22 Days & Counting....

LOST Season Premiere Review, courtesy of TV Guide:

The first seasons' flashbacks now seem utterly quaint. And the more recent flash-forwards? Relatively simple. As promised, previewed and teased by the producers of Lost ever since Season 4 came to a close, the next cycle of episodes introduce a new storytelling "device" of sorts that might make you want to keep a notepad and pen next to your TV remote.

But enough about that. No, really — that's enough. I can't say more, given the confidentiality request that prefaced the first two Season 5 episodes made available to the press.

Instead, I will simply note that the episodes "Because You Left" and "The Lie" offer compelling twists for both the half-dozen "survivors" of Oceanic flight 815 as well as those who are still on the island (wherever it may be).

The first hour is the stronger of the two, as it sends the mind reeling and uncorks infinite possibilities. Picking up soon after the events of the season finale, "Because You Left" reiterates Ben's claim that Jack et al must return to the island to make things "right" (as Michael Emerson shares in this video, there's a "scientific need" for that reunion to happen), then lets slip a bit of insight — from the perspective of those left behind — as to where the island moved. Alas, just as they figure it out....

Next up, "The Lie" revolves around a major predicament for one of the Oceanic 6, setting the stage for a twist that significantly staggers Ben's plan to "get the band back together." Meanwhile, Sawyer, Juliet and the others are subject to old island problems, new revelations and surprise saviors, with the showstopper being one of Lost's most electric and intense action scenes ever.

Familiar faces return. New faces create new problems ... or perhaps offer solutions (hello, Fionnula Flanagan!). People die. All told, the foundation is laid for a pivotal penultimate season.

Before I go, a few more teasers to whet your whistle until the new season arrives Wednesday, Jan. 21.

• Within the first minutes, Daniel Faraday turns up in a most unexpected place.

• Jack shaves his strife beard ... in the premiere's second such shaving scene. (And no, you'll never guess the first familiar face to take razor in hand.)

• There's "another" plane crash.

• Someone gets a nosebleed. (Uh-oh.)

• Kate is haunted by a decision she made.

• As previously spoiled, a dead gal briefly resurfaces — in a somewhat surprising (and somewhat ironic) capacity.

• Did someone order a big helping of frogurt...?

• Every theory I have read about how Desmond might remain in the mix, even though he and Penny were free and clear at the end of the season finale? No one got it right.

• Someone dares call Sawyer an "inbred." That can't end well. And it doesn't.

• Speaking of Sawyer, he remains shirtless for the entire first hour plus the first eight minutes of the second episode. (ABC, you owe me big time for spreading the word on that.)

Why Didn't I Think Of This?

How cool is this? A LOST nativity scene.

Plan Accordingly

To help you wile away the hours, nursing whatever hangover ailment you happen to be sporting, here's a handy list of TV marathons. Aren't I so helpful?

New Year's Eve Wednesday December 31 2008
A&E: Dog the Bounty Hunter
Bravo: Project Runway
Cartoon Network: 6teen
Discovery Health: Untold Stories of the E.R.
E!: Keeping Up With the Kardashians
Food: The Next Food Network Star
Green: Living With Ed
GSN: $100,000 Pyramid
Logo: Sordid Lives
National Geographic: Earth: The Biography
Nickelodeon: Drake & Josh
Nick Toon: Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius
Science: Survivorman
Sci-Fi: The Twilight Zone
Spike: CSI
Style: Clean House
Sundance: Spectacle
TLC: Mystery Diagnosis
Toon Disney: Spider-man
TruTV: Most Daring / Speeders
TV Guide: Close Up
TV One: Divorce Court
TV Land: I Love Lucy
USA: Elf
Versus: Rocky movies
WE: Bridezillas / The Locator


