The Other Oscars...the PR Razzies!

Welcome back!
Here we are in the Lone Star State in beautiful downtown Houston, Texas. Laura and I begin the week here - where we are doing a seminar Tuesday and then on to Philadelphia for another one on Wednesday before heading home.
 The past few weeks have been filled with seminars in Ottawa, Toronto and elsewhere. In between some media interviews - including an interview I did on CTV PowerPlay (here) about the communications challenges facing Canadian Senators (not the hockey-playing ones) and their residential expense claims.
The 'Other' Oscars
What did you think of the Oscars this year? Personally, I enjoyed watching them - although I'm a sucker for these broadcasts, I admit. Who triggered two of the spontaneous standing ovations? The over-70 Dame Shirley Bassey and Barbra Streisand! We watched the Oscar ceremonies from our hotel here, but on the same night, did you know that there was another top awards ceremonies that celebrated the strange and the not-so-good in public relations and communications at home and abroad? Yes .... the other Oscars....the PR 'Razzies'!

And the PR 'Razzies' Go To......

Franceso Schettino
'I have no regrets'

1. Lead Actor in a Disaster... goes to Francesco 'get back on board!' Schettino who marked the one-year anniversary of the Costa Concordia sinking by claiming "I have no regrets" and refusing to attend the memorial for the 32 victims.

Det. Hilton Botha
(not exactly as pictured)

2. The Peter Sellers Memorial Award goes to the South African police lead investigator Detective Warrant Officer Hilton Botha who was thrown off the Oscar Pistorius case when it came to light that he faces seven counts of attempted murder on an unrelated case. His 'errors' and 'blunders' as described by the judge has served to re-boot the Inspector Clouseau franchise.

Sen. Duffy Gives Back

3. The 'Better Late than Never' Award goes to Canadian Senator Mike Duffy, who after months of taking a beating on receiving $42,000 in expenses for his home in Ottawa by claiming his P.E.I. cottage was his principal residence, finally announced he will pay the money back. Duffy beat out 'Les Misérables' star Hugh Jackman. Said the former journalist in accepting the award, "I've suffered more than Jean Valjean, as he didn't have to deal with the Canadian media."

Lance Apologizes (sort of) to Oprah

4. The Lifetime Achievement Liar's Award goes to the incomparable Lance Armstrong whose two decades of lies, threats and lawsuits won him a two-night Oprah special - the ultimate victory lap. Academy members took note of his stunning acting ability to say he's sorry while obviously not meaning it.
5. The "Best Short Foreign Film Award goes to 'La pasta n'est pas française' produced by the Office Québecois de la Langue Français which tells the heroic story of a flat-footed language police officer in Montreal who fights the good fight to ban such Italian words as 'pasta' from restaurant menus. Although he fails in his bid, he vows to continue by perusing Chinese take-out menus in the soon-to-be-released sequel, "Vous dîtes 'egg roll' ... nous disons humiliation".

The Awards show ended suddenly when the replica of the crippled Carnival Triumph cruise ship - suspended above the audience - unexpectedly collapsed filling the auditorium with….well you’ll have to wait for the PR memorial highlight reel at next year’s telecast!

Until next time!