Melissa McCarthy: The Dark Unicorn

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released their list of Oscar nominees on Tuesday, and among the many surprises was Melissa McCarthy’s nod for her performance in the most talked-about comedy of 2011, Bridesmaids.

The Oscars are known for making certain choices to make statements — or to up their ratings — so we have to wonder, with the number of people who were supposedly snubbed this year, what is the Academy trying to say now?

Broad comedies like Bridesmaids haven’t been given recognition like this since the early 90s, and, with the impact Kristen Wiig’s script-baby had on Hollywood’s appreciation of women in comedy, and the sheer publicity it received, it seems the Academy’s determined to have us all believe they’re “with the times.”

Given the organization’s propensity to award movies with a certain formula (“social issues” + tear-jerking + foreign accents), we McCarthyists — Melissa, not Joe — are probably in for a letdown.  However, the fact that the actress is nominated at all is a pretty hopeful and fist-pump-worthy event.

Can we expect more recognition for funny ladies in future?  Will broad comedy — which is, arguably, the most underappreciated genre of movies and television — once again be considered worthy of “critical acclaim”?  And, most importantly, will the women who do what they do because they love to do it really give a crap about recognition?  Seeing as how limited representation pretty much wasn’t guaranteed when they all started out?

Let’s honor Melissa McCarthy in our own way — the way we think she’d want to be honored: as a Dark Unicorn, because we here at Comediva think Dark Unicorns are way more badass than Dark Horses.

(Also, in the words of one Brittany S. Pierce: “A unicorn is someone who knows they’re magical and isn’t afraid to show it.”)

mccarthydarkunicorn

 — Saturday Night Live

mccarthybloat

— Bridesmaids

mccarthygoddess
— Gilmore Girls 

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About the author

Hi, friend! I'm Vickie Toro. I'm the lesbian in Lesbros, the creator and one of the writers of BAMF Girls Club, and the Frumpy Girl who commiserates with your Style Ineptness. I'm a Potterhead, water-dancer, and overall TV junky. Also sports movies make me cry.

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