Ain't Nothing Like A Dame/Indy 4 Gal?

When I read Roger Friedman's February 2nd column, I got really mad, especially after finding out how a perennial OSCAR nominee is being treated by some in the press. The FOXNews.com reporter writes:

I guess word has gotten out that Dame Judi Dench was turned down by several talk shows, including the "Today Show" show, as a potential guest. The Oscar and Tony winner was considered too old for their audiences.

Dame Judi, of course, is nominated for the Oscar again for her phenomenal work in "Mrs. Henderson Presents" She won for " Shakespeare in Love" and was nominated for "Mrs. Brown" and for "Iris".

There's no question that the people who turned her down are jerks.

I've conducted numerous interviews with Dame Judi over the last few years, and she is never anything but bright, brilliant and full of fun. She's certainly no fuddy-duddy.

She also has lots of amazing stories about the people she's worked with, from Daniel Day-Lewis walking off the stage of a London play mid-show to Pierce Brosnan and company, with whom she's made several James Bond Movies.

I have no doubt that the people who issued these subtle rejections were children, or assistant producers under the age of 30 who would rather hear Lindsay Lohan talk about her car crashes...

...It's hard to believe that between Jay Leno, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien and Katie Couric, none of them thought Judi Dench would be a cool guest.

Certainly Diane Sawyer is more sensible than that. I hope she picks up the phone and interviews Dame Judi from London, live, ASAP.

While I admit that I haven't seen many of her films--"Shakespeare" and James Bond flicks notwithstanding--I agree with Friedman on this one. She would be a great interview...and is obviously is respected by her peers This makes the outlets who turned her away seem like stupid, classless, youth-centric snobs. I know ageism still exists in the world...But c'mon folks, this is one little sit-down. Stop worrying about key viewing demographics and losing the teeny bopper set, and just do it. The likes of Lohan will probably never have a career as great as Dench's anyway...

In some "preliminary" casting news courtesy of The Internet Movie Database Movie and TV News for today:

Sideways star Virginia Madsen so impressed co-star Harrison Ford in new thriller Firewall, she's now the front runner to play his love interest in the fourth Indiana Jones adventure. Madsen plays Ford's wife in the new movie and admits they both found an unusual chemistry on set - after the ageing action man handpicked her for the role. And now Madsen is a clear favorite to play the leading lady in Indiana Jones 4. Ford tells movieline.net, "She was an absolute delight - professional, very talented and simply, very sweet. She also took what could have been a fairly one-dimensional damsel in distress role and added so many layers to it - there isn't many who could do that. I'd work with her again in a heartbeat. I'm actually hoping she'll come over for Indiana Jones. We've talked about it."

I think Madsen would be a great addition to the film. Although Firewall doesn't open till next Friday February 10th, and there's no way the masses will know whether or not the 2 have chemistry till then, somehow she still seems right. If George and Steven are taking a vote on this--then my vote is a big "YES".