New Year's Day Thursday January 1st 2009
A&E: The First 48
AMC: Rocky movies
BET: Notarized Top Video Countdown
Bravo: The Biggest Loser
Cartoon Network: Looney Tunes
CNBC: American Greed: Scams, Scoundrels and Scandals
Comedy Central: South Park / Drawn Together
Discovery: Mythbusters
DIY: Dream Home / Renovation Realities
ESPN 2: 2008 World Series of Poker
Food: Iron Chef America
Fox Reality: American Idol
G4: Spaceballs: The Animated Series / Human Wrecking Balls
Green: Living With Ed
History: Ice Road Truckers
MTV: Engaged and Underage Bridal Bowl
The N: What I Like About You
Science: Deconstructed / Weird Connections
Sci-Fi: The Twilight Zone
Soap: Private Practice
Spike: CSI: NY
TLC: Ashley Paige: Bikini or Bust / Inside Brookhaven Obesity Clinic / Half-Ton
TNT: Bones
Toon Disney: Spider-man
Travel: Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
TruTV: Speeders / The Smoking Gun Presents: World's Dumbest Criminals
TV Land: Brady Bunch
TV One: The Jeffersons
USA: Monk
Versus: World Extreme Cagefighting
We: Bridezillas / Momma's Boys
WGN: Honeymooners

50 Things

50 Things We Know Now

Definitely some interesting tidbits to be found.

Surprisingly Prophetic

Newsweek's Gadgets Shopping List from 1997:

PalmPilot (PALM) Professional, $369. And don't forget a bevy of accessories, like the Metricom Ricochet wireless modem -- another $349, plus $30/month for service.

Seiko MessageWatch, $79.95 to $189.95. For $14.95 a month, you get unlimited local paging and email up to 16 characters long. By the way, where's our Casio TwitterWatch?

Sony (SNE) Playstation, $149. Better than its rivals, the Nintendo N64 and Sega's Saturn, says Newsweek. Wacky 1997 rumor: Sega will be working on an "affordable but ultrahighend 128-bit system possibly in partnership with--guess who--Microsoft" (MSFT).

Motorola (MOT) StarTac 8600 Cellular Phone, $800 to $1,200. Motorola's big hit of the late '90s, this phone was even "wearable" with the right armband or necklace accessory. Includes a built-in answering machine!

Midisoft Family Music Center, $199.95. Four octave programmable keyboard, doubles as a digital studio mixer.

Canon PowerShot 350 Digital Camera, $599. No mention of megapixels, but enough memory to store 47 pictures at once. "For even more pictures, snap in the 2MB CompactFlash memory card."

"Austin Powers" DVD, $25. "For those early adopters on your Christmas list who already have Digital Video Disc (DVD) players hooked up in their home entertainment centers."

Rolodex Rex PC Companion, $129 to $179. Tiny, read-only pocket organizer "so small you could conceal it under a credit card" -- "the equivalent of a stuffed Filofax."

Alphasmart 2000 Keyboard, $249. A keyboard with a built-in word processor that can store up to 64 pages of single-spaced text. Synchs up with an Apple (AAPL) Mac or PC.

Sony SPP-SS960 Digital Spread Spectrum Phone, $199. Cordless home phone.

Fritz 5 Chess, $88. PC chess game with a talking coach, database of 100,000 games and a "dazzling library of opening moves."
Bonus: Apple "Think Different" ad with $5,699 PowerBook G3 notebook.

Duggar #18 Born December 18!

Just in case you haven't heard the news yet, Duggar #18, Jordyn-Grace Makiya, was born December 18th. She was due January 1, but was delivered via c-section because she was all sideways and stuff. Apparently this is common with mothers who've been pregnant a lot - their uterus gets so loose that the baby can just flip all over. I am very impressed with their TV editors, as TLC is advertising that their "birth special" will air Monday at 10 PM. (Hopefully this is an episode about Jordyn-Grace's birth, rather than composite of all the previous birth specials, which so far is all we're seeing on the commercials. But after 18, are they really all that different?)

We Have To Get Back!

Check it out:

The Latest Buzz

Courtesy of various sources:

Q: The John Scott character on Fringe is such a joyful enigma; maybe one of you can convince the producers to bring him back from the dead?

