Celebritology 2.0: Oscars


Posted at 04:45 PM ET, 03/14/2012

The next Academy Awards is set for Feb. 24, 2013
By Jen Chaney
Mark your calendars accordingly.

By Jen Chaney  |  04:45 PM ET, 03/14/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 02:02 PM ET, 03/02/2012

Poll: Who was the best awards show host of the season?
By Jen Chaney
Was it Ricky Gervais? Billy Crystal? LL Cool J? Or Seth Rogen?

By Jen Chaney  |  02:02 PM ET, 03/02/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 04:21 PM ET, 02/29/2012

The Oscars and social media: How online chatter is keeping live TV relevant
By Jen Chaney
This may not be terribly surprising. But all those tweets and Facebook updates are making some people feel more compelled to watch television in real time.

By Jen Chaney  |  04:21 PM ET, 02/29/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Oscars

Posted at 06:22 PM ET, 02/27/2012

The Oscar red carpet scene: chaos, candor and (almost) Clooney
By Jen Chaney
On Oscar Sunday, this is what it felt like to be parked in the middle of the Hollywood action.

By Jen Chaney  |  06:22 PM ET, 02/27/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 03:23 PM ET, 02/27/2012

The seven dresses that wowed in person on the Oscar red carpet
By Jen Chaney
The gowns that stood out from the couture crowd.

By Jen Chaney  |  03:23 PM ET, 02/27/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 11:11 AM ET, 02/27/2012

At Oscars’ Governors Ball, Meryl Streep gets her name on that Oscar, Billy Crystal holds court and Melissa McCarthy just wants to dance
By Jen Chaney
Ah, the post-Oscars ball, the only place on Earth (that I know of) where Darth Vader can introduce Tony Bennett.

By Jen Chaney  |  11:11 AM ET, 02/27/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 09:18 AM ET, 02/27/2012

Jim Rash on his Angelina Jolie leg move: ‘It was just an impulse’
By Jen Chaney
Did you expect the Oscar winner, “Community” star and former member of the Groundlings not to improvise?

By Jen Chaney  |  09:18 AM ET, 02/27/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 11:22 PM ET, 02/26/2012

Christopher Plummer: Is he really the oldest Oscar winner?
By Jen Chaney
He’s just not buying that he’s the oldest guy to win an Oscar. And technically, he is not.

By Jen Chaney  |  11:22 PM ET, 02/26/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 10:32 PM ET, 02/26/2012

Oscars 2012: ‘Undefeated’ winners apologize for dropping f-bomb
By Jen Chaney
“That was not the classiest thing in the world,” said TJ Martin, one of the documentary’s co-directors.

By Jen Chaney  |  10:32 PM ET, 02/26/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 09:27 PM ET, 02/26/2012

Academy Awards 2012: Will Bret McKenzie sing ‘Man or Muppet’ if he wins best song?
By Jen Chaney
The two nominated songs won’t be performed at the Oscars. But it’s possible the man who wrote the tune from “The Muppets” may croon a few bars.

By Jen Chaney  |  09:27 PM ET, 02/26/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 08:39 PM ET, 02/26/2012

Emma Stone at the Oscars: When bows attack
By Katherine Boyle
We know that Emma Stone was wearing way too much bow.  

By Katherine Boyle  |  08:39 PM ET, 02/26/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 08:28 PM ET, 02/26/2012

Rooney Mara, Viola Davis, Michelle Williams and other Oscar best actress nominees on the red carpet
By Marie Elizabeth Oliver

By Marie Elizabeth Oliver  |  08:28 PM ET, 02/26/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 12:39 PM ET, 02/26/2012

Oscar predictions: Do Christopher Plummer and Octavia Spencer have the supporting wins sewn up?
By Jen Chaney
Are these races Plummer’s and Spencer’s to lose?

