Rising from the Ashes...

NBC was already last in the network race (with the 2005-2006 season having the network's lowest ratings in over 30 years)...and they had nothing to lose. Best thing that could have happened to them...best thing that could have happened to us. Because of the desperation this predicament created, I think they were willing to take risks with greater and edgier programs like HEROES...and now....THE BLACK DONNELLYS!!! I had a feeling this show was going to be good, but MAN OH MAN IS IT FREAKING GREAT. I know, I know, I've only seen one episode. But let me tell you, I've never gotten this worked up over a show after seeing its premiere for the first time. Not even LOST, not even HEROES. Its so dark. Its so brooding, and yet its heart-wrenching all the same. I won't tell you what happens, but I can say that I was caught speechless and open-mouthed for a solid five minutes at the end, and not in that usual "I have to tune in next week just so I understand what's going on" kind of way. You know what's going on, its the content and the risks that the show takes right off the bat that are shocking. Something tells me this show is gonna be a little bit controversial since its on network TV and all. All I'm saying is if you like gangster movies and shows like the Sopranos, you're probably gonna like this. I mean, its PAUL HAGGIS...you know, the guy who's gotten Oscar nominations for the past three years straight (the first and only man ever to have written two consecutive Oscar winning films--"CRASH" and "MILLION DOLLAR BABY")!?! Um, its pretty hard to argue with that. Regardless, check it out. Get those ratings up so it doesn't have an early end. Like I said, I hate getting attached to shows this early in the game, so don't let me down!! WATCH THIS SHOW...YOU'RE SURE TO LOVE IT.

And the Oscar Goes To...

"When I was a kid the only way I saw movies was from the back seat of my family's car...the drive-in. And it wasn't my reality to think that I would be acting in movies, so receiving this honor tonight tells me its possible...its possible for a kid from east Texas, raised in South Central LA and Carson, who believes in his dreams and commits himself to them with his heart, to touch them and have them happen. Because when I first started acting it was because of my desire to connect with everyone, to that thing inside each of us, to that light that I believe exists in all of us, because acting for me is about believing in that connection. It's a connection so strong, its a connection so deep that we feel it and through our combined belief we can create a new reality." --Forest Whitaker, Best Actor Oscar Winner

So the 2007 Oscars are over. I have to say, there were quite a few surprises that popped up. The most OUTRAGEOUS, in my opinion, was that PAN'S LABYRINTH did not win for Best Foreign Language Film. Its sweeped most of its nominations, but when it came to the biggest one of all, it fell short. Very disappointing...especially for the GENIUS Guillermo del Toro I'm sure. Even though Babel wasn't my favorite, I feel like it kinda got shortchanged, probably because of its distinct similarities to last year's Best Picture winner Crash. Same with Dreamgirls. I was happy to see that Little Miss Sunshine had some glory moments, but bottom line is that the Academy just isn't ready to offer Best Picture to a light-hearted comedy...they'll get there someday I hope. Surprisingly in my opinion, The Departed was the clear Academy favorite this year. Interesting. See my other Oscar notes scattered below with my original predictions.


OSCAR WINNERS

Best Motion Picture of the Year: Really? The Departed? Good Movie, but Great Film? Not my choice. Great Cast though.
•BABEL
•THE DEPARTED--WINNER
•LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
•LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
•THE QUEEN


Best Actor: His speech...oh, his speech. Touched my heart.
•Leonardo DiCaprio - BLOOD DIAMOND
•Ryan Gosling - HALF NELSON
•Peter O'Toole - VENUS
•Will Smith - THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS
•Forest Whitaker - THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND--WINNER

Best Actress: Holy Cow, did Helen Mirren look STUNNING!
•Penélope Cruz - VOLVER
•Judi Dench - NOTES ON A SCANDAL
•Helen Mirren - THE QUEEN --WINNER
•Meryl Streep - THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
•Kate Winslet - LITTLE CHILDREN

Best Supporting Actor: Yay, Alan Arkin and Little Miss Sunshine! PS, how adorable was Abigail Breslin?
•Alan Arkin - LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE--WINNER
•Jackie Earle Haley - LITTLE CHILDREN
•Djimon Hounsou - BLOOD DIAMOND
•Eddie Murphy - DREAMGIRLS
•Mark Wahlberg - THE DEPARTED