A: When I asked my friends o' Fringe about John Scott's possible reanimation, there were rumblings and whispers and gasps before they told me that John's state of being will be a crucial topic of discussion come January. So far, Olivia has enjoyed only the benefits of her mind-meld with her dastardly former lover (played by Mark Valley), but there are also drawbacks.

And in Lost news....
A new Dharma Logo was spotted on the Othersvlle set, the logo with a wrench in the center! Othersville is freshly painted and looks all nice and new. A Dharma "Processing Center" is a part of the set, which includes several props including pictures of new recruits. The latest date spotted was 1976! A yellow lab, possibly Vincent, was spotted. Regarding the VW filming on the cliff, Hurley was spotted in the driver seat while Sawyer had a Dharma jumpsuit on, but Jack was in the shirt in tie still. Kate and Lost producers Damon and Carlton were on set. At another set at Kawela Bay, some large props were spotted including a structure that seems like a 20 ft tall Teepee without the covering. Plus, as part of their most recent podcast at The Transmission, we get a confirmation that we will see Young Charlotte and learn about her birthplace afterall perhaps via a Charlotte flashback or because the island has traveled back in time.

Rousseau and Walt could be back, but Michael will stay dead. Flashbacks and flash-forwards will be part of the mix, and be on the lookout for that four-toed statue. Oh, and don't expect that Desmond-Penny bliss to continue forever.

Women Film Critics Circle

I love women and support equality of the sexes. But these have got to be my two favorite categories.

MOST OFFENSIVE MALE CHARACTERS
Aaron Eckhart: Towelhead
Sam Rockwell: Choke,
Larry Bishop: Hell Ride
Paul Rudd, Sean William Scott: Role Models
Jason Mewes: Zack And Miri Make a Porno

TOP TEN HALL OF SHAME
Roman Polanski: Wanted And Desired
House Of The Sleeping Beauties
The Women
The Life Before Her Eyes
The Hottie and the Nottie
Savage Grace
Made Of Honor
The Family That Preys
Hounddog
Zack And Miri Make A Porno

I can't even imagine what kind of attention the "Men Film Critics Circle" would get if it included categories like "Most Offensive Female Characters." But I would love to see the nominees.

AFI Weighs in on the year...

TOP TEN MOVIES:

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Frost/Nixon
Frozen River
Gran Torino
Iron Man
Milk
WALL-E
Wendy and Lucy
The Wrestler

TOP TEN TV SHOWS:

Breaking Bad
In Treatment
John Adams
Life
Lost
Mad Men
The Office
Recount
The Shield
The Wire

Bush's Final F.U.

Click here courtesy of Rolling Stone

My Horn Can Pierce The Sky

So was this week's episode of The Office one of the best ever? What did you think of Phyllis' revelation about Dwight & Angela? Will Toby ever catch a break? And Michael trying to pull off an intervention after offering Meredith that crazy drink concoction?

Crazy, funny, really good stuff this week.

Most Emailed News

Don't want to hunt & peck for all the popular stuff? Check this out!

Wedding Songs

What will be or was the first song played at your wedding? White Wedding? Butterfly Kisses?

Rolling Stone Best Albums of 2008

1. TV on the Radio, DEAR SCIENCE
2. Bob Dylan, TELL TALE SIGNS - THE BOOTLEG SERIES VOL. 8
3. L'il Wayne, THA CARTER III
4. My Morning Jacket, EVIL URGES
5. John Mellencamp, LIFE, DEATH, LOVE AND FREEDOM
6. Santogold, SANTOGOLD
7. Coldplay, VIVA LA VIDA OR DEATH AND ALL HIS FRIENDS
8. Beck, MODERN GUILT
9. Metallica, DEATH MAGNETIC
10. Vampire Weekend, VAMPIRE WEEKEND

Full list here.

Their top 5 songs are:
1. Single Ladies, Beyonce
2. Les Artistes, Santogold
3. Time to Pretend, MGMT
4. Furr, Blitzen Trapper
5. Lollipop, Lil Wayne

The Globes Are In!