By Jen Chaney  |  12:39 PM ET, 02/26/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 10:07 AM ET, 02/25/2012

Oscar predictions: Could Brad Pitt really win best actor? And will Viola Davis be named best actress?
By Jen Chaney
A look at who may win gold in the lead actor categories during Sunday’s Academy Awards.

By Jen Chaney  |  10:07 AM ET, 02/25/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 05:00 AM ET, 02/25/2012

Predicting the Oscars: What will win best picture?
By Jen Chaney
Which film will the Academy deem the year’s finest? Hint: it's a quiet — as in silent — little movie.

By Jen Chaney  |  05:00 AM ET, 02/25/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 02:56 PM ET, 02/24/2012

Oscars 2012: A look back at unforgettable gowns
By Katherine Boyle
Few looks live on after trends have faded, capturing the zeitgeist of an evening and era while staying true to the starlet’s own style.

By Katherine Boyle  |  02:56 PM ET, 02/24/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 12:25 PM ET, 02/24/2012

Melissa McCarthy calls in sick, Michelle Williams and John Logan honored at Oscar Wilde party
By Jen Chaney
Melissa McCarthy calls in sick to US-Ireland Alliance’s Oscar Wilde party, hosted by J.J. Abrams.

By Jen Chaney  |  12:25 PM ET, 02/24/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 09:58 AM ET, 02/23/2012

Predicting the Oscar winners: Best director
By Jen Chaney
Will Sunday be Michel Hazanavicius’s night? Or could Scorsese sneak in for the win?

By Jen Chaney  |  09:58 AM ET, 02/23/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 01:18 PM ET, 02/22/2012

Oscars 2012 preview: Is a traditional show the right way to go?
By Jen Chaney
One thing’s for sure: This will not be your James Franco Oscars.

By Jen Chaney  |  01:18 PM ET, 02/22/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 10:57 AM ET, 02/21/2012

Predicting the Oscar winners: Best original and adapted screenplay
By Jen Chaney
Which scripts will be deemed victorious at the Academy Awards? Here are our predictions.

By Jen Chaney  |  10:57 AM ET, 02/21/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 03:49 PM ET, 02/17/2012

Rooney Mara, Viola Davis and Emma Stone attend Fashion Week shows
By Cara Kelly
The actresses’ appearances in the front rows have sparked a flurry of predictions on what they will be wearing to the Oscars.

By Cara Kelly  |  03:49 PM ET, 02/17/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Oscars, Awards Season

Posted at 01:47 PM ET, 02/16/2012

Oscar odds: From George Clooney to Viola Davis, a look at who is leading the race
By Jen Chaney
Who’s got the best shot at an Academy Award? Here’s what the online tea leaves are saying right now.

By Jen Chaney  |  01:47 PM ET, 02/16/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 11:48 AM ET, 02/07/2012

Oscars 2012: You write the acceptance speeches, in 140 characters or less
By Paul Williams
What should Clooney, Pitt, Streep or other Oscar nominees say if they win? Send us your suggestions.

By Paul Williams  |  11:48 AM ET, 02/07/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 04:38 PM ET, 01/24/2012

Max von Sydow reacts to Oscar nomination in cursive
By Jen Chaney
In keeping with his “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” character, he kept his mouth shut.

By Jen Chaney  |  04:38 PM ET, 01/24/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 04:33 PM ET, 01/24/2012

Oscars nominations: the shockers -- from Demian Bichir to Jonah Hill (poll)
By Jen Chaney
The Academy Award list that surprised us most.

By Jen Chaney  |  04:33 PM ET, 01/24/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 03:25 PM ET, 01/24/2012

The Oscar nomination for best song: It’s ‘Man or Muppet’s’ to lose
By Jen Chaney
Somehow there are only two nominees in this Academy Awards category. Which means the Muppets must triumph.