Best Supporting Actress: YAY!! Reality TV can breed a star. Man, did she look and sound FANTASTIC on stage during both her acceptance and performance.
•Adriana Barraza - BABEL
•Cate Blanchett - NOTES ON A SCANDAL
•Abigail Breslin - LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
•Jennifer Hudson - DREAMGIRLS --WINNER
•Rinko Kikuchi - BABEL

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year: Oh my gosh, I thought Disney had this one in the bag, but I'm so happy that Happy Feet pulled through. I got dragged to this by my friends, but I have to say I LOVED IT. Adorable movie with a cute message.
•CARS
•HAPPY FEET --WINNER
•MONSTER HOUSE

Achievement in Art Direction: I called this one. GORGEOUS and FRESH movie.
•PAN'S LABYRINTH--WINNER
•THE GOOD SHEPHERD
•DREAMGIRLS
•PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST
•THE PRESTIGE

Achievement in Cinematography: LOVE LOVE LOVE. Pan's, Round 2.
•THE BLACK DAHLIA
•CHILDREN OF MEN
•THE ILLUSIONIST
•PAN'S LABYRINTH--WINNER
•THE PRESTIGE

Achievement in Costume Design: Oh man, I know Dreamgirls got all the hype, but for those of us that actually saw Marie Antoinette, there was little question which was most deserving of this award. The costumes in this movie were breath-taking. Both Classic and Fresh. I'm so happy about this one.
•CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER
•THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
•DREAMGIRLS
•MARIE ANTOINETTE--WINNER
•THE QUEEN

Best Director: Oh, YAY! While The Departed wasn't my favorite, there was no question that Marty Scorsese was most deserving of this prestigious honor. Most actors are scrambling all over each other to work with this cinematic legend.
•Alejando Inaritu - BABEL
•Martin Scorsese - THE DEPARTED --WINNER
•Clint Eastwood - LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
•Stephen Frears - THE QUEEN
•Paul Greengrass - UNITED 93

Best Documentary Feature: Oh, Al Gore. If only you would run for president again. It makes me so sad to think "what if?"...His presence gives me chills and this docu is no different. We can make a difference. We need to step up and take care of our Earth. I just love seeing a polician step up for a worthy cause and speak to us through our most common voice--Film.
•DELIVER US FROM EVIL
•AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH--WINNER
•IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS
•JESUS CAMP
•MY COUNTRY, MY COUNTRY

Achievement in Film Editing: The Departed again. meh.
•BABEL
•BLOOD DIAMOND
•CHILDREN OF MEN
•THE DEPARTED--WINNER
•UNITED 93

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year: HOLY CRAP. ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME???
•AFTER THE WEDDING
•DAYS OF GLORY (INDIGÈNES)
•THE LIVES OF OTHERS--WINNER
•PAN'S LABYRINTH
•WATER

Achievement in Makeup: Yay, Pan's. Such cool makeup!
•APOCALYPTO
•CLICK
•PAN'S LABYRINTH--WINNER

Best Original Score: This is the only category Babel won? I'm kinda surprised. Even so, I would have given this one to Pan's. I know, I know...I'm a Pan's cheerleader. But seriously, I thought the use of the lullaby woven throughout was genius. But what do I know...
•BABEL--WINNER
•THE GOOD GERMAN
•NOTES ON A SCANDAL
•PAN'S LABYRINTH
•THE QUEEN

Best Original Song: I was a little caught off guard when the powerful songs of Dreamgirls got overshadowed by the song from Inconvenient Truth, but these things are political afterall, and no one can deny the emotional connection you feel with a Melissa Etheridge song.
•"I Need to Wake Up" - AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH--WINNER
•"Listen" - DREAMGIRLS
•"Love You I Do" - DREAMGIRLS
•"Our Town" - CARS
•"Patience" - DREAMGIRLS

Achievement in Sound Editing: Yeah, I didn't know much about this category, but I'm glad this movie won something.
•APOCALYPTO
•BLOOD DIAMOND
•FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS
•LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA--WINNER
•PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST

Achievement in Sound Mixing: Seemed like the obvious, and clearly most deserving, choice in my opinion.
•APOCALYPTO
•BLOOD DIAMOND
•DREAMGIRLS--WINNER
•FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS
•PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST

Achievement in Visual Effects: Seemed obvious here too.
•PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST --WINNER
•POSEIDON
•SUPERMAN RETURNS

Adapted Screenplay: I was really sad that Children of Men didn't win any of its nominations. It really was an amazing movie that deserved a little recognition. But it seemed like The Departed was the star of these awards.
•BORAT: CULTURAL LEARNINGS OF AMERICA FOR MAKE BENEFIT GLORIOUS NATION OF KAZAKHSTAN
•CHILDREN OF MEN
•THE DEPARTED--WINNER
•LITTLE CHILDREN
•NOTES ON A SCANDAL

Original Screenplay: You have to love it when a former celebrity personal assistant wins an academy award. Especially for such a heartwarming film like Little Miss Sunshine. So happy about this one.
•BABEL
•LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
•LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE--WINNER
•PAN'S LABYRINTH
•THE QUEEN

So ultimately, I was able to correctly predict 10 Wins, with an additional 4 pleasant surprises. That leaves me dead wrong about 7 categories. Not quite as good as last year's predictions with only two wrong, but a pretty good showing overall. Yay, Oscars!

It's the Pitts!

MICHAEL PITT--This youngish actor reminds me a bit of a grittier Leonardo DiCaprio. He first caught my attention in an episode of "Law and Order: SVU" that aired in 2002, where he played a sociopathic teenage animal abuser. Man, can he be creepy. I love it. He's been in a wide range of projects, mainly indie movies that have a bit of an edge. While I haven't actually seen the film, his starring role in "The Dreamers" definitely looks intriguing. This guy is someone to keep an eye out for. He's got real talent.

Photo Date: 1 September 2003
Photo Credit: Jeff Vespa
(Copyright ©WireImage.com)

Addison's Anatomy?

"Grey's Anatomy," which used to be one of my favorite shows, has started losing momentum as of late...in my humble opinion. For the most part, I still really like and respect the cast (Katherine Heigl is a goddess!). But, the plot became a little too chick-flicky for my taste so I started losing interest. I mean, am I really supposed to sympathize with Ellen Pompeo having two gorgeous guys being in love with her? Yeah, not so much. Still, props to its diverse cast (Sandra Oh is so on point, and how cute is Sara Ramirez?) and realistic characters (I love TR Knight's slightly dorky O'Malley, Justin Chambers' badboy wannabe Karev, and the motherly sarcasm of Chandra Wilson's Dr. Baily).

Anyway, the reason for this post is that ABC made quite the annoucement yesterday. A SPINOFF!! Starring none other than Kate Walsh (Dr. Addison Montgomery-Shepherd) who came in and stole all of Meredith Grey's (Ellen Pompeo) thunder. I'm a little skeptical because of the obvious stigma a spinoff can bring (Remember Joey?). Still, I'm much more drawn to Kate Walsh's character than Pompeo's anyday, so I'd be willing to give it a try. Kate is gorgeous and engaging, and doesn't have nearly as much of that annoying quality that repels me from Grey's in the first place. Still, what would the show be without some of the other figureheads of the cast. I'd survive without Isaiah Washington (not because I don't like his acting...but that whole homophobic business is not cool), Patrick Dempsey (yeah, he's hot...but not really all that interesting), and Ellen Pompeo (sorry people, I'm over the whining). However, a show without the others? I don't know if I'm really ready to give them up for good.

For more info, check out the "Wall Street Journal" article here!

**UPDATE**The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that TAYE DIGGS has been tapped to star opposite Walsh in this upcoming series, which will actually be a "backdoor pilot," beginning after a special 2-hour episode of Grey's.

**UPDATE 2**Tim Daly (The Nine/Storm of the Century) and Paul Adelstein (Prison Break/Intolerable Cruelty) have both joined the cast of the special 2-hour episode of Grey's, which is supposed to launch the spin-off.

Someone Flies...Someone Dies.

So...HEROES.

OH MAN, IS THIS SHOW GREAT.

I cannot get through an episode without screaming at my television set...and that is a good thing. So much better than the Lost's and 24's of the world combined. But this is just my opinion of course (Hey, I still love these other shows too!). This show is awesome not only because of its unique ability to actually provide answers to all of its questions, but also due to its amazing cast. I've highlighted my favorite HEROES below.



