I've succumbed to American Idol

Six seasons.

It got me. I'm so ashamed.

That's how long it took for American Idol to finally grab me. I stubbornly avoided watching the show since its debut in 2002. I'm not sure exactly why; I've always had a bit of a "holier-than-thou" attitude toward reality television for no good reason. It's sort of like my snobbish refusal to shop at Wal-mart: there's no logical, good reason for my avoidance...I just kind of see myself as "above" it.

To be fair, like most reality competition shows, after the first season or two it descended from greatness and started kowtowing to the masses in ways that made a non-obsessive fan roll their eyes and groan. All of the outlandish camera hogs, the people in costume, the over privileged hometown singers who've never heard the word "no" before...American Idol (in the various clips I've seen over the years) sort of turned into a parade of much of what is shameful about America.

But here's the thing: it may be outlandish and silly and sometimes annoying, but holy crap is it hysterical. My biggest reason for avoiding American Idol is my tendency to over sympathize. In general, I cringe at embarrassment humor. I feel SO badly for the people who are terrible (even the people who know it) that I find it hard to watch them.

My new roommate loves every second of it. I'd never lived with an Idol fan before and when I heard her laughing hysterically every five minutes during the first week of tryouts, my curiosity was piqued. I literally spent the first two episodes peeking around the corner of our apartment, watching a few seconds, then running back around the corner, embarrassed for the people who were terrible and earned laughter and derision from the judges. I graduated in Week 2 to sitting on the couch wrapped in a blanket, which I used to cover my face during the absolute worst auditions.

By Week 3, though still occasionally embarrassed for the people who are just ear-splittingly awful (a feeling I don't think will ever completely go away), I managed to watch like a normal person. Because when it comes down to it, the cringe-worthy performances are worth suffering through to hear the undiscovered people who are actually really, really good. And for Simon Cowell. Oh, Simon Cowell, I kind of love you and your ridiculous V-neck t-shirts.

Oh, Simon Cowell. Where do I begin?

I know auditions aren't over yet, but I already have a favorite. I am in love with David Cook, the slightly punkish dude in the argyle sweater who rocked Bon Jovi's "Livin' on a Prayer." More, please.

I have no idea what I'll think of the next stages of American Idol, post-auditions. I actually don't even know WHAT comes after that part of the competition. But, for the first time in six years, I'll be watching to find out.

Staples Center. Friday night. Garth Brooks.

So…where were you Friday night?

I was somewhere I never, ever expected to be.

At a Garth Brooks concert.

He's adorable. No, I'm not crazy. Leave me alone.

My mother called me up the previous Tuesday and, in her sugary sweetest “favor” voice (everyone’s got one and I can pick hers out within the first two syllables that she speaks) asked me to accompany her to the Staples Center on Friday night to see one of the five benefit concerts – for the firefighters and families affected by the California wildfires last year - that Brooks was “coming out of retirement” to play.

With very few exceptions, I cannot STAND country music. In fact, if I hear a song with any of the following things in it, I run as fast as possible in the other direction:

- faded blue jeans
- a cheatin’ heart
- Texas
- a fiddle
- drinking troubles away
- a tractor
- a horse
- the first wife

However, she IS my mother and it WAS the week of her birthday, so I agreed. I promised to go in with an open mind; but the thousands of people in cowboy hats, boots and more leather than I’ve ever seen worn outside a rodeo made it difficult. So did all the crazy drunk, fake blonde, middle-aged women showing WAY too much cleavage. But, you know, I persevered. Because despite having unfortunate taste in music, my mom is pretty awesome.

I sat through the first few songs wondering why the hell all of these people were on their feet screaming and whooping like Garth Brooks was musical Jesus. Yes, the opening number was pretty rockin’ and had a serious beat – but you kind of HAVE to open with a number like that (and everyone seems to have one - except, perhaps, Sarah McLachlan). I entertained myself by looking around and internally giggling at the craziest fans and thought about counting the minutes until my suffering was over.

But then a funny thing happened.

