This year’s Oscar nominations were announced this morning at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ headquarters in Beverly Hills (complete list here), and there were actually a few pleasant non-pompous foreign subtitled period drama surprises in the mix. People Magazine says:

Comedy counts in Hollywood for once, with two surprise nominations for Bridesmaids — [Best] Supporting Actress Melissa McCarthy and Best Screenplay writer Kristen Wiig.

As anticipated, nominations in the Best Picture category included The Descendants (five nods) and The Artist, with 10 nominations, and Martin Scorsese’s Hugo, with 11.

Acting nods went to friendly rivals George Clooney for The Descendants, and Brad Pitt for Moneyball.

For Best Actress, Michelle Williams was cited for My Week with Marilyn, as was Meryl Streep [for] The Iron Lady.

Kristen Wiig is fucking hilarious and “Bridesmaids” was the best movie I saw last year, so that Oscar is a long time coming. Frankly, she should have gotten a nod for her SNL role as the retarded Meryl sister on the Lawrence Welk Show years ago. Case in point:

The 69th Annual Golden Globes Awards nominations were announced this morning by the always boob-tastic Sofia Vergara. People magazine says:

Among those in the spotlight thanks to Thursday’s nominations: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Ryan Gosling, Michael Fassbender, Michelle Williams, Charlize Theron, Rooney Mara, Tilda Swinton, Jodie Foster, Kristen Wiig, Viola Davis, Meryl Streep and Glenn Close.

Also in the running in the leading categories are Modern Family, Boardwalk Empire, Game of Thrones, Downtown Abbey and Homeland.

Tthe Globes also [recognized] Woody Allen for Midnight in Paris, George Clooney for Ides of March, Martin Scorsese for Hugo, Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist and Alexander Payne The Descendants.

Whoever thought to have Sofia Vergara do the announcing is a genius. Otherwise, nobody would’ve watched. But throw in an impressive set of chi-chis and you’re sure as shit paying attention now. I tell you, if Sofia Vergara had been my history teacher in the ninth grade, I might actually know what the Treaty of Versailles is.

Sofia at the CNN Heroes All-Star Tribute Sunday night (for a complete list of nominations in all 25 categories, click here):

PHOTO SOURCE: Fame Pictures

The 81st annual Academy Award nominations were announced this morning, and it looks like Oscar has himself a case of Benjamin Button fever. People Magazine says

Benjamin Button led the field, with a total of 13 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actor, Supporting Actress, Director and Screenplay. It was followed by Slumdog Millionaire, with 10.

Perennial nominee Meryl Streep, a two-time Oscar winner who already holds the record for most nominations of any actor or actress – this is her 15th time up at bat – was nominated as Best Actress in Doubt.

Also up for best picture: “Milk” and “The Reader.” Now, I understand including “The Reader,” because of its insightful meditation into the duality of human nature and the legacy of collective guilt inherited by the post-war generation. And — more importantly — it had boobs. But “Milk?!” For Best Picture? Please. Just because it’s about a gay doesn’t make it great. It just makes it gay. Kinda like your mom, but without the mustache and socialist agenda. Zing!

Complete list of nominees after the jump

(more…)

The SAG Award nominees were announced this morning, with actress Kate Winslet at the front of the pack with two nominations and John Patrick Shanley’s “Doubt” earning five. People Magazine says

The actress was recognized by her peers… as both a lead and supporting actress for her current releases, Revolutionary Road and The Reader.

John Patrick Shanley’s Doubt – starring the nominated Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams and Viloa Davis – led the movie pack, with five nods.

The late Heath Ledger also joins the SAG best supporting actor category for [his role as the Joker].

Brad Pitt got a leading actor nod for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Angelina Jolie was also recognized, for Changeling.

Notably absent from the list: “The Love Guru,” “Mad Money,” and that video of me doing a one-man rendition of “How Green Was My Valley” in Klingon. It might not win any awards, but you’d still have to agree it’s the most watchable of the three.

Now, in the spirit of Christmas and Baby Jesus, Yahoo lays off 1500 employees but still manages to scrounge up enough money to host a “Yahoo Snow Fight” with British Page 3 model Nicola McLean. Maybe there wasn’t a manger nearby that they could take a dump in:

Bonus:
Screw You Yahoo – A song written by Michelle Chappel, a former Yahoo consultant.

The ridiculously long complete list of nominations after the jump:

(more…)