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And the Oscars go to...well, we'll find out this Sunday. The 82nd Academy Awards will be presented at the Kodak Theatre in
The front runners for the best-picture Oscar remain JAMES CAMERON's Avatar and the war drama The Hurt Locker, which was directed by Cameron's ex-wife, KATHRYN BIGELOW. Both films have plenty of competition in that category, since it has been expanded to 10 nominees. The other best-picture nominees are The Blind Side, District 9, An Education, Inglourious Basterds, Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire, A Serious Man, Up, and Up in the Air.
Crazy Heart star JEFF BRIDGES is a popular pick for best actor. The category also includes Up in the Air actor GEORGE CLOONEY, Invictus star MORGAN FREEMAN, The Hurt Locker's JEREMY RENNER, and A Single Man's COLIN FIRTH.
SANDRA BULLOCK is the clear favorite to collect the best-actress Oscar for The Blind Side, though awards show expert TOM O'NEIL believes she's "vulnerable" because of what he describes as her "lightweight" performance. She'll contend with heavyweight competition from Julie & Julia star MERYL STREEP, Precious actress GABOUREY SIDIBE, The Last Station actress HELEN MIRREN, and An Education's CAREY MULLIGAN.
Kathryn Bigelow and Precious director LEE DANIELS both stand to make history in the best-director category. If Bigelow's name is called, she'd become the first woman to win the honor. Similarly, Daniels has a chance to become the first African-American to claim the prize. James Cameron, who won in 1998 for Titanic, is also a nominee for best director.
A host of stars will serve as presenters, with Bridges, Bullock and fellow Oscar nominee MATT DAMON among the most recent names that have been announced.
After the ceremony is over, the stars will head over to the Governors Ball, the official post-Oscar party catered by WOLFGANG PUCK. This year's menu is heavy on seafood, and will also include the traditional replica Oscars made of chocolate and covered in gold foil.
The Academy Awards ceremony will begin on ABC at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time, following the network's red carpet special.
Here's a look at the new movies opening nationwide:
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* Brooklyn's Finest -- The film follows three unconnected
BARBARA WALTERS' Oscar-night special has been a fixture on ABC for 29 years...but after this Sunday night's installment, it's bye-bye, Barbara. Walters has decided to end these Oscar specials because she feels they're no longer unique. She explains, "So many of the stars now are on so many different shows, that I don't think it's that 'special' [anymore] and I just felt, 'It's time. Quit while we're ahead.'" She added, "I just am...almost sick of 'em, you know?"
The final special airing this Sunday night will actually be very special. It'll include a look back at every single one of the 93 stars with whom Walters has spoken in the past 29 years, as well as new interviews with Oscar nominees SANDRA BULLOCK and MO'NIQUE. The interview with Mo'Nique is particularly provocative, as the comedienne discusses how the abuse she suffered during her own childhood at the hands of her brother enabled her to portray the monstrous, abusive mother in Precious. Mo'Nique also discusses her open marriage to her current husband, explaining that cheating is allowed and wouldn't be enough to end the marriage, no matter how often it goes on. As for Sandra Bullock, Walters says, "She is funny and irreverent...she asked me what kind of a tree I wanted to be, can you believe it?" That, of course, is a reference to Walters' oft-parodied 1981 interview with KATHERINE HEPBURN, during which she was erroneously accused of asking the legendary actress the same question.
As for the highlights of the past 29 years, Walters points to her sitdown with WARREN BEATTY as her worst interview ever -- she says it was like pulling teeth for two hours -- and says she still can't believe she actually interviewed the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. As for her favorite moment of the past 29 years, Walters tells us, "The last special, when HUGH JACKMAN did a lap dance for me...I don't think I can top that!"
Who does LISA KUDROW think she is? Aside from being an actress, she's the executive producer of the new NBC series Who Do You Think You Are?, which delves into the family history of several celebrities. SARAH JESSICA PARKER, her husband MATTHEW BRODERICK, SUSAN SARANDON, SPIKE LEE, BROOKE SHIELDS, NFL legend EMMITT SMITH and Kudrow herself explore their ancestry over the course of the series and learn surprising things about their family line. Who Do You Think You Are? debuts Friday at 8:00 p.m. Eastern time.
MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ is the latest former Lost cast member to return to the island. Entertainment Weekly reports that Rodriguez will reprise her role as ANA-LUCIA, one of the “Tailies,” who was killed by HAROLD PERRINEAU’s character MICHAEL in season two. Rodriguez, who can currently be seen in Avatar, popped up on Lost again, briefly, in season five, appearing in one of HURLEY’s visions...
ABC will be trading in its dance shoes for ice skates later this year. According to Variety, the network is committed to a new series titled Ice Dancing with the Stars. The show, which essentially will be Dancing with the Stars on ice, is based on a British series. The show will air for six weeks at some point this year...
ABC will bring back its reality series True Beauty and Wipeout later this year. True Beauty, a faux beauty contest hosted by VANESSA MINNILLO, will debut its second season on May 31st, while the game show Wipeout will begin its third season on June 22nd...
Former Bachelor star JASON MESNICK married co-star MOLLY MALANEY last weekend, but he's still single and available in the video game world. A video game based on ABC's The Bachelor will be released for the Nintendo Wii and Nintendo's portable DS system this summer. Gamers will be able to vie for the heart of Mesnick or other real-life stars of The Bachelor and The Bachelorette...
A 33-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of stalking DR. DREW PINSKY, who's best known for his appearances on VH1 shows such as Celebrity Rehab. CHARLES PEARSON was arrested Wednesday by
Ugly Betty actress ANA ORTIZ has found new work. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Ortiz has been cast in an ABC drama pilot titled True Blue. The drama focuses on
MARTHA STEWART is ready to lend a helping hand to her fans. She'll launch a reality series titled Help Me, Martha!, in which she and other experts will assist people with lifestyle issues, such as wedding planning. The show currently is not attached to a network...
The CW has announced it's renewed the Superman-themed series Smallville for a 10th season, which will premiere in the fall...
CHEYNE WHITNEY and MEGHAN RICKEY, who won the season of The Amazing Race that aired last fall, are engaged. According to People magazine, Whitney proposed in the
Whoa! JOEY LAWRENCE is a new dad. The former Blossom star tells Life & Style magazine that he and his wife, CHANDI YAWN-NELSON, welcomed their second child on Thursday. Their new daughter's name is LIBERTY GRACE. The couple also has a three-year-old daughter,
SCOTT CAAN, the son of JAMES CAAN, will star as Danno in CBS' upcoming reboot of Hawaii Five-O, reports the Hollywood Reporter. The 33-year-old Caan has most recently been seen on HBO's Entourage...