By Jen Chaney  |  03:25 PM ET, 01/24/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 02:42 PM ET, 01/24/2012

Oscars: Patton Oswalt tweets for the snubbed actors and actresses
By Sarah Anne Hughes
“Join me for a drink at The Drawing Room, @AlbertBrooks? Me and Serkis have been here since 6am,” Oswalt tweeted to his fellow snubees.

By Sarah Anne Hughes  |  02:42 PM ET, 01/24/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars

Posted at 12:19 PM ET, 01/24/2012

Oscar nominations 2012: By the numbers
By Sarah Anne Hughes
3: Times Meryl Streep and Glenn Close have gone head-to-head for the Oscar.

By Sarah Anne Hughes  |  12:19 PM ET, 01/24/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars

Posted at 10:37 AM ET, 01/24/2012

Albert Brooks not nominated for Oscar: ‘I got ROBBED ... I mean literally. My pants and shoes have been stolen’
By Sarah Anne Hughes
The Twitter-sphere considers his snub particularly egregious.

By Sarah Anne Hughes  |  10:37 AM ET, 01/24/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Celebrities, Oscars

Posted at 09:47 AM ET, 01/24/2012

Oscar nominations 2012: Did the best picture change make a difference?
By Jen Chaney
Oscar nominations 2012: The nine nominated films this year suggest there is still room for the Oscars to go with 10.

By Jen Chaney  |  09:47 AM ET, 01/24/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars

Posted at 09:18 AM ET, 01/24/2012

Oscar nominations 2012: The list of nominees
By Jen Chaney
Find out who has made the Academy Awards slate in all the major categories, as it happens.

By Jen Chaney  |  09:18 AM ET, 01/24/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 02:54 PM ET, 01/23/2012

The Oscar nominations: Predicting the best picture contenders
By Jen Chaney
How many will there be? And is there any chance “The Artist” won’t be one of them?

By Jen Chaney  |  02:54 PM ET, 01/23/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Movies, Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 02:30 PM ET, 01/17/2012

But enough about Ricky Gervais. Let’s focus on what Billy Crystal might do at the Oscars
By Jen Chaney
The Golden Globes ceremony is now in the past. Let’s look to the future and watch an Academy Awards promo video.

By Jen Chaney  |  02:30 PM ET, 01/17/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars

Posted at 05:12 PM ET, 01/11/2012

From the People’s Choice Awards to the Oscars: An awards season primer
By Jen Chaney
The red carpet and statuette season has arrived. Don’t worry, we’ll walk you through it.

By Jen Chaney  |  05:12 PM ET, 01/11/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 08:59 AM ET, 01/06/2012

The Oscars trailer: Billy Crystal gets recruited by Josh Duhamel and Megan Fox
By Jen Chaney
Please let the Academy Awards be more entertaining than this trailer suggests.

By Jen Chaney  |  08:59 AM ET, 01/06/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 03:43 PM ET, 01/05/2012

Writers Guild best screenplay nominations: ‘Bridesmaids,’ ‘Girl With the Dragon Tattoo’ land nods
By Jen Chaney
The field of original and adapted scripts may reveal which movies score Academy Award writing nominations.

By Jen Chaney  |  03:43 PM ET, 01/05/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Movies, Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 10:58 AM ET, 12/21/2011

Orson Welles’s ‘Citizen Kane’ Oscar sells for $861k
By Sarah Anne Hughes
Magician David Copperfield was among the bidders.

By Sarah Anne Hughes  |  10:58 AM ET, 12/21/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars

Posted at 01:10 PM ET, 12/16/2011

Michelle Williams to be honored as an honorary Irishwoman
By Jen Chaney
The “My Week With Marilyn” star will follow in the footsteps of J.J. Abrams and Paul Rudd and be feted at the US-Ireland Alliance’s Oscar Wilde party.

By Jen Chaney  |  01:10 PM ET, 12/16/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars

Posted at 12:47 PM ET, 12/06/2011

‘Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close’: The weep-worthy second trailer
By Jen Chaney
The Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock movie hits emotional 9/11 notes hard in a new clip.