PICTURE, DRAMA:
"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
"Frost/Nixon"
"The Reader"
"Revolutionary Road"
"Slumdog Millionaire"
"The Visitor"

[Can anyone else wait to see Benjamin Button? My vote here now is for Slumdog.]

PICTURE, MUSICAL OR COMEDY:
"Burn After Reading"
"Happy-Go-Lucky"
"In Bruges"
"Mamma Mia!"
"Vicky Christina Barcelona"

[I only saw Mamma Mia and it should not be nominated for anything except "Best Cheese."]

DIRECTOR:
Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire"
Stephen Daldry, "The Reader"
David Fincher, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Ron Howard, "Frost/Nixon"
Sam Mendes, "Revolutionary Road"

DRAMATIC ACTOR:
Leonardo DiCaprio, "Revolutionary Road"
Frank Langella, "Frost/Nixon"
Sean Penn, "Milk"
Brad Pitt, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler"

[Is Mickey going to steal it from Sean or Brad?]

DRAMATIC ACTRESS:
Anne Hathaway, "Rachel Getting Married"
Angelina Jolie, "Changeling"
Meryl Streep, "Doubt"
Kristin Scott Thomas, "I've Loved You So Long"
Kate Winslet, "Revolutionary Road"

ACTOR, COMEDY OR MUSICAL:
Javier Bardem, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Colin Farrell, "In Bruges"
James Franco, "Pineapple Express"
Brendan Gleeson, "In Bruges"
Dustin Hoffman, "Last Chance Harvey"

[James Franco!!!]

ACTRESS, COMEDY OR MUSICAL:
Rebecca Hall, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Sally Hawkins, "Happy-Go-Lucky"
Frances McDormand, "Burn After Reading"
Meryl Streep, "Mamma Mia!"
Emma Thompson, "Last Chance Harvey"

SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Tom Cruise, "Tropic Thunder"
Robert Downey, Jr., "Tropic Thunder"
Ralph Fiennes, "The Duchess"
Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Doubt"
Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight."

[I think Robert Downey should be nominated for an Oscar.]

SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Amy Adams, "Doubt"
Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Viola Davis, "Doubt"
Marisa Tomei, "The Wrestler"
Kate Winslet, "The Reader"

ANIMATED FILM:
"Bolt,"
"Kung Fu Panda"
"Wall-E"

[Were there only three animated films this year?]

TELEVISION:

DRAMATIC TV SERIES:
"Dexter"
"House M.D."
"In Treatment"
"Mad Men"
"True Blood"

[I'm going True Blood here. Although Dexter and Mad Men are great. Can't speak to the others. Where's Lost?]

ACTOR, TV DRAMA:
Gabriel Byrne, "In Treatment"
Michael C. Hall, "Dexter"
Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"
Hugh Laurie, "House M.D."
Jonathan Rhys Meyers, "The Tudors"

ACTRESS, TV DRAMA:
Sally Field, "Brothers & Sisters"
Mariska Hargitay, "Law & Order: SVU"
January Jones, "Mad Men"
Anna Paquin, "True Blood"
Kyra Sedgwick, "The Closer"

[Will they stop nominating Mariska for every award please?]

TV SERIES, MUSICAL OR COMEDY:
"Californication"
"Entourage"
"The Office"
"30 Rock"
"Weeds"

[Tough call between 30 Rock and Weeds. I go 30 Rock this year because it's so absurd!]

ACTOR, TV MUSICAL OR COMEDY:
Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"
Steve Carell, "The Office"
Kevin Connolly, "Entourage"
David Duchovny, "Californication"
Tony Shalhoub, "Monk"

[Will they stop nominating Tony Shalhoub for every award?]

ACTRESS, TV MUSICAL OR COMEDY:
Christina Applegate, "Samantha Who?"
America Ferrera, "Ugly Betty"
Tina Fey, "30 Rock"
Debra Messing, "The Starter Wife"
Mary-Louise Parker, "Weeds"

MINISERIES - I took these out because all you have to know is that John Adams will win them all.

ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION:
Eileen Atkins, "Cranford"
Laura Dern, "Recount"
Melissa George, "In Treatment"
Rachel Griffiths, "Brothers & Sisters"
Dianne Wiest, "In Treatment"

[Laura Dern all the way (sorry Rachel)... but is this the dumbest category or what? It's basically "Best Actress in the World!"]

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINISERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION:
Neil Patrick Harris, "How I Met Your Mother"
Denis Leary, "Recount"
Jeremy Piven, "Entourage"
Blair Underwood, "In Treatment"
Tom Wilkinson, "John Adams"

CECIL B. DEMILLE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD:
Steven Spielberg

Full list here.

Pay Attention

While Detroit Slept

LA Film Critics Best List

Best Picture
Wall-E
Runner-up: The Dark Knight

Director
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Runner-up: Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight

Actor
Sean Penn, Milk
Runner-up: Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

Actress
Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky
Runner-up: Melissa Leo, Frozen River

Supporting Actor
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Runner-up: Eddie Marsan, Happy-Go-Lucky

Supporting Actress
Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona and Elegy
Runner-up: Viola Davis, Doubt

Screenplay
Mike Leigh, Happy-Go-Lucky
Runner-up: Charlie Kaufman, Synecdoche, New York

Foreign-language Film
Still Life
Runner-up: The Class

Documentary
Man on Wire
Runner-up: Waltz With Bashir

Animation
Waltz With Bashir

Cinematography
Yu Lik Wai, Still Life
Runner-up: Anthony Dod Mantle, Slumdog Millionaire

Production Design
Mark Friedberg, Synecdoche, New York
Runner-up: Nathan Crowley, The Dark Knight

Music/score
A.R. Rahman, Slumdog Millionaire
Runner-up: Alexandre Desplat, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

New Generation
Steve McQueen, Hunger

Douglas E. Edwards independent/experimental film/video
James Benning, RR and Casting a Glance

British Critics Choice Awards

These categories are WAY better than the Academy.

BEST PICTURE
Changeling
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Doubt
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire
Wall-E
The Wrestler


BEST ACTOR
Clint Eastwood - Gran Torino
Richard Jenkins - The Visitor
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn - Milk
Brad Pitt - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler


BEST ACTRESS
Kate Beckinsale - Nothing But the Truth
Cate Blanchett - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie - Changeling
Melissa Leo - Frozen River
Meryl Streep - Doubt


BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Josh Brolin - Milk
Robert Downey, Jr. - Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
James Franco - Milk


BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis - Doubt
Vera Farmiga - Nothing But the Truth
Taraji P. Henson - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler
Kate Winslet - The Reader


BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
The Dark Knight
Doubt
Milk
Rachel Getting Married


BEST DIRECTOR
Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
David Fincher - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon
Christopher Nolan - The Dark Knight
Gus Van Sant - Milk


BEST WRITER (Original or Adapted Screenplay)
Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire
Dustin Lance Black - Milk
Peter Morgan - Frost/Nixon
Eric Roth -The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
John Patrick Shanley - Doubt


BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
Wall-E
Waltz With Bashir


BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS (Under 21)
Dakota Fanning - The Secret Life of Bees
David Kross - The Reader
Dev Petal - Slumdog Millionaire
Brandon Walters - Australia


BEST ACTION MOVIE
The Dark Knight
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Iron Man
Quantum of Solace
Wanted


BEST COMEDY MOVIE
Burn After Reading
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
Role Models
Tropic Thunder
Vicky Cristina Barcelona


BEST PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
John Adams
Recount
Coco Chanel


BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
A Christmas Tale
Gomorrah
I've Loved You So Long
Let the Right One In
Mongol
Waltz With Bashir


BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
I.O.U.S.A.
Man On Wire
Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired
Standard Operating Procedure
Young At Heart