I actually started to enjoy myself. By the time he brought out Huey Lewis (HUEY FREAKIN’ LEWIS!) bearing a harmonica to duet on ‘Workin’ for a Livin’” I’m not gonna lie, I was standing up and dancing.

A man who can play the harmonica is one you want to keep around...

Here’s the thing. I still, in general, don’t like country music. But damn can that man put on a show. People LOVE him. Hell, I kind of fell in love with him a little bit on Friday.

I’ve seen my share of concerts. I’ve seen a few GREAT concerts. But I’ve never seen a performer who genuinely enjoyed himself as much as Garth Brooks. A lot of artists, no matter how good they sound live, seem to treat concerts as just another part of the job. I’m not one to use this expression lightly, but there was sort of a magical thing going on Friday night. Brooks was so happy to be performing for his fans and seemed sincerely awed and touched at the raucous, enthusiastic response he got from the crowd.

His joy was infectious and really shone through in his performance. There was a great energy throughout and it was damn near impossible for even the staunchest of country haters (me) to not have a good time.

It takes a lot for me to admit this, but…Garth Brooks is kinda cool. *sigh*

27 Dresses and Cloverfield: A Mashup Moviegoing Experience

I have to say, I felt very odd at about 11:30pm on Friday night…for two reasons. One, I’d just finished seeing “Cloverfield” and was desperately trying not to lose my dinner (and the Whatchamacalit I had in the theater) in the trash can on the Promenade. Two, I watched “Cloverfield” immediately after seeing “27 Dresses.” The contrast threatened to make my head explode. Oh wait…that was probably the 74 minutes of jerky, nausea-inducing handheld camera footage.

I have no problems admitting that I heart rom-coms. I have the ability to distinguish between the good (While You Were Sleeping, When Harry Met Sally) and the awful (Music and Lyrics is the most recent example that springs to mind). I just don’t always care. Nearly all romantic comedies are fairly paint-by-number. There’s a formula, people. Deal with it. Yes, the fact that the male and female leads meet, fall in love, have 12,000 problems, break up and make up in the span of two weeks (or less) is way beyond unbelievable. That’s not the point. Stop critiquing these films like you expect them to be cinematic masterpieces and then be shocked and appalled when they fall far short of “Citizen Kane” standard. I will stop my rant here before it becomes three pages long (you’re welcome). I will say, though, 27 Dresses was enjoyable for the following reasons:

There is no bad here. Trust me.

- James Marsden. Does anyone remember “Second Noah”? Anyone at all (besides me)? Marsden has been on my radar since then, but hasn’t had a role that impressed me even one iota until this year, when he busted out in “Enchanted” and “27 Dresses.” I got to stare at him a lot, which was nice. More importantly, he brought a refreshing snark and cynicism to Kevin Doyle that made the movie that much more enjoyable.

- Holy crap! The female lead isn’t in PR or advertising. I feel like every freakin’ “modern woman” in rom-coms has the same job. She’s an assistant! At an urban, environmentally-friendly small business! The novelty! (I’ll stop now).

- Judy Greer. I wanted to wax poetic about how Judy Greer makes everything better, but my friend and fellow blogger already did that for me http://danielletbd.blogspot.com/2008/01/get-outta-my-dreams-and-onto-my-tv.html. I’ll just add that Greer can make anything better. She continues to fly way too far under the Hollywood radar despite her ability to turn derivative crap into comedy gold.

- They sang Bennie and the Jets, people! BENNIE AND THE JETS! And they weren’t half bad!

- The movie taught me to never, ever have a theme wedding, get married underwater, or pick a bridesmaid dress color that would make my closest girlfriends want to kill me. All good lessons.

I left “27 Dresses” and wandered out to Santa Monica to meet my roommate for “Cloverfield.” We’d been looking forward to seeing the movie for weeks and weeks (and I’m neither a monster movie fan nor a horror/scary movie fan at ALL).

This is the only time they are EVER standing still.