By Jen Chaney  |  12:47 PM ET, 12/06/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Movies, Oscars | Tags:  Movie Trailers, Awards Season

Posted at 09:16 AM ET, 12/05/2011

‘The Artist’ named best film of 2011 by Washington Area Film Critics Association
By Jen Chaney
Martin Scorsese, George Clooney and Michelle Williams also singled out for their work.

By Jen Chaney  |  09:16 AM ET, 12/05/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 04:40 PM ET, 12/01/2011

‘Hugo,’ George Clooney dubbed big winners by National Board of Review
By Jen Chaney
Martin Scorsese was chosen as best director, while Clooney and Tilda Swinton took the respective best actor and actress honors.

By Jen Chaney  |  04:40 PM ET, 12/01/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 03:51 PM ET, 11/29/2011

‘The Artist,’ Ryan Gosling receive Spirit Award nominations, George Clooney does not
By Jen Chaney
George Clooney and the film “Like Crazy,” however, are among those who came up short.

By Jen Chaney  |  03:51 PM ET, 11/29/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 01:41 PM ET, 11/29/2011

‘The Artist’ named best picture by New York Film Critics Circle
By Jen Chaney
Let the movie awards race officially begin.

By Jen Chaney  |  01:41 PM ET, 11/29/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars | Tags:  Awards Season

Posted at 01:31 PM ET, 11/17/2011

‘The Descendants’: An assessment of its Oscar chances
By Jen Chaney
Will it get a Best Picture nomination? And will George Clooney score another nod for Best Actor?

By Jen Chaney  |  01:31 PM ET, 11/17/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars

Posted at 10:41 AM ET, 11/14/2011

Oprah, James Earl Jones and Dick Smith given honorary Oscars
By Sarah Anne Hughes
The media queen was honored for her humanitarian work.

By Sarah Anne Hughes  |  10:41 AM ET, 11/14/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars

Posted at 01:29 PM ET, 11/11/2011

Billy Crystal is hosting the Oscars. But the Muppets still may be involved.
By Jen Chaney
In fact, I would bet Miss Piggy’s jewels on it.

By Jen Chaney  |  01:29 PM ET, 11/11/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars

Posted at 04:58 PM ET, 11/10/2011

Billy Crystal is hosting the Oscars, as predicted
By Jen Chaney
As predicted by some (okay, this blog), the longtime host is coming to handle duties in 2012.

By Jen Chaney  |  04:58 PM ET, 11/10/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars

Posted at 11:53 AM ET, 11/10/2011

The Muppets? Tom Hanks? Who would be the most reliable Oscar 2012 host?
By Jen Chaney
A few thoughts on which Oscar host is least likely to screw up the proceedings.

By Jen Chaney  |  11:53 AM ET, 11/10/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars

Posted at 05:22 PM ET, 11/09/2011

The Eddie Murphy comeback is canceled
By Jen Chaney
With the “Tower Heist” star now out as Oscar host, his comedic reemergence may be on hold.

By Jen Chaney  |  05:22 PM ET, 11/09/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars

Posted at 09:10 AM ET, 11/09/2011

Mariah Carey reveals post-baby weight loss; Brett Ratner steps down from the Oscars
By Jen Chaney and Sarah Anne Hughes
CELEBRITOLOGY | The singer announced her post-baby weight loss on “The Rosie Show.”

By Jen Chaney and Sarah Anne Hughes  |  09:10 AM ET, 11/09/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Celebrities, Celebrities, Oscars, Movies

Posted at 08:31 AM ET, 11/08/2011

Brett Ratner: Should he be fired as Oscar producer after using gay slur?
By Jen Chaney
Ratner has apologized and the academy seems to have accepted it. But is it enough?