BEST SONG
"Another Way to Die" (performed by Jack White and Alicia Keys, written by Jack White) - Quantum of Solace
"Down to Earth" (performed by Peter Gabriel, written by Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman) - Wall-E
"I Thought I Lost You" (performed Miley Cyrus and John Travolta, written by Miley Cyrus and Jeffrey Steele) - Bolt
"Jaiho" (performed by Sukhwinder Singh, written by A.R. Rahman and Gulzar) - Slumdog Millionaire
"The Wrestler" (performed by Bruce Springsteen, written by Bruce Springsteen) - The Wrestler


BEST COMPOSER
Alexandre Desp lat -The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Clint Eastwood - Changeling
Danny Elfman - Milk
Hans Zimmer/James Newton Howard - The Dark Knight
A.R. Rahman - Slumdog Millionaire

Australia

What can I say except this movie is TERRIBLE! But at the same time beautiful, big, dumb and fun. But terrible.

Time Mag Top 10 Everything

Read the full lists here.

Movies
1. Wall-E
5. Milk
6. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
7. Slumdog Millionaire
8. Iron Man
9. Speed Racer (really??)

Best Film Performances
Female:
1. Kate Winslet, The Reader
5. Angelina Jolie, Wanted (I totally disagree here)
Male:
1. Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight

TV Series
1. The Shield
2. Mad Men
7. Lost
8. Battlestar Galactica

TV Show Episodes
1. Lost, The Constant, "At its best, Lost rips your heart out while it ties your brain in a knot."
6. Battlestar Galactica, Revelations
8. 30 Rock, Cooter
9. Mad Men, A Night to Remember

Top Albums
1. TV on the Radio, Dear Science

Bored?

Go check out Face in Hole

New York Post Ten Worst Movies of 2008

1. 'The Love Guru'
2. 'The Hottie and the Nottie'
3. 'Mad Money'
4. 'What Happens In Vegas'
5. '10,000 B.C'
6. 'Babylon A.D.'
7. 'You Don't Mess With The Zohan'
8. 'Rambo'
9. 'Witless Protection'
10. 'Beverly Hills Chihuahua'

I saw 5% of these movies. I fell asleep halfway through Zohan.

Rolling Stone Top 12 DVDs of 2008

I used to be a big DVD person, not so much anymore. Kind of a waste of money when you have Netflix. But I still buy the good ones. Here's what Rolling Stone put on their list:

1. Dark Knight
2. Wall-E
3. Godfather Trilogy
4. Iron Man
5. Shine a Light
6. Wanted
7. Man on Wire
8. Hancock (I have this at home now)
9. Bottle Rocket
10. Dr. No (Bond on Blu-ray)
11. Journey to the Center of the Earth
12. Cool Hand Luke (cool!)

I love lists

So I'll be posting a lot of them.

National Board of Review

Best Film
SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

Best Director
DAVID FINCHER, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Actor
CLINT EASTWOOD, Gran Torino

Best Actress
ANNE HATHAWAY, Rachel Getting Married

Best Supporting Actor
JOSH BROLIN, Milk

Best Supporting Actress
PENELOPE CRUZ, Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Best Foreign Language Film
MONGOL

Best Documentary
MAN ON WIRE

Best Animated Feature
WALL-E

Best Ensemble Cast
DOUBT

Breakthrough Performance by an Actor
DEV PATEL, Slumdog Millionaire

Breakthrough Performance by an Actress
VIOLA DAVIS, Doubt

Best Directorial Debut
COURTNEY HUNT, Frozen River

Best Original Screenplay
NICK SCHENK, Gran Torino

Best Adapted Screenplay
SIMON BEAUFOY, Slumdog Millionaire and ERIC ROTH, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Spotlight Award
MELISSA LEO, Frozen River and RICHARD JENKINS, The Visitor

The BVLGARI Award for NBR Freedom of Expression
TRUMBO

Top Ten Films
(In alphabetical order)
BURN AFTER READING
CHANGELING
THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
THE DARK KNIGHT
DEFIANCE
FROST/NIXON
GRAN TORINO
MILK
WALL-E
THE WRESTLER

Top Five Foreign Language Films
(In alphabetical order)
EDGE OF HEAVEN
LET THE RIGHT ONE IN
ROMAN DE GUERRE
A SECRET
WALTZ WITH BASHIR

Top Five Documentary Films
(In alphabetical order)
AMERICAN TEEN
THE BETRAYAL (NERAKHOON)
DEAR ZACHARY
ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD
ROMAN POLANSKI WANTED AND DESIRED

William K. Everson Film History Award
MOLLY HASKELL and ANDREW SARRIS

Merry Christmas

...and with it comes a new U2 Christmas song. Pretty good!

