8:29 a.m. I know most of you are probably watching Today‘s telecast on NBC (with EW’s dapper Dave Karger) — and that’s the smart move. But me? I’m gonna endure E!’s telecast, mostly so you don’t have to!
8:30 a.m. Giuliana DePandi gets through her introductory voiceover without saying anything ridonk. That may be the morning’s biggest surprise.
8:31 a.m. The term "kit and kaboodle" is uttered by Oscar analyst Leo Quiñones.
8:32 a.m. Giuliana declares that Meryl Streep "probably couldn’t spell Dolce & Gabbana before getting the script [for The Devil Wears Prada]." Like Giuliana could spell "Streep" before getting a job at E!
8:34 a.m. Ad break. Focus energies on shocking Children of Men nomination. It could happen!
8:35 a.m. Okay, it’s never gonna happen. But it SHOULD!
8:36 a.m. How many PopWatch comments will we get by 10 a.m. if someone utters "Beyoncé" at the podium this morning?
8:43 a.m. Holy Snapple! No Dreamgirls nomination!
8:44 a.m. Giuliana is shocked by the lack of love for Brad Pitt. Was he really that much of a shoo-in?
8:45 a.m. Leo stops mid-interview. Replaced by Salma Hayek. "So many Mexicans!" she declares, sounding a little choked-up.
8:46 a.m. How can anyone be that beautiful at 5:46 a.m.?
8:48 a.m. How does your life change as an Oscar nominee? Salma breaks it down: You’ve got to look at a lot of dresses.
8:49 a.m. Giuliana gets philosophical. "You always care so much about your friends," she coos to Salma, "and it’s so refreshing and it’s very nice." This telecast is officially Rated W…for Whatever!
8:50 a.m. Commercial break. Time to review the nominees. Leo for Blood Diamond, not for The Departed? No Damon or Nicholson? Is that a bad sign for The Departed‘s Best Picture hopes?
8:51 a.m. I wonder if Eddie Murphy has any idea he’d be an Oscar nominee when he signed on for Norbit. God, I hope not.
8:52 a.m. Giuliana declares that mounting an Oscar telecast is a "whirlwind of headaches and stress," then asks producer Laura Ziskin, "Why do you do it?" She says something about the greatness of film and live TV, but I’m thinkin’ it’s the money.
8:57 a.m. Quiñones breathlessly declares that he just discovered Little Children‘s Jackie Earle Haley was "the stud in The Bad News Bears!" Dude, this isn’t breaking news.
8:59 a.m. More insight from Giuliana: "When [Whitaker] first comes out on the stage… and he says his first line, something like, ‘My people love Uganda,’ you go, ‘Oscar! Hello Oscar! At least Oscar nomination.’" Quiñones adds to the in-depth commentary: "The trembling in his face is just a-a-amazing."
9:00 a.m. Not that I want E! to make their telecast longer than a half hour, but if all they’re gonna do is cut to a True Hollywood Story about 24, why not keep the Oscar nominations commentary and interviews going for another hour or two? And with all the money Seacrest makes from this channel, where the heck is he? I mean, not that I want more Seacrest, I’m just saying.
Ryan Gosling!!!!!!Canada is proud of you!!! and Pan’s Labirynth!!!!!Lots of suprises!
this year is going to be awsome!!!
I heart Mike Slezak. Your blogs and articles crap me up. I really do watch some tv shows because of your commentaries afterward.
No Dreamgirls?!?! I’m going to go throw some glitter at my co-workers and sing “And I Am Telling You”.
What a rip off. Sure Leo got nominated. But for the WRONG movie. If he was going to be nominated for Lead. He should be nominated for the better movie, “The Departed”. He was second to Forrest with wins this season for the Departed. And now he’s not nominated. The studio screwed him by trying for Supporting. Especially too late. If it had been the beginning, maybe. But trying for the SAG awards was too late. And if he wins the SAG award and he isn’t nominated at the Oscars. Wow. I am surprised Dreamgirls wasn’t nominated. Saw the movie, didn’t think it was Oscar calibre. But I was sure it would be nominated. With Dreamgirls out, I think Departed still have a big chance. But some other films, like the Queen or Little Miss Sunshine could come out of nowhere…Wish Clint Eastwood would take a break from filmmaking LOL. Just wish Leo was nominated for the right film. He was absolutely amazing in Departed. Brilliant! What a rip off.
Children of Men got shafted. But at least it got Best Adapted Screenplay, Editing, and Cinematography. AND IF IT DOESN’T WIN ALL OF THOSE THERE IS NO JUSTICE IN THE WORLD.
That’s all.
DREAMGIRLS got robbed!! No Best Picture and no Best Director???????? Shameful.
I am so glad Little Miss Sunshine got Academy love. I am glad Dreamgirls noms were limited. I thought Eddie and Jennifer rocked, but the movie as a whole didn’t work for me. I agree it was weird Leo was nommed for Blood Diamond and not for The Departed. Glad Gosling finally is acknowledged.
Just saw Volver last week, so I’m excited about Penelope Cruz’s nomination. This was a very diverse (by Oscar standards) nomination list. Forest, Will Smith, J. Hudson, Eddie, Rinko,Penelope, and “so many Mexicans” (as Salma put it). It’s good to see a little color in the nominations!
I’m glad Dreamgirls didn’t get nominated…it wasn’t in the same caliber as the other best picture nominations. There is too much about it. I thought Pan Labyrinth should have gotten nominated for Best Picture and/or Best Director. And I agree DiCaprio should’ve been nominated for The Departed! I’m happy about the rest of the nominations though!
In response to Bud’s comment: picturing that will keep me giggling through the day. Thanks!
I’m surprised about Dreamgirls but not totally against it. I saw it and while I enjoyed it I wasn’t floored. Oh, and Clint? You’d best not rob my Scorsese or I’ma get slappy.
More acting awards for Blood Diamond than the Departed.
The most nominations for Babel.
Here we go again. What are these people thinking?
Well, I am glad that “Children of Men” got some Oscar love, but not nearly enough in my book. I am also not at all surprised that “Dreamgirls” was passed over for best picture – it was good, but not all that.
I agree with the consensus here. Happy to see no Dreamgirls Best Pic nomination, but would have liked to have seen Children of Men included. I would have liked to have seen Michael Sheen included, too.
Thank goodness Dreamgirls did not get nominated. There has not been a good one since Milos Forman’s Hair(79?), and I don’t believe that was even nominated.
I hope Scorcese wins, along with the fine Mr. Whitaker for best actor. The other awards, who cares?
though leo was trully better in the departed than blood diamond, it does not matter. the deck is stacked against him for best actor. maybe leo will get his best actor nod when he’s in his 50s.