By Jen Chaney  |  08:31 AM ET, 11/08/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars

Posted at 01:28 PM ET, 11/01/2011

Gil Cates, Oscar producer and uncle of Phoebe Cates, found dead
By Jen Chaney
The uncle of actress Phoebe Cates and the man who ran 14 Academy Awards ceremonies has died at the age of 77.

By Jen Chaney  |  01:28 PM ET, 11/01/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars, Obits

Posted at 08:26 AM ET, 10/26/2011

Eddie Murphy insists there will be no singing, dancing at Oscars
By Jen Chaney
He tells David Letterman on “The Late Show” that we shouldn’t expect musical numbers when he hosts the Academy Awards.

By Jen Chaney  |  08:26 AM ET, 10/26/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars

Posted at 03:55 PM ET, 09/30/2011

Matt Stone and Trey Parker were on drugs when they wore dresses to the Oscars (Video)
By Sarah Anne Hughes
Matt Stone and Trey Parker were really glad they didn’t win while under the influence and wearing dresses.

By Sarah Anne Hughes  |  03:55 PM ET, 09/30/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Celebrities, Oscars

Posted at 12:48 PM ET, 09/21/2011

Steve Martin has Oscar hosting advice for Eddie Murphy
By Jen Chaney
“Start slimming down now,” he advises. “You looked kinda paunchy in ‘Norbit.’”

By Jen Chaney  |  12:48 PM ET, 09/21/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars

Posted at 03:59 PM ET, 09/06/2011

Eddie Murphy will host the Oscars (Poll)
By Sarah Anne Hughes
The Academy confirms the actor has accepted an offer to host the show.

By Sarah Anne Hughes  |  03:59 PM ET, 09/06/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Celebrities, Oscars

Posted at 09:21 AM ET, 09/06/2011

Eddie Murphy to host Oscars?; ‘The Help’ wins the box office
By Sarah Anne Hughes
Also, Alyson Hannigan is not pregnant.

By Sarah Anne Hughes  |  09:21 AM ET, 09/06/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Celebrities, Relationships, Oscars, Movies

Posted at 07:14 PM ET, 05/02/2011

Melissa Leo to write memoir
By Jen Chaney
The Oscar winner will publish her life story in 2013.

By Jen Chaney  |  07:14 PM ET, 05/02/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars, Celebrities

Posted at 01:21 PM ET, 04/26/2011

Academy Awards: Set for Feb. 26, 2012
By Jen Chaney
Mark your calendars, awards season junkies: The Academy Awards will take place on Feb. 26, 2012, 10 months from today.

By Jen Chaney  |  01:21 PM ET, 04/26/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Oscars, Movies

Posted at 02:38 PM ET, 03/01/2011

In praise of Hailee Steinfeld, the picture of poise at the Oscars
By Jen Chaney
The most recent entertainment news cycle has been a particularly negative one. Christina Aguilera was arrested for alleged public drunkenness. Charlie Sheen is cracking up at a speed so rapid, we need a jet-pack to keep up with it. Americans everywhere -- at least the ones that lurk on the Internet -- have (understandably in most cases) blasted James Franco’s inability to generate a modicum of energy while hosting the Academy Awards. It's enough to make a person start to lose faith in celebrities altogether. (I know, you already did that years ago when John Travolta signed on to star in "Stayin' Alive." Whatever. Just play along.) Well, here's someone to give us all a little hope for the future: Hailee Steinfeld. And while she may have lost the best supporting actress Oscar to Melissa Leo on Sunday night, she still came out a winner for looking adorable and handling...

By Jen Chaney  |  02:38 PM ET, 03/01/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Awards Season, In Praise Of..., Oscars

Posted at 12:45 PM ET, 03/01/2011

Melissa Leo on the f-bomb: Kate Winslet made her do it
By Jen Chaney
Melissa Leo shows up on Ellen DeGeneres's show today and discusses her recent Oscar win as well as the f-bomb that accompanied it. (Helpfully, DeGeneres put out a swear jar. Just in case.) Leo says that Kate Winslet -- her co-star in HBO's upcoming movie, "Mildred Pierce" -- is partly responsible for her Oscar speech slip-up. The "Titanic" star "curses like a sailor all the time," Leo says. Of course, Leo is joking as far as that blame is concerned. But perhaps it's worth noting that even the allegedly potty-mouthed Winslet somehow got through her Academy Awards acceptance speech without uttering the queen mother of all bad words....

By Jen Chaney  |  12:45 PM ET, 03/01/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Celebrities, Oscars

Posted at 06:10 PM ET, 02/28/2011

Oscar party scene: Hitting the Governor's Ball and the Elton John party
By Jen Chaney
The scene at the Elton John party. (Jen Chaney) After nearly four hours on the Academy Awards red carpet and four more in the press room, party isn't necessarily the first word that comes to mind. (Pillow is one. Vacation is another.) But this is the Oscars, for heaven's sake. And party -- or at least watch other, more famous people party -- is what must be done. The Post's Dan Zak and Amy Argetsinger navigated their way through the elite throngs at the Vanity Fair party, while I dropped by the Governor's Ball and hit the end of Elton John's annual Oscar viewing event. Here's what was seen and heard on my end of the Oscar party circuit....

By Jen Chaney  |  06:10 PM ET, 02/28/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Awards Season, Celebrities, Movies, Oscars, Party Scene

Posted at 01:37 PM ET, 02/28/2011

The Academy Awards red carpet: Seeking equilibrium in the midst of glamour-madness
By Jen Chaney
TV fails to capture other red carpet realities. It's frenetic. It's loud. And for the reporters, it's incredibly cramped, so cramped that at one point on Sunday afternoon, it honestly seemed like a brawl might break out.

By Jen Chaney  |  01:37 PM ET, 02/28/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Awards Season, Movies, Oscars

Posted at 12:05 PM ET, 02/28/2011

The Oscars and the foregone conclusions syndrome
By Jen Chaney
Colin Firth, clutching the Oscar we all knew he would win. (AP) At this year's Academy Awards, there wasn't one genuine surprise. "The King's Speech" won best picture, as pretty much every prognosticator predicted. Colin Firth was named best actor. We knew that was going to happen. Natalie Portman won an Oscar, too. Which we also knew. Even the sight of James Franco in drag felt like something we'd all seen before. Because, well, we had. So have the Academy Awards become too predictable, just a formal, fancy way to call out a list of Hollywood winners that were already foregone conclusions?...

By Jen Chaney  |  12:05 PM ET, 02/28/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Awards Season, Movies, Oscars

Posted at 10:25 AM ET, 02/28/2011

Could Billy Crystal host the Academy Awards again? It's a possibility.
By Jen Chaney
Billy Crystal, back on the Oscar stage. (AP) When Billy Crystal made his appearance during this year's Academy Awards, he got a standing ovation. Clearly, his Hollywood colleagues love to see him grace that stage, a place where he feels very much at home. (Certainly, it must be said, more at home than James Franco often seemed last night.) So is there a chance he could host again? Based on what Crystal told me last night at the Governor's Ball, it's also not entirely out of the question. Related coverage: The actors' Oscar acceptance speeches: Who said it best? Complete Oscar coverage in Celebritology The Post's Hank Stuever assesses the telecast...

By Jen Chaney  |  10:25 AM ET, 02/28/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Awards Season, Movies, Oscars

Posted at 09:47 AM ET, 02/28/2011

Video: Zachary Levi at the Academy Awards: 'Very surreal but a dream come true'
By Jen Chaney
Read what he had to say about his performance.