10 minutes in, I was fine. I was patiently waiting to get through the little bit of exposition and setup at the farewell party so I could get to the monsters and explosions and death and destruction. 20 minutes in, I’m still pretty okay. At the half hour mark, I’m ready to kill myself. My head hurts, my stomach is rolling, and I have to keep closing my eyes to calm the threat of something REALLY BAD happening (to me, not the people on the screen. I know those mofos are goners). When I manage to open my eyes here and there, I see the following:

- Person after person fleeing the theater, hands over mouths (I think I lost count at 10)

- People running

- Things exploding

- Marlena exploding (that was pretty sweet…the noise was AWESOME)

- Spider babies eating people’s faces

- Views of NYC destruction that made me compare the “Cloverfield” monster chaos to the footage of 9/11 that is stored forever in my mind

I HEARD a lot of stuff. Friends and coworkers assure me that if I’d seen the whole thing I would’ve hated it. Huge plot holes, things made no sense, blah blah blah. I liked it because of the fresh perspective. I like that we have no idea what the monster is or where it comes from (or why it’s there at all). I like the first person, on the ground, real time perspective of the chaos and destruction. Grounding the action (literally) made it that much more compelling a film. The characters were caricatures, which was fine because they weren’t the point and they all died anyway. The experience was the point, and it was a hell of an experience. They threw in the pseudo romance subplot because if there wasn't some semblance of another story, people would be bitching, "That's it? Just people running from a big monster? That's all the movie is?" Deal.

In short, "Cloverfield" is a pretty sweet movie that I can never, ever see again. Or I will quite possibly die.

My heartbroken ode to Brett Favre

THE man. There will be no arguing with me.

I have to say one thing before I go any further: I love Brett Favre.

I've loved him since I was 12 years old. At the start of the 1996 season, Los Angeles had no football team. It was the first year I payed even the slightest bit of attention to football, and I fell in love with the reigning Super Bowl champs and their QB. I admit, it was a bit of a convenient, random choice. But my hometown no longer had a team, and there was something about Favre that my 12-year-old self just adored.

I've followed Favre and the Packers for 12 years now and my loyalty has never wavered. So much has been said about Favre. He is the best QB the game of football has ever seen (sorry Tom Brady - check back with us in seven years or so and we'll talk. Until then, sit back and deal with being second-best) and one of the classiest sportsmen I've had the pleasure of watching in my admittedly brief life. Watching him and the Packers play just makes me HAPPY.

The 2006 season was awful. Critics proclaimed Favre, already old for a QB, finished. He teared up at the end of the 8-8 season and everyone thought he'd retire. But he came back for 2007 and absolutely blew everyone's expectations out of the water. Breaking records left and right (including most touchdown passes AND most interceptions in consecutive weeks) Favre and his cannon of a right arm lead the Packers to a 13-3 record, the NFC North title and a spot in the NFC Championship game.

They faced a resurgent Giants team, led by the Manning no one cares about. The Giants came out of nowhere in the last month of the season so clinch a Wild Card spot in the playoffs. And, in front of a hostile crowd of 72,000 at Lambeau Field, the Giants shocked the Packers in overtime, 23-20, ending Favre's Cinderella season and, possibly, his career.

I'm not gonna lie: I cried. I'm a girl, sue me.

My heart broke for my team and for Favre, who, in a perfect world, would've gotten one last shot at another Super Bowl title. My heart broke when, in overtime, Favre threw an interception that set up Tynes 47-yard field goal to win the game for NY...what could possibly be the last pass he ever makes. He deserved so much better.

But the Pack couldn't run the ball. Ryan Grant, so effective in last week's victory against Seattle, went absolutely nowhere all night long. The Green Bay O-line had incredible difficulty holding back the Giants defense, which meant Favre was under pressure all night long. The Packers' D, to me, seemed to have difficulty making the first tackle all night long. They got a last-second reprieve when Tynes missed the 36-yard field goal as time expired...but then came that second pass, the one Favre will probably wish until the end of his days that he could have back. It was a bad decision, plain and simple.