No Doubt

Not only are they preparing a new album for 2009 (!!!!!), but if you are a Rock Band owner you can download their "Singles" collection so you can rock steady with them.

Important Grammy Update

Kathy Griffin was nominated for her comedy album, "For Your Consideration!" If you watch the show, you'll know the only reason she recorded the album was so she could win a Grammy. Brilliant!

The only thing lamer than the Grammies is their website

Record of the Year (I've finally learned that this means best recording of a song):
Chasing Pavements - Adele
Viva La Vida -Coldplay
Bleeding Love - Leona Lewis
Paper Planes - M.I.A
Please Read The Letter - Robert Plant & Alison Kraus

Okay... not awful but very mainstream.

Album of the Year
Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends - Coldplay
Tha Carter III - Lil Wayne
Year Of The Gentleman - Ne-Yo
Raising Sand - Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
In Rainbows - Radiohead

Quite honestly, I think Radiohead and Coldplay are the only ones deserving here. I still maintain that if it weren't "Coldplay" (and all the baggage that came with them), people would've been very impressed with their album. Imagine if it were their "first album." This is Radiohead's best album. But what about Beck, Sigur Ros, My Morning Jacket, Panic at the Disco, Hot Chip, Does It Offend You Yeah?, Black Mountain, Black Keys? Those are all better than Coldplay and certainly the other three non-Radiohead nominees. I'm probably forgetting about 25 other albums that rocked the joint.

Best New Artist
If the Jonas Bros are nominated, this is crap. Yeah, they're nominated.

The only other two I really care about:

Best Rock Album
Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends - Coldplay
Rock N Roll Jesus - Kid Rock
Only By The Night - Kings Of Leon
Death Magnetic - Metallica
Consolers Of The Lonely - The Raconteurs

Kid Rock?

Best Alternative Music Album
Modern Guilt - Beck
Narrow Stairs - Death Cab For Cutie
The Odd Couple - Gnarls Barkley
Evil Urges - My Morning Jacket
In Rainbows - Radiohead

When my favorite albums are all in lower categories, I know this awards show just isn't for me.

Lost Tidbits

Television Without Pity offers up some nuggets o' Lost, after a recent interview with Exec Producers, Carlton Cuse & Damon Lindelof:

- "I think its safe to say you'll be seeing Christian again in season 5," Lindelof says. "And what's up with those white tennis shoes he was wearing back in season 1?"

- Lindelof adds, "As for Jin, we'll definitely be seeing more of him in season 5. But as we're moving through past, present and future, who knows when we'll see him.

- Says Cuse: "More on the four-toed statue to come!

And might we see a Lost feature film after the series ends? "The answer is no," Lindelof says. "We've always felt that the show should definitively end the same place it started ... on television. To bring our characters to some sort of cliffhanger where the audience gets none of the answers that they really care about and then say, 'Now give us ten bucks, buy some popcorn and we'll give you the rest!' would pretty much be the worst thing ever."

40 Greatest Lost Pop Culture Icons

I found myself going, "oh yeah....." at recalling the various people on this list courtesy of Nerve.com

Sneak Peak

Indie Spirit Award Nominations

Okay, the first nominations of the year! And I haven't seen most of them.

Best Picture
Rachel Getting Married
The Wrestler
Wendy and Lucy
Ballast
Frozen River

Best Female Lead
Summer Bishil - Towelhead
Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Melissa Leo - Frozen River
Tarra Riggs - Ballast
Michelle Williams - Wendy and Lucy

Best Male Lead
Javier Bardem - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Richard Jenkins - The Visitor
Sean Penn - Milk
Jeremy Renner - The Hurt Locker
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler

See the full list here.

Thanksgiving Movies

Since I was battling a bad cold this entire past weekend, I opted to see a few movies rather than drink lots of wine. Okay, I had lots of wine, too.

I saw Milk. This is the true story of Harvey Milk, who was the first openly gay official elected to high office in the United States. Sean Penn delivers a performance unlike anything we've seen from him before. It's funny, happy and optimistic. The rest of the cast is equally great, especially James Franco and Emile Hirsch. I didn't even know it was Hirsch until the end credits. You may know how the movie ends, but probably wouldn't expect it to be a truly inspirational film and certainly more than a "gay movie." It's a movie about the human condition and equality.

Milk would've been my favorite movie of the year so far, except last night I saw Slumdog Millionaire. You may not have heard about this movie yet, but you will.

Slumdog is directed by Danny Boyle, who did Trainspotting and 28 Days Later. He also did the awful Sunshine and The Beach. This is his best movie. Jamal is on the Indian-version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" and he knows the answer to every question on the show. But he doesn't know anything else, so he is accused of cheating. The movie is basically an explanation for how he has come to know these very specific answers. The filmmaking is colorful, kinetic and boasts beautiful performances - plus great music - the kind you'd hear in a Bollywood film! The movie is about doing the right thing and choosing the correct and honorable path. It is about coincidence. It is about violence and hate and revenge. And it is about love. This is the most entertaining movie of the year.

Reality Line-Up

Winter Reality Schedule:
* Bad Girls Club 3 [Oxygen, Dec. 2, Tuesdays at 10]
* Secret Millionaire [Fox, December 3 at 8, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 9]
* A Double Shot of Love [MTV, Dec. 9, Tuesdays at 10] news
* Intervention [A&E, Dec. 15 at 10, Mondays at 9]
* Momma’s Boys [NBC, Dec. 16 at 10, Mondays at 9 but 10 p.m. as of Jan. 5]
* Countdown to the Crown [TLC, Jan. 2, Fridays at 10] news
* Superstar Dancers of the World/Superstars of Dance [NBC, Sunday, Jan. 4 at 9, Mondays at 8]
* The Bachelor 13 [ABC, Jan. 5, Mondays at 8] news
* True Beauty [ABC, Jan. 5, Mondays at 10]
* Greg Behrendt’s Wake-Up Call [SoapNet, Jan. 8, Thursdays at 11]
* American Idol 8 [Fox, Jan. 13, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 8] news
* Hell’s Kitchen 5 [Fox, Jan. 29, Thursdays at 9] news
* Around the World for Free [WGN America, January]
* Chris & John to the Rescue! [Logo, January]
* Gone Country 3 [CMT, January 2009]
* Jockeys [Animal Planet, Feb. 6]
* Survivor 18 [CBS, February] news
* Wingman [Fine Living, Feb. 10, Tuesdays at 9]
* Running in Heels [Style, March 2009]


2009

* 13: Fear is Real [The CW]
* Blonde Charity Mafia [Lifetime]
* The City [MTV, first quarter 2009]
* Creature [Animal Planet]
* Dance Your Ass Off [Oxygen]
* Ghost Hunters [Sci Fi]
* How’d You Get So Rich? [TV Land]
* Jingles [CBS]
* Untitled Larry Birkhead series [E!, 2009]
* Lock ‘N Load [Showtime, 2009]
* Make Me a Supermodel 2 [Bravo] news
* Make My Day [TV Land]
* The Phone [MTV]
* Project Runway 6 [Lifetime, Wednesdays (on hold due to court order)] news
* The Real Housewives of New York City [Bravo] news
* RuPaul’s Drag Race [Logo]
* Shark Taggers [NBC]
* Southern Belles [SoapNet]
* Swords [NBC, summer]
* Toddlers and Tiaras [TLC]
* When Women Rule the World [FOX, future uncertain]