By Jen Chaney  |  09:47 AM ET, 02/28/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Awards Season, Movies, Oscars

Posted at 09:31 AM ET, 02/28/2011

Kirk Douglas: The highlight of the 'young, hip' Oscar broadcast
By Liz Kelly
Sunday's Oscar broadcast was not, in the words of our own Hank Stuever, the youth revolution promised by the hot young hosting pair of James Franco and Anne Hathaway. (Which has us wondering -- will next year's show attempt to skew even younger with, say, Justin Bieber and Natalie Portman's baby hosting?) Despite all the young blood, some of the night's best moments were delivered by card-carrying AARP members -- one-time Oscar fixture Billy Crystal, a CGI clip of Bob Hope and a deliciously feisty Kirk Douglas, who basically stole the show. If you missed it, here's a clip of Douglas's segment, in which the 94-year-old screen legend gets more laughs in three minutes than James Franco got all night:...

By Liz Kelly  |  09:31 AM ET, 02/28/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Awards Season, Oscars | Tags:  Academy Awards, Oscars

Posted at 11:15 PM ET, 02/27/2011

Tom Hooper wins best director for 'King's Speech'
By Jen Chaney
Tom Hooper has just been named best director at the Academy Awards for his work on "The King's Speech." One can't say it was unexpected, since he won the same honor from the Directors Guild of America. But many still expected David Fincher to pull it out for "The Social Network" even if the Facebook movie ultimately lost best picture. This could turn into one of the more debated wins of the night. And, probably, another excuse for complaints about Christopher Nolan's snub in the same category. You know. Just because. What do you think if Hooper's win? Weigh in now....

By Jen Chaney  |  11:15 PM ET, 02/27/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Awards Season, Movies, Oscars

Posted at 10:50 PM ET, 02/27/2011

Christian Bale in the Oscar press room: another fine performance
By Jen Chaney
Christian Bale is new to this whole Academy Awards process. He made that clear, in most charming fashion, when he entered the press room to undergo the gauntlet of post-Oscar-win questions. Why are you all holding up signs? he wanted to know. They're numbers, he was told, so the Oscar press room bosses can decide which reporters to call on. It's sort of like an auction. Do you win anything? Bale asked, puzzled. But he pressed on. When a reporter from People, who happened to be wearing a bowler hat, stood to ask a question, Bale complimented his head wear. Then he asked: "Have you been drinking?" The reporter played along. He said he had. Then it got better....

By Jen Chaney  |  10:50 PM ET, 02/27/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Awards Season, Movies, Oscars

Posted at 09:08 PM ET, 02/27/2011

Oscars 2011: How the opening number looked from James Franco's perspective
By Jen Chaney
Our Oscar co-host just tweeted video that shows what it looks like to walk onto the Academy Awards stage. "The Social Network" Oscars: all about putting you in the action, via the Internet....

By Jen Chaney  |  09:08 PM ET, 02/27/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Awards Season, Movies, Oscars

Posted at 08:48 PM ET, 02/27/2011

Oscars 2011: James Franco and Anne Hathaway opening sequence -- love it or hate it?
By Jen Chaney
The Academy Award opener referenced "Inception," "The Social Network," "The Fighter," "Back to the Future," Morgan Freeman's smooth narration and the fact that Alec Baldwin takes Ambien. Among other things. It didn't reinvent any Oscar traditions, but it was funny; the "True Grit" eye patch moment got one of the bigger laughs in the press room. But what did you think? A strong start, or more of the same old, same old? Vote in the poll below....

By Jen Chaney  |  08:48 PM ET, 02/27/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Awards Season, Movies, Oscars

Posted at 02:45 PM ET, 02/27/2011

Oscars 2011: Live tweets from the red carpet
By Jen Chaney
Update, 9:25 p.m. EST: Read the partial list of Oscar winners so far It's Academy Awards Sunday. And that means the time has finally come to throw on that dress, slide on those moderately high-heeled shoes and park on the red carpet for an evening of ultra-high-wattage star-gazing, fashion assessing and insightful question-asking. (Sample: "How does it feel to be here tonight? And, in a related question, who are you wearing?) Actually, some of you suggested some great red carpet questions in the blog, on Facebook and via our #oscarspotting Twitter hash tag. I'll aim to post some of the best ones on the Oscar red carpet in just a few hours. Follow my tweets from the scene on twitter.com/celebritology, or right here in the blog. Two notes: The twitter stream will pull in all items with the #oscarspotting hashtag, including tweets from others, so bear that in mind. Also,...

