First, leave g-d in a place of worship–it doesn’t belong in an acceptance speech…

If you’re going to name the people who you owe a debt of gratitude to, add descriptive phrases of what they’ve meant to you or the specifics of what they’ve done. Select only a choice few, because there’s not enough time to include everyone. Jason Reitman (the Director of “Up in the Air”) was exemplary. He was open, not self conscious and touching, while brief.

We love Drew Barrymore, but she seemed too much like the role she played in Grey Gardens when she tossed out phrases like “I’m not good at this” and “I can do this” and “Monique, I want to be like you” and “Because of all the things going on in the world, I know it’s important.” What a wasted opportunity. Emotional but ineffective.

Please eliminate these phrases: “this is amazing” and “I’m not prepared”. The producer of Mad Men used both of these tired phrases but then redeemed himself by acknowledging that he (like Drew Barrymore) was in this ballroom many years ago for a Bar Mitzvah, which endeared him to the audience and allowed him to finish strong.

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