It would just be a damn shame if that's how Favre, for all that he's brought to the game of football, goes out. If that's the last thing people remember about him. Seeing his face answering questions after the game also broke my heart. He was agonized, and I'm sure it doesn't make his decision of whether or not to come back any easier. Should he come back for one more season, hoping the magic and his soon-to-be 39-year-old arm holds out (when they could very likely revert to the 2006 Packers...or worse)? Should he retire with pride in knowing that he's the best QB and one of the best players the NFL has ever seen and that there's very little he hasn't accomplished?

As long as he can still hold a football, I'd love to see him on my television screen every Sunday (and sometimes on Monday and Thursday). Football will be a little less classy when he's gone, a little less fun to watch. Plus, as long as he's out there, I always have faith in Green Bay to pull out a miracle.

I'm gonna say it now: Favre in '08. (And then I'm going to bury my face in my pillow and cry a little bit more).

Johnny Podres: 1932 - 2008

I'm a little late on this front, but it's been a crazy couple days.

As a Dodgers fan and a fan of the game in general, I mourn the passing of Johnny Podres, who died Sunday at the age of 75.

The Dodgers have quite a history with legendary lefties

Without Johnny Podres, the Dodgers wouldn't have won their very first World Series in 1955. Most sports fans know the lore: The Dodgers faced the Yankees in the World Series five times before 1955 and lost every single time. Despite being a consistent Top 5 team, Brooklyn could never manage to clinch the Series.

In 1955, the Dodgers faced the Yankees in the World Series for the 6th time. After losing the first two games, 23-year-old lefty Podres pitched a complete 7-hit game and lead the Dodgers to a Game 3 victory. In a now infamous story, Podres told his teammates before the climactic Game 7 at Yankee Stadium to just get him one run and he would guarantee them victory. The team got him two and Podres pitched a complete game shutout, leading the Dodgers to their first World Series championship (and only one in Brooklyn). His performance in the Series earned him the first-ever World Series MVP award and ended the decades-long suffering of the Brooklyn faithful.

At Yankee Stadium, just after the final out of Game 7 in 1955.

1955 is, without a doubt, the most pivotal year in Dodgers history, and it wouldn't have happened without Podres. Nothing is held more dear by Dodgers fans than that first championship: we had to fight like dogs to get it, running into the seemingly untouchable behemoth that was (and is) the Yankees over and over again. Just when it seemed like it would never happen, we finally broke through and beat the unbeatable Yankees. And it wouldn't have happened without Podres' masterful performances.

I want to paste the following paragraph from Wikipedia, just because it's nothing short of amazing: "In his 15-season career, Podres compiled a 148-116 record with 1435 strikeouts, a 3.68 ERA, and 24 shutouts in 440 games. He was at his best in the World Series, losing his first Series game (in 1953), then winning four straight decisions over the next decade. In six Series games, he allowed only 29 hits in 38⅓ innings, with a 2.11 ERA adorning his 4-1 won/loss record."

Podres was also on the Dodgers' championship teams in 1959, 1963 and 1965. I would feel like a blasphemer if I even deigned to think that he was better than Koufax (because no one is or has been better in the history of the game) but his contribution to the sport of baseball and to the rich history of the Dodgers is almost beyond measure.

His presence in the baseball world will be sorely missed.

Welcome to the 2008 Golden Globes Press Conference

They formally canceled the Golden Globes yesterday. As a huge awards show lover, the HFPA soireee is almost always the most fun. Mostly because there's an open bar, a dinner party atmosphere and you get the big and small screens together (which can create some interesting pairings). Also, though, the HFPA tends to be less stuffy with their choices. They're more likely to reward work that's a bit more "out there" and not mainstream.

I can't IMAGINE a stuffier thing, however, then announcing winners via an HOURLONG press conference. Yet, that's what the HFPA is being forced to do because of the WGA's threat to picket the show (creating a line that SAG members would refuse to cross). No writers, there could still be a show. No actors there to accept their awards? That's a bit of an insurmountable problem. More entertainment down the tubes. *Sigh*

I also feel bad for the winners (especially the first-timers, if there are any) who don't get the experience of dressing up and getting to stand up in front of your peers to receive an honor like this. Way to kill dreams, writers' strike!

