While the awards ceremony itself was a bit of a snooze-fest, despite it having a dream producing / directing team and individually hilarious hosts, there most fun I had all night was following Twitter. From insightful commentary to silly banter, Twitter was pumping out one 140-character message after another all night long. As I was also live-tweeting the Oscars, I thought it best to cull through the insanely large number of tweets I sent out last night and present the “best of” compilation. Here’s what you missed if you weren’t following @simsjames (me) on Twitter last night.

	simsjames: Why is Mariska Hargitay is on the #oscarsred carpet? Love her and all, but this isn’t the Golden Globes. Movie stars only, please.Mar 7, 2010 11:12 PM GMT
	simsjames: LA mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was just hitting on ‘Avatar’s’ Zoe Saldana on #oscarsred carpet. Problem is, he was w/ his girlfriend. Ouch.Mar 7, 2010 11:27 PM GMT
	simsjames: Director Jason Reitman mentioned his Twitter habits while talking to Ryan Seacrest on E!’s #oscarsred carpet coverage.Mar 7, 2010 11:38 PM GMT
	simsjames: Is it just me or does James Cameron’s wife Suzi Amis look like Robin Wright Penn w/ a crap load of wrinkles? #oscarsMar 7, 2010 11:40 PM GMT
	simsjames: Sigourney Weaver always looks lovely, especially when she makes Ryan Seacrest look like a midget. #oscarsMar 7, 2010 11:49 PM GMT
	simsjames: Is Diane Kruger still dating Joshua Jackson? I’m sad that the ‘Dawson’s Creek’ alum wasn’t w/ her on E!’s red carpet #oscarsMar 8, 2010 12:00 AM GMT
	simsjames: Oh gawd. Mo’Nique just told Barbara Walters her man loves her hairy legs. Give me a drink, stat! #oscarsMar 8, 2010 12:11 AM GMT

	simsjames: Tom Cruise, John Travolta, Kelly Preston… it’s Scientology all the time on Barbara Walters #oscarsspecial retrospective. Save me!Mar 8, 2010 12:36 AM GMT
	simsjames: WHY is Sherri Shepherd covering the #oscarsred carpet for ABC? Possibly more disastrous than Ryan Seacrest.Mar 8, 2010 01:03 AM GMT
	simsjames: Someone at our #oscarsparty said Miley Cyrus was “slunching” on the red carpet. Slutty + slouching = slunching.Mar 8, 2010 01:23 AM GMT
	simsjames: Neil Patrick Harris in a sparkly tux is singing on #oscars. Broadcast has been redeemed.Mar 8, 2010 01:32 AM GMT
	simsjames: Feather boas and showgirls strutting around Kodak theatre remind me of a Vegas strip show. #oscarsMar 8, 2010 01:35 AM GMT
	simsjames: Rugby and tensions between blacks and whites… two of Steve Martin’s favorite things, according to Alec Baldwin #oscarsMar 8, 2010 01:37 AM GMT
	simsjames: George Clooney is giving Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin the stink eye. He’s probably just regretting being tied down to 1 woman #oscarsMar 8, 2010 01:42 AM GMT
	simsjames: Ouch. Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin bored me to death w/ their opening jokes. #oscarsMar 8, 2010 01:45 AM GMT
	simsjames: The lone gay at our #oscarsparty loves seeing Ryan Reynolds, but I’m left wondering why he’s introducing ‘Blind Side’Mar 8, 2010 01:51 AM GMT
	simsjames: Amanda Seyfried and Miley Cyrus might not know who Steve Martin is, but nobody should know who those two girls are. #oscars #nitwitsMar 8, 2010 02:01 AM GMT
	simsjames: Now a ‘Star Trek’ actor is introducing ‘District 9.’ Why don’t they just have the movies’ own stars throw to a clip? #oscarsMar 8, 2010 02:06 AM GMT
	simsjames: A huge John Hughes cast reunion on stage right now. Amazing! I’ll always love you, John Hughes #oscarsMar 8, 2010 02:22 AM GMT
	simsjames: There might have just been a Kanye West moment at the #oscarscourtesy of a crazy white lady.Mar 8, 2010 02:36 AM GMT
	simsjames: Shot glass of Jack is still full. Why has nobody mentioned Jesus in an acceptance speech yet? Bad idea for a drinking game this year #oscarsMar 8, 2010 02:52 AM GMT
	simsjames: Lauren Bacall reminds me of Hollywood’s golden days. We need a little less Miley Cyrus and a little more class in showbusiness #oscarsMar 8, 2010 02:55 AM GMT
	simsjames: Keanu Reeves flashed upon in the audience. Still looks stoned, after all these years. #oscarsMar 8, 2010 03:09 AM GMT
	simsjames: Sarah Jessica Parker has a great dress, but that rats nest hairdo and orange skinned glow… not working it, girl #oscarsMar 8, 2010 03:12 AM GMT
	simsjames: Tech awards get a sarcastic intro courtesy of Elizabeth Banks. My geeky side is annoyed #oscarsMar 8, 2010 03:29 AM GMT
	simsjames: Another snub? RT @shonufflives: wait, did bea arthur get missed in the memorium montage, or did I miss it? #oscarsMar 8, 2010 03:45 AM GMT
	simsjames: I got it. It takes a pretty lady talking to George Clooney in order to get him smiling while on camera at the #oscarsMar 8, 2010 04:27 AM GMT
	simsjames: I still love Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin, but please, never let them host an awards show together again. #oscarsMar 8, 2010 05:02 AM GMT