Hayden Pannetiere. I've been singing the praises of Miss Pannetiere since the birth of this blog, so I won't delve into too much detail here. Nothing but love for that girl though. Nothing but love. She's the ingenue of the show and she plays her role well.





Greg Grunberg. Also doesn't need much detail. He's great in anything he does and is a veteran of hit shows like Felicity, Alias, and Lost. In a perhaps more meatier role than usual, Grunberg keeps us on our toes as with his constant internal struggle between doing what is right and following his heart. While he might not be your typical Hollywood hearthrob, there's something about this man that still makes the girls swoon.

Masi Oka. As the adorable Hiro Nakamura, Oka is the Cult Favorite, and believe me, he can really steal the show. Growing up with a strong American and Japanese background, he is able to really capture that loveable and determined naivete that his character requires. I'm sure it helps that Oka is a technical genius (thanks IMDB!), but his perfect blend of comedy and outright dedication to his "destiny" really helps humanize his character and keeps us begging for more.

Sendhil Ramamurthy. Who knew a geneticist could be so sexy? As thoughtful and determined Mohinder Suresh, Ramamurthy brings a degree of weight and intellectualism that the show would otherwise lack. Considering the part was originally written as a 55-year-old man, Ramathurthy's superior acting chops and degree of charisma really helped re-define the role as someone who we'd really be pulling for week to week.

Ali Larter. I have to admit I was skeptical going into the first few episodes of the show. Sure she had the star power, but I wasn't fully convinced this "Final Destination" actress had what it takes to convincingly portray a character with distinct multiple personalities. But I stand corrected, she's really got it. Probably one of the most difficult roles to play, slipping effortlessly from sweet-and-maternal Niki to violent-and-vengeful Jessica, I really started to believe that both of these characters had merged out of one being, and at certain points, she even managed to give me chills.

While these five are my front-running favorites, don't let that diminish the talents of the other lead heroes in this amazing ensemble cast. I really have learned to love them all in their own way, and I'm excited as more and more intriguing characters are introduced.

Late Night Thoughts

A Few Things:

1.) Happy President's Day!! Speaking of Presidents...Obama 08! Anyhow, I'm up super late b/c I got my President's Day celebrations started a little earlier this year, then spent all of today in recovery. So I got myself well-rested, whooped it up in a poker game, then settled down to watch my favorite show, HEROES.

2.) I AM OBSESSED WITH HEROES. Best show on TV right now in my opinion. Best Ensemble Cast.

3.)THE BLACK DONNELLYS. One week from today. Airing Monday Nights at 10PM on NBC. I don't know what it is about this show, but the previews have really got my attention. The music is genius. And I remember the lead kid, Jonathan Tucker, really peaking my interest on an episode of Law&Order: SVU...I'm so watching this show.

4.) WTF, Mate? What did they do to IMDB?

More to come on all of these things and more very soon. :) Night, Y'all!!

Headshot Postcards--Friend or Foe?

Okay, so I seriously go through probably no less than 50 headshot postcards a day, and up to this point, I’ve kept my mouth shut about them. But its time to air some of my frustration out.

First of all, I understand that pretty much every actor (famous or non) has shamelessly solicited themselves via postcard submissions at some point in their career. I get it. It helps the business along. It gets your face out there. Sure, you’re just hoping that one day one casting director or executive will glance at your smiling face and go “Well, who is this person? I HAVE to meet them.” I won’t lie and say this doesn’t happen, sure it does…but not often. Even so, I’m not so much concerned with the action of sending your headshots via postcard, but more so WHAT it is exactly that you’ve chosen to put on that card because really people, you’re not cute, funny, or clever. Most of the time, you’re just plain obnoxious. Sometimes I wish I could hold on to those really bad postcards to keep a list of who not to hire based on their delusional ideas about what is funny. But alas, I would never do such a horrible thing because really, these are just people trying to find their way in this business through whatever means possible. So, in an attempt to maybe help you out on this topic (and in turn, make my life a little bit easier), I’ve devised a pro and con list of what REALLY could help you land the big jobs. See below.

