Oklahoma has produced many Hollywood stars. Texas has produced more.
But let's say that Oklahoma quality trumps Texas quantity in performers, and then let's see what happens in the Cotton Bowl on Saturday for some real bragging rights.
The following is a just-for-fun face-off between Oklahoma and Texas' finest actors. If the deck looks like we stacked it a little in favor of us north of the Red River, well, we're only doing what the Sooners hope to do to the Longhorns: exploiting the matchups.
Boomer Sooner.
STATE MUSICAL
The matchup: The corn is as high as an elephant's eye in "Oklahoma!" a nearperfect film musical thanks to Agnes de Mille's choreography and sublime performances by Gloria Grahame (Ado Annie) and Rod Steiger (Jud Fry).
All we can say about "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" is that Dolly Parton certainly has a certain, you know, something, but Burt Reynolds out-boobs everyone in that picture.
EDGE: Oklahoma!
SINGER-TURNED ACTOR
The matchup: Many have found fame behind a microphone and searched for more in front of a camera. Texans can offer up Beyonce, Jessica Simpson and Hilary Duff -- none of whom can act their way out of a recording studio. Oklahoma has Reba McEntire, a marvel with comic timing, and then there's the brilliant, beautiful Kristin Chenoweth. Yes, we love her, and now so do the people at the Emmy Awards.
EDGE: Oklahoma
COMIC WIT
The matchup: Oklahoma favorite son Will Rogers, beloved by the American public as well as the politicians he ribbed, died in a plane crash at age 55 as one of the top film stars of the 1930s, in the early years of talkies.
Steve Martin, the Waco kid beloved by the American public for close to 40 years, has proven his talents in several arenas, from stand-up to movies to playwrighting to banjo playing.
EDGE: Even.
OSCAR-WINNING ACTORS
The matchup: Oklahoma has Jennifer Jones (born in Tulsa), Ben Johnson (Osage County near Foraker) and Van Heflin (Walters). Texas claims Tommy Lee Jones, Forest Whitaker, Joan Crawford, Jamie Foxx and Sissy Spacek. Everything is bigger in Texas, especially the population, and they win the numbers game.
Barely.
EDGE: Texas
RISING STAR 30 AND UNDER
The matchup: Tulsa boy Bill Hader voiced the lead character in the No. 1 animated hit "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs," his sixth $100 million-grossing picture in the last 30 months. He makes movies with his "Saturday Night Live" co-stars, Ben Stiller's "frat pack" and Judd Apatow's gang. Harlingen, Texas, native Nick Stahl made noise as the lead in both "Terminator 3" and the HBO series "Carnivale," and he played a key role in "Sin City," but it's been a quiet couple of years.
EDGE: Oklahoma
FUNNY LADY
The matchup: We could try throwing out Healdton native Rue McClanahan -- buh-dumpbump -- as leading comedy lady from Oklahoma, but Texas has Carol Burnett, hailing from San Antonio,. She is only the funniest woman of the last 50 years this side of Lucille Ball. Game over.
EDGE: Texas
LOVABLE RASCAL AT HOME WITH COMEDY OR DRAMA The matchup: You don't find an actor more amiable and charming than James Garner. The Norman boy who grew up to be Maverick, Jim Rockford and a movie star bleeds both crimson and cream.
You know what fellow reminds of Garner in the present day?
Dennis Quaid, the Houston-born star who seems like the kind of guy with whom Garner would sit down and have a beer.
EDGE: Even
GREAT FILMS
The matchup: Oklahoma was the setting of one of the earliest winners of the Academy Award for best picture with "Cimarron," but the list dries up after a handful of films, and few were special. Texas has "Giant," chainsaw massacres, "JFK," last picture shows and "The Searchers," among so many others. It's no country for old men, but longhorn country is home to great movies. Dang you, Texas.
EDGE: Texas
GUY YOU DON'T MESS WITH
The matchup: Joe Don Baker was "Walking Tall" as Sheriff Buford Pusser, wielding that hickory stick, but the Texas boy went soft and pudgy years ago. Everybody knows that Chuck Norris, born in the little southern Oklahoma town of Ryan, could wipe the floor with Baker then and now at age 69.
EDGE: Oklahoma
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