With not a moment of hesitation the entire slave army leaps to their feet and bellows “I’m Spartacus.” Kirk Douglas’ character slowly bows his head, seemingly overwhelmed with emotion. His brotherhood would risk torture and ultimately death just so that Spartacus isn’t singled out. Sadly, such solidarity was a mere Hollywood construct. This ideal was something that Trumbo would never find in real life.

In 1947 Trumbo was one of ten Hollywood writers and directors jailed for refusing to give information to the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). The government agency was on a mission to expose communists in America. Hollywood became a clear target. Rather than stand as one, some in the creative community decided to single their comrades out when asked to name names.

This is by no means an untold story, yet in the latest episode of Thirteen’s American Masters, airing this week on PBS affiliates, Dalton Trumbo is the center of attention. Directed by Peter Askin, Trumbo depicts the life of a prolific writer marred by Hollywood’s blacklist.

Theatergoers might recognize this premise, as the film is adapted from the 2003 play written by Christopher Trumbo – Dalton’s son. Much of the story is based on the writer’s own words and is told through readings of Trumbo’s letters and old interviews.

As author Richard Fried wrote in his book Nightmare In Red: “Some actors flirted with communism, but the screenwriters, Hollywood’s intelligentsia, were primarily the ones who joined the Party.” Fried writes that almost half of the communists in Hollywood were screenwriters. But, as Trumbo jokingly points out in one interview clip, communists in this country weren’t as dangerous as the Elks, and didn’t have as many guns. Trumbo was quick witted.

Much of this American Masters episode focuses on Trumbo’s life after the HUAC trial, but it also provides a look at Trumbo the family man. Old home movies and family photographs are used throughout the program, as are interviews with his son and daughter, Mitzi Trumbo.

One touching moment comes as a letter Trumbo wrote to his daughter’s schoolteacher is read aloud. Always the wordsmith, he eloquently lambasted the wretch for devastating his young girl. Presumably his daughter was scared after the school’s PTA held “secret” meetings about her father’s ties to communism. It was one thing for Hollywood to hurt his career, but he refused to let his family get sucked into the mess.

A top-notch group of actors take turns reading Trumbo’s letters throughout this episode including Michael Douglas, Donald Sutherland and Joan Allen. Standing out from the pack is David Strathairn as he re-enacts Trumbo’s WGA Laurel Award acceptance speech. Shot against a black backdrop, he sets the tone for this engrossing production as he says, “The blacklist was a time of evil and that no one on either side who survived it came through untouched by evil.”

Some in Hollywood haven’t forgotten the treachery of those that gave up names to HUAC. Director Elia Kazan was one of Trumbo’s so-called “friends” that buckled under pressure. When Kazan received a lifetime achievement award at the 71st Annual Academy Awards some in the audience refused to applaud. Nick Nolte, Ed Harris and Richard Dreyfuss were among the ones that remained seated.

Trumbo is a reminder that logic does not always factor into the public consciousness. Fear and hatred often beat out such ideals as fairness and equality. One only need to turn on the nightly news and catch highlights from the latest health care town hall meetings to understand this situation. At one point Trumbo pictured a time when someone might be called to the stand and asked, “Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Democratic Party?”

Imagine if media vultures like Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh had the airwaves during Trumbo’s travails. They would surely be preaching in favor of Senator Joseph McCarthy – the face of evil during America’s red scare.

Trumbo survived the blacklist, as did many other marked writers, mostly by writing screenplays under pseudonyms. Names like Ian Hunter (Roman Holiday), Millard Kaufman (Gun Crazy) and Robert Rich (The Brave One) allowed Trumbo to make a living. Then, in 1960 both Otto Preminger and Kirk Douglas came to the rescue and put his real name on their films, Exodus and Spartacus. They proved to be his true rebel army, standing up to the Romans and shouting, “I’m Dalton Trumbo.”

Published by the Huffington Post on September 2, 2009.