PROS
-YOUR NAME—I cannot tell you how many postcards I’ve seen where I’ve had to search for this information…it should be very obvious and clear on the front of the card.
-ONE CLEAR PHOTO—normal headshot style, funny faces not necessary
-AGENT CONTACT INFO—this gives you validity as an actor. I know it sucks, but there are too many actors out there and we rely on the reputations of agencies to initially determine whether talent is good or not.
-SIMPLICITY—Keep your card to the point. The best thing you can do seems like the most boring and common…and hey, you want to stick out right? Well, take it from someone who goes through tons of these things daily…the normal ones DO stick out. Think white or black background, photo, name, agent contact info…Imagine that? This is really the most ideal. PS, the few people we have called in purely based on their postcards have been of this variety.
-THANK YOU POSTCARDS—These are always good. If you’ve actually met the person you’re sending your shot and are able to call attention to some detail about your meeting, it paints you in a favorable light in the mind of the viewer w/o being obtrusive.

ON THE FENCE (These things don’t really bug me, but don’t really impress me much either.)
-HOLIDAY POSTCARDS— “Wishing you a happy new year” with your face smiling back at me is okay I guess. I mean you don’t know me, but whatever works, right?
-YOUR ENTIRE RESUME on the front of the postcard—I don’t really get this. If I’m interested, I’ll IMDB you and find out for myself. Make me work for this stuff.
-“CATCH ME ON THE UPCOMING EPISODE OF…” I have to admit, sometimes this is good, and other times its bugs me. I think the key here is making sure that the postcard gets there BEFORE your episode airs…otherwise you just look silly.
-CRITIC QUOTES—Unless its Ebert and Roeper giving you two thumbs up, these just look long-winded and detract from you, your name, and your agent.

MAJOR CONS
-DON’T SEND YOUR UNSOLICITED FULL HEADSHOT. Unless you just graduated from a prestigious acting school or university, these just look tacky. Have your agent send it to us if anything.
-If I see one more CHEESY PHRASE that is supposed to make me laugh and fall in love with you….DON’T DO THIS. I’m talking about things like “Doctor Recommended, SAG Approved” and similar taglines.
-Please don’t put your normal headshot picture on the front and your cheesy “LOOK I HAVE PERSONALITY” PICTURE on the back. Just the front one is fine. The rest is assumed.
-Try to avoid saying things like “LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING YOU THIS PILOT SEASON” because that is a bit presumptuous. Who knows if you’ll actually meet me.
-Don’t refer to yourself in the THIRD PERSON. I know its you, the actor, sending me these cards.
-Don’t use DESCRIPTORS like “With the charm of Brad Pitt and the humor of Adam Sandler.”…I mean, come on people. What are you trying to prove here?
-Don’t put MORE THAN 2 PHOTOS of you on the postcard. You’ll just end up looking vain. Again, I understand that you have personality…I don’t need to see 8 different photographic representations of said personality.
-Similarly, don't put MULTIPLE VARIATIONS OF THE SAME PHOTO. If you insist on having more than one photo, provide a little variety. Two photos of you in the exact same position in a different outfit are not acceptable.
-Don't use UNPROFESSIONAL PHOTOS—So you just decided to get into acting, huh? Well, step one is getting someone to take decent photos of you. That snapshot of you out drinking with your buddies is not solicit-able material. Seriously.

**On a similar note, people who send me pictures of their poor BABIES trying to get them into acting are just sick. I know your baby is cute. But seriously, they just popped out of the womb, and you’re already trying to exploit them for money. Shame on you.

Well, folks. That was my rant on postcard headshots. I want to again establish that I understand why these are necessary and some good does come out of them. I don’t resent actors for sending them. Just be wary that if you're gonna put your name and face on something, it better look good.

XOXOXO

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!! In honor of this LOVE-ly holiday, I wanted to note some of my favorite on-screen couples that might not fit into the typical love conventions, but certainly have plenty of chemistry to go around.

JIM AND PAM
We've all been there, and anyone that watches "The Office" knows that the back and forth of John Krasinki's JIM and Jenna Fischer's PAM really pulls on our heartstrings. He likes her, she likes him, but its not the right time, place, etc. Once these two do finally find themselves in each other's arms, we'll all be in a puddle of emotion on the floor. LOVE THEM.

