thousands of articles written on their death.

I can't believe it!!! Well I'm glad I was watching "It Happened One Night" starring Claudette Colbert!! Here's tributes to these fabulous actresses:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyzgEBacQzw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm-Oa51N3XM&feature=related

I did notice they were left out. I understand they weren't exactly FILM stars, but Michael Jackson was in the memorial montage. What? I didn't know he was in movies either. . . Though I could be wrong.

Its true, Farrah was mostly a TV star, but she was in some movies, Extremities and a few smaller ones, and a HUGE star of the small screen, Michael Jackson was in one movie, the Wiz, as far as I can recall.

We lost a wonderful talent this year....Bea Arthur. The Oscar’s might have forgotten Bea but I haven’t.

I found this clip of Miss Arthur's final interview with Bea discussing her career in her own words. The clip also shows Betty White, Carol Channing and Phyllis Diller. I think it’s for a show called, “Lunching with a Legend.”

I'd hate for a full interview with Bea or the other legendary ladies in the clip to go unseen.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqTi7rsk3GY


Cheers,
Stephen

Re Farrah and her work on the big screen, sure, obviously she was better known for her TV roles. However, in the last decade of her life she acted in Robert Altman's Dr. T and the Women and in The Apostle w/ Robert Duvall, to critical acclaim in each instance. And Bea Arthur didn't make the transition to television until she was roughly 50, having spent most of her career in film and onstage. The Academy screwed up and it would have been gracious if they'd admitted it.

So sad both women were huge hits, and events for so many people. i say events because they brought emotional and laughter for so many at one time. Farah, her many faces on screens, both TV and motion picture.. her talent is what we felt. Her beauity was a given. Bee Arthur brough us amazing times to let go and let us laugh.. our crap set aside for that time period. both should have had their moments.

I think it's horrible that they weren't included in the memorial montage. At best, it was a huge oversight on the part of the Academy. It's disgraceful and a shame. But even if the Academy doesn't want to remember these incredible actresses, we the public remember them and honor them and their contributions to popular culture.

She was on tv for A season and as far as I can tell didn't do much after that...