Editor’s note: Point/Counter-Point is a friendly, cultural debate between Taylor Baldry and John Reinan. Their views are not a reflection of Fast Horse’s opinion of Wilford Brimley or his sordid career. See John’s Counterpoint.
Taylor’s Point:
Wilford Brimley is a sell-out. He was once an exceptional method actor whose rich portrayal of stodgy, old men had audiences and critics wowing. His characters were diverse, three-dimensional and iconic. Off the silver screen, the former walrusy rodeo-clown was the toast of Hollywood – women wanted him and men wanted to be him. “Give us more Brimley!” I imagine people would yell.
This all changed for Brimley when he became an advertising prostitute. At the top of his game, Brimley’s seemingly limitless career eclipsed when he took the road to Damascus by appearing in oatmeal and diabetes testing commercials. This was unprecedented. Never before had an actor licensed their image for commercial gain. The Ewoks: The Battle for Endor co-star became covetous once he began rolling in oat profits and wading in those sweet diabetic dollars. In doing so, he lost all credibility as an actor and gave a stubby, crinkled middle finger to the acting community and his fans.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not opposed to Wilford Brimley sacrificing his integrity. Perhaps the portly diabetic felt it was time to leave his cocoon of commendable cinematic character portrayals and emerge a less profitable, more pitiable performer. Unfortunately, in answering the calling of selloutery, he’s lowering the bar for more impressionable actors such as Beyonce and Jason Alexander. Who do you think you are Wilford?
Fact: Wilford Brimley is a Judas to the thespian community and is America’s original sell-out. Prove me wrong, John Reinan.
May 12th, 2009 - 9:27 am
I must point this out: http://gatoisland.com/archive/wilfordbrimleycats/
Clearly, Mr. Brimley has sold the remaining shards of his soul to Big Feline.
May 12th, 2009 - 11:13 am
I think the name Wilford is on the comeback.
May 12th, 2009 - 4:46 pm
Woah Woah WOah…let’s back it up here buddy. FIRST…there would be nothing sweet about diabetes money…that’s just sick. That aside-you cannot deny the joy that his infamous “I’ve got diabetes” statement has brought to the world (Proof):
http://www.lolcats.com/view/13376
Also…Beyonce is a talented saint.
May 12th, 2009 - 8:57 pm
http://www.lolcats.com/view/13376
that was the one i was going for. sry.
May 12th, 2009 - 8:59 pm
okay…so apparently the world is conspiring to make me seem foolish. I will simply say that when one googles “Diabeetus” one finds many inspired by mr. Brimley’s fine work. Good day to you sir. I SAID GOOD DAY.
May 12th, 2009 - 10:15 pm
Mike – I am in total agreement with you! In this instance, sharing a resemblance to an animal, in this case the worst animal, does little to improve Brimley’s dignity. Fact: cats are faithless and disloyal pets.
Sam – that may be but remember that a name does not make the man or woman. In my day, I have met several homely women named Aphrodite that were completely unlovable. God help them.
Nicole – introducing a mispronounced medical term into the English lexicon is not a plus. Back in the day, that was grounds for pummeling. Your link did not work by the way. No need though, I’m guessing it was a picture of a cat swimming in a pool of insulin and hundred dollar bills with a “Diabeetus” caption. Right? I would like to restate that having an association with cats, in this case “LOLcats,” does little to bolster Brimley’s credibility. In fact, it does the opposite.
May 12th, 2009 - 10:32 pm
OOooooh Taylor. Your quick wit and well thought out responses are amusing, but they have also opened my eyes to some underlying issues. I can recognize an unwinnable fight when I see one…our difference of opinion stems from opposing viewpoints: you with your hatred for all that is adorable, humorous, and pure in the world (in this case, LOLCat)and me with my well rounded sense of right and enlightened knowledge that LOLcats are our generations future and guiding light…whose to say which of us is truly correct?
May 17th, 2009 - 9:22 pm
I submit as evidence Lauren Bacall. You know, formerly of “Casablanca” and “To Have and Have Not,” more recently of Fancy Feast and Tuesday Morning commercials? If Lauren Bacall can go from Morocco to the cat food isle and still be thought of as inimitable and timelessly classy, what makes Wilford a sell-out?
Was it because the Fancy Feast cat was SO fancy?
May 18th, 2009 - 5:23 pm
Nicole – I wouldn’t go so far and use the word “hatred.” That would be putting it lightly.
Stephanie – Your Lauren Bacall comparison is irrelevant. I would not deem Bacall a sellout because Fancy Feast commercials are and always have been better than Casablanca. They’re in color. Therefore, Bacall’s career/integrity was improved when she starred in the Fancy Feast commercials. Ding-ding. On the other hand, Brimley sold out when he went from co-starring in Mutant Species (AKA Bio Force) to appearing in informative diabetes commercials.