CLAIRE AND ZACH
Unlikely best friends: Hayden Pannetiere's popular cheerleader CLAIRE to Thomas Dekker's tech geek ZACH. They may never have come together if it hadn't been for the forces of fate in one hero's unlikely journey. Without him, Claire is alone with no one to trust. Together, they can make things happen. I just can't get enough of these two.

EARL AND JOY
Okay, okay, so these two are supposed to be the opposite of a couple. But I love the turbulent relationship of Jason Lee's EARL to Jaime Pressly's JOY. Both abusive, and yet both devoted in their own ways. Despite it all, you know they would still be there for each other when they really needed it (like when Earl had to raise some cash to keep Joy out of Jail). No matter what the situation, these two make me love to laugh, and laugh at love.

MR. AND MRS. ARI GOLD
From the outside, you might think this "Entourage" relationship is a mess. Jeremy Piven's ARI is constantly saying mean things about his wife, and Perry Reeves' MRS. ARI is always yelling at him to put him in his place. Still, when you break through the layers, there is a sweetness to these two. She's got him wrapped around her finger and while he may say mean things in jest, we all know where his heart lies. I just love how she's the one person that can take super-agent Ari Gold off of his pedestal.

CHARLIE AND CLAIRE
Most people who watch "LOST" are caught up in the love triangle that is Jack-Kate-Sawyer. However, the love-spark that I'm really interested in is that between Dominic Monaghan's CHARLIE and Emilie de Ravin's CLAIRE. New mom Claire has always been my favorite character because of her obvious vulnerability yet strong-willed attitude. The match between her and troubled yet always upbeat and funny Charlie is so adorable. They're the closest thing to a working family unit on that show.

Spotlight on...

DJIMON HOUNSOU
This actor has a way of overwhelming his audience with a sense of warmth and kindness through one simple look in his eyes. It was his kind-hearted character Juba that really stuck out most in my mind from the movie "Gladiator." Now, he's doing it again as the determined Soloman Vandy in "Blood Diamond." He really knows how to captivate his audience and not get over-shadowed by some serious Oscar-contending actors like Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio.

IVANA BAQUERO
Wow, this young actress is only 12 years old, but her performance in "Pan's Labyrinth" gave me goosebumps. Its usually hard for someone so young to really grasp the emotion and depth of a character in such a complex movie, but Ivana does it seemingly effortlessly. I LOVED this movie, I LOVE this girl, and I'm sure I WILL LOVE what she brings to us next.

Predictions of Little Gold Men

The Grammy's are through (Yay, Dixie Chicks!!), so its time to look to the next extravagant awards show looming over our heads. Next up: The 79th Annual Academy Awards, held on February 25, 2007 on ABC. Below are my Oscar picks this year. The Highlighted ones are who I think WILL win, whereas the bold ones are who I WANT to win.

MY OSCAR PICKS

Best Motion Picture of the Year:
•BABEL
•THE DEPARTED
•LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
•LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
•THE QUEEN

Best Actor:
•Leonardo DiCaprio - BLOOD DIAMOND
•Ryan Gosling - HALF NELSON
•Peter O'Toole - VENUS
•Will Smith - THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS
•Forest Whitaker - THE LAST KING OF SCOTLAND

Best Actress:
•Penélope Cruz - VOLVER
•Judi Dench - NOTES ON A SCANDAL
•Helen Mirren - THE QUEEN
•Meryl Streep - THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
•Kate Winslet - LITTLE CHILDREN

Best Supporting Actor:
•Alan Arkin - LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
•Jackie Earle Haley - LITTLE CHILDREN
•Djimon Hounsou - BLOOD DIAMOND
•Eddie Murphy - DREAMGIRLS
•Mark Wahlberg - THE DEPARTED

Best Supporting Actress:
•Adriana Barraza - BABEL
•Cate Blanchett - NOTES ON A SCANDAL
•Abigail Breslin - LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
•Jennifer Hudson - DREAMGIRLS
•Rinko Kikuchi - BABEL

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year:
•CARS
•HAPPY FEET
•MONSTER HOUSE

Achievement in Art Direction:
•PAN'S LABYRINTH
•THE GOOD SHEPHERD
•DREAMGIRLS
•PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST
•THE PRESTIGE