So, not that this matters anymore, but below are my thoughts on and picks for the film categories.

~*~

1. BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

a. AMERICAN GANGSTER Imagine Entertainment/Scott Free Productions; Universal Pictures
b. ATONEMENT Working Title Productions; Focus Features
c. EASTERN PROMISES Kudos Pictures – UK Serendipity Point Films – Canada A UK/Canada Co-Production; Focus Features
d. THE GREAT DEBATERS
Harpo Films; The Weinstein Company/MGM
e. MICHAEL CLAYTON Clayton Productions LLC; Warner Bros. Pictures
f. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN A Scott Rudin/Mike Zoss Production; Miramax/Paramount Vantage
g. THERE WILL BE BLOOD A Joanne Sellar/Ghoulardi Film Company Production; Paramount Vantage and Miramax Films

If this wins, *I* may picket.

I didn’t really like American Gangster. Movies like this are generally one of two things: a fast-moving, rough-and-tumble caper film or an in depth character study. American Gangster definitely wasn’t the former and fell far short of being a good example of the latter. Atonement was well done but depressing as hell. I’m going to pretend The Great Debaters isn’t on this list. I’m going to guess it will come down to No Country for Old Men or There Will Be Blood, with No Country getting the edge.

2. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

a. CATE BLANCHETT – ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE
b. JULIE CHRISTIE – AWAY FROM HER
c. JODIE FOSTER – THE BRAVE ONE
d. ANGELINA JOLIE – A MIGHTY HEART
e. KEIRA KNIGHTLEY – ATONEMENT

I’m thoroughly unmoved by anyone on this list. Foster is always great, but this is not the film for it. Jolie’s movie was too small (and tanked to boot). Knightley was fantastic and has an outside shot. I feel like this one may go to Blanchett because awards shows LOVE her…even though this was technically a sequel film and not as well-received as the first.

3. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA

a. GEORGE CLOONEY – MICHAEL CLAYTON
b. DANIEL DAY-LEWIS – THERE WILL BE BLOOD
c. JAMES MCAVOY – ATONEMENT
d. VIGGO MORTENSEN – EASTERN PROMISES
e. DENZEL WASHINGTON – AMERICAN GANGSTER

The complete opposite of the Best Actress category for me. I think everyone on this list has a pretty good shot of taking the trophy home. McAvoy had a breakout year (and this is being touted as his breakout performance). I’m always a big fan of rewarding talented new blood. I hope Washington doesn’t get it, only because I SO didn’t like this movie. Then again, awards shows seem to like giving him trophies for playing bad guys (because he seems so NICE and FRIENDLY in real life, get it?). Critics are lauding Michael Clayton as one of Clooney’s strongest performances to date, and there isn’t a voter I’ve ever read who doesn’t worship the very selective hallowed ground that Day-Lewis walks on. This one is a crapshoot, but I hold out hope for McAvoy.

4. BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

a. ACROSS THE UNIVERSE Revolution Studios International; Sony Pictures Releasing
b. CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR Universal Pictures/Relativity Media/Participant Productions/Playtone; Universal Pictures
c. HAIRSPRAY Zadan/Meron Productions / New Line Cinema in association with Ingenious Film Partners; New Line Cinema
d. JUNO Mandate Pictures/Mr. Mudd Production; Fox Searchlight Pictures
e. SWEENEY TODD Parkes/MacDonald and Zanuck Company; DreamWorks/Paramount Distribution / Warner Bros. Pictures

Juno. That’s all I have to say.

5.BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

a. AMY ADAMS – ENCHANTED
b. NIKKI BLONSKY – HAIRSPRAY
c. HELENA BONHAM CARTER – SWEENEY TODD
d. MARION COTILLARD – LA VIE EN ROSE
e. ELLEN PAGE – JUNO

Can I have my fairytale Hollywood ending, please?

Oh, Amy Adams and Ellen Page. Choosing between you…may kill my soul a little. So I’m not going to. Instead, I will hope for the miraculous event called a “tie.”

6. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL

a. JOHNNY DEPP – