Rick Moody was on the NEA panel, and the ULA contested that this was an example of the literati insularly awarding each other.

Many other immigrant entrepreneurs operate more insularly - sticking to selling, say, the pointy shoes or frilly confirmation dresses that customers outside their ethnic group don't buy and mainstream stores don't sell, and doing business mainly in cash.

"Judith's courage and willingness and unending quest to grasp this thing called theater again, after television fame, to break through playing insularly, out of the close-up shot, and send the action to the back of the house, was amazing," Ms. Gardiner said.