Achievement in Cinematography:
•THE BLACK DAHLIA
•CHILDREN OF MEN
•THE ILLUSIONIST
•PAN'S LABYRINTH
•THE PRESTIGE

Achievement in Costume Design:
•CURSE OF THE GOLDEN FLOWER
•THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
•DREAMGIRLS
•MARIE ANTOINETTE
•THE QUEEN

Best Director:
•Alejando Inaritu - BABEL
•Martin Scorsese - THE DEPARTED
•Clint Eastwood - LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
•Stephen Frears - THE QUEEN
•Paul Greengrass - UNITED 93

Best Documentary Feature:
•DELIVER US FROM EVIL
•AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH
•IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS
•JESUS CAMP
•MY COUNTRY, MY COUNTRY

Achievement in Film Editing:
•BABEL
•BLOOD DIAMOND
•CHILDREN OF MEN
•THE DEPARTED
•UNITED 93

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year:
•AFTER THE WEDDING
•DAYS OF GLORY (INDIGÈNES)
•THE LIVES OF OTHERS
•PAN'S LABYRINTH
•WATER

Achievement in Makeup:
•APOCALYPTO
•CLICK
•PAN'S LABYRINTH

Best Original Score:
•BABEL
•THE GOOD GERMAN
•NOTES ON A SCANDAL
•PAN'S LABYRINTH
•THE QUEEN

Best Original Song:
•"I Need to Wake Up" - AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH
•"Listen" - DREAMGIRLS
•"Love You I Do" - DREAMGIRLS
•"Our Town" - CARS
•"Patience" - DREAMGIRLS

Achievement in Sound Editing:
•APOCALYPTO
•BLOOD DIAMOND
•FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS
•LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
•PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST

Achievement in Sound Mixing:
•APOCALYPTO
•BLOOD DIAMOND
•DREAMGIRLS
•FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS
•PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST

Achievement in Visual Effects:
•PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MAN'S CHEST
•POSEIDON
•SUPERMAN RETURNS

Adapted Screenplay:
•BORAT: CULTURAL LEARNINGS OF AMERICA FOR MAKE BENEFIT GLORIOUS NATION OF KAZAKHSTAN
•CHILDREN OF MEN
•THE DEPARTED
•LITTLE CHILDREN
•NOTES ON A SCANDAL

Original Screenplay:
•BABEL
•LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA
•LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE
•PAN'S LABYRINTH
•THE QUEEN

As you can probably tell by my picks, PAN'S LABYRINTH was by far my favorite movie of the year. I've seen almost every movie nominated except for "The Queen," which I'm sure influenced my choices in some ways. Overall, I feel like this year has had the best movies of recent years. The last 6 movies I've seen in the theater (The Departed, Babel, Dreamgirls, Children of Men, Pan's Labyrinth, and Blood Diamond--respectively) have all been alarmingly good. Filmmakers, let's keep up the good work!!!

Boy, oh Boy!

Girls aren't the only ones with talent. I thought I'd pay homage to some great actors I've encountered bearing a Y Chromosome.


Hal Ozsan
This hottie of Turkish descent won over hearts on the uber-popular series "Dawson's Creek" way back when. That show is long gone, but Hal certainly is not. These days you can find him rocking out with his band "Poets or Pornstars" or exhibiting his acting talents on various tv shows and movies.



Jayson Blair
Pretty new to the whole hollywood scene, Jayson has yet worked up the usual laundry list of credits attained by most actors. Still, he's a talent that shouldn't be ignored. I would expect to see his adorable face with increasing frequency over the next few years.



Matt Lanter
I met this kid at a party back in early '05 when he was only 2 months in LA. That just goes to show that good talent doesn't always have to work its way up the ranks. In only a few months time, Matt had landed a starring role on the popular ABC series "Commander in Chief." He even had a notable arc in the increasingly popular series "Heroes." One thing is for sure, he's going places, and he's getting there fast.


Corbin Bleu and Zac Efron
These Disney Channel alumni are getting pretty big buzz post-"High School Musical" frenzy. Efron is rumored to be starring in the movie version of the musical "Hairspray," and Corbin's newest Disney Channel movie "Jump In" was one of the most watched programs in all of cable channel history. I would be interested in seeing where the future takes these two young hearthrobs.

Next Generation Ingenues

I've had the pleasure of meeting a handful of extremely talented young actresses who have yet to find their niche in this industry. I'm sure that they will find that perfect part that will sky-rocket them to stardom because they definitely have what it takes. If you get a chance, check these girls out!



Brittney Wilson
Based out of Canada, this girl has some serious acting chops despite being only 15 years old! She's done a slew of tv movies and voice-overs over the years.






Daniella Monet
Sometimes described as a young Marisa Tomei, this beauty can instantly light up any room or the screen itself with her positive energy and spunky personality.




Erin Cahill
This former power ranger is as sweet as can be and talented to boot. She's recently switched from tv to the feature world so I would expect her career to start heating up pretty soon.





Annie Campbell
This girl can act. She was a standout guest-star on Grey's Anatomy this season, which is only the most recent of a string of similar roles. I know its only a matter of time before she ascends the acting ladder.



Danielle and Kay Panabaker
Both young and extremely talented, these sisters are always a positive addition to any project. Moreover, they are extremely grounded and, together or separate, they are just genuinely fun to watch.

Hey You, Anonymous Actor.

It kinda bugs me that actors aren't credited in commercials. I couldn't even tell you how many times I've seen someone on one of these ads with real talent and then spent the next few hours trying to hunt them down via the internet, only to become frustrated and discouraged...abandoning my plight. There should be some kind of resource for these people or something. Note to actors: If you're on a commercial, make sure that when someone googles it, your name comes up. You never know who might be interested in that kind of information...

Speaking of which, these chicks are pretty funny. Can anyone out there identify them?

**UPDATE** The first girl is JULIA LEHMAN. She also has guest-starred on a recent episode of "Veronica Mars."

Life Comes at You Fast...

Superbowl's over. Colts win. Da Bears are out. I wasn't partial to either one considering I am a huge Saints AND Patriots fan. Sad times. So I focused on the commercials between gametime.

Okay, so this post will probably discredit me indefinitely, but I have to admit, I found this commercial to be quite funny. Kevin Federline's Nationwide insurance commercial was probably one of the funnier ones from the Superbowl XLI spot line-up (next to the doritos, snickers, and various bud light commercials). At least he knows he's a joke, right? Just hearing the phrase "Federline, FRIES!!" is satisfaction enough for me. Check out any others you might have missed at www.youtube.com/superbowl. Anyway, have a good laugh (without admitting it to your friends of course).

Dear Barneys-

That Marc Jacobs billboard on the corner of Franklin & Highland in Hollywood has GOT to go. Its been there for as long as I can remember (at least 6 months) and I am forced to stare at it rolling along at 2 MPH trying to get home from work each day. Now, I like Barneys and I like Marc Jacobs. But, anyone with eyes can see that this billboard is a lie. An illusion and it insults me. What are these two, siamese twins? Or maybe hottie-rocker-hair just doesn't have an arm or left shoulder? It's pretty clear that these models were never really captured by the same camera in the same moment, but rather fatefully joined at the hair by the fabulous talents of photoshop. Is that even really her arm? The world may never know...

**UPDATE** IT's GONE!! I don't know how or why, but as of 2/20/07 this badboy is no longer haunting my commute. Yay!

Swoon.

Kyle Howard--This guy is bringing back boyish charm in a big way. We all knew and loved him when we were kids from films like "The Paper Brigade" and "House Arrest." Some of us even fell in love with him all over again with a short lived series "Grosse Pointe." Chances are though that you haven't been able to miss him lately on TBS's hit series "MY BOYS." He's charming, personable, and a really strong actor. I don't expect him to be going away anytime soon...

"These Guys are Incredible...They're Princes."

CLARK and MICHAEL

The comedy of this duo is SPOT ON.


You're probably already familiar with Michael Cera as the quirky yet lovable "George-Michael" on the critically acclaimed series Arrested Development. However, unless you follow YouTube and Myspace videos closely, you might have missed the equally comedic Clark Duke. As close friends, both share a subtle humor that is laugh-out-loud hilarious in my opinion. Check out their stuff at ClarkandMichael.com. According to the trades, they're working on a pilot for the new CBS internet channel INNERTUBE. I can't wait.