By Jen Chaney  |  02:45 PM ET, 02/27/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Awards Season, Movies, Oscars

Posted at 02:00 PM ET, 02/27/2011

The Rolling Stone Oscar party: Five things learned on the scene
By Jen Chaney
Rolling Stone magazine hosted its pre-Oscar party last night at Drai's Hollywood in the W Hotel. Fruity Skyy vodka drinks were served. The Roots provided outstanding musical entertainment. And a number of celebs -- "Glee's" Jenna Ushkowitz, Max Adler and Harry Shum, Jr., Aaron Sorkin, Kate Walsh and Old Spice ad man Isaiah Mustafa, to name a few -- showed up to party in a dark club while images of this year's Academy Award nominees flashed on various TV screens. (By the way, when you're in a bar listening to hip-hop, the sight of Jesse Eisenberg in his Zuckerberg-style hoodie looks surprisingly gangsta.) During my time at the party, I learned five extremely important* things, one of which is covered in the video of Shum, Jr. below. Here's the list. 1. Harry Shum, Jr. of "Glee" helped choreograph last year's signature dance number for the Academy Awards. The guy who...

By Jen Chaney  |  02:00 PM ET, 02/27/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Awards Season, Oscars, Party Scene

Posted at 12:24 PM ET, 02/27/2011

Spirit Awards 2011: John Waters, Eva Mendes and more from the scene
By Jen Chaney
At Saturday's Independent Spirit Awards, "Black Swan" won declared the best picture. Natalie Portman was named best actress. James Franco walked with a trophy for best actor. And a multitude of exceptional famous people nearly froze to death, thanks to freakishly cold Southern California weather and some robust breezes off the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica, where the ceremony was held. As noted in a previous post, the brisk temperatures and (possibly the fatigue of one too many Oscar-season interviews) compelled many celebs to skip the Spirit Awards red carpet. But a few people stopped to chat. The always game John Waters, for example, was happy to share his thoughts about the Oscars/Spirit Awards overlap: And, as you'll see after the jump, both Eva Mendes and "The Kids Are All Right" director and co-writer Lisa Cholodenko had something to say about what the Spirit Awards mean to them. Related coverage:...

By Jen Chaney  |  12:24 PM ET, 02/27/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Awards Season, Movies, Oscars

Posted at 10:45 PM ET, 02/26/2011

The Spirit Awards: 'Black Swan' takes best picture as the worlds of Oscar and indie film collide
By Jen Chaney
"Black Swan" a big winner at the Independent Spirits. (Fox Searchlight) "Black Swan" rose above "The Kids Are All Right" and "Winter's Bone" to take the best picture prize at this year's Independent Spirit Awards, held Saturday afternoon on a particularly gusty day on the beach in Santa Monica, Calif. Darren Aronofsky's portrait of ballet-commitment-turned-madness earned three additional awards: one for Aronofsky's direction, for cinematographer Matthew Libatique and, predictably, for Natalie Portman's lead performance, which is widely expected to be honored during Sunday's Oscars as well. During her acceptance speech, Portman made a point of emphasizing the fact that "Black Swan," which was financed independently before Fox Searchlight signed on to distribute it, qualifies as an indie effort. "My ballet teachers every day were like, when do we get paid?" she said of the drama's modest budget. The Independent Spirit Awards may be thought of as the more laid-back,...

By Jen Chaney  |  10:45 PM ET, 02/26/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Awards Season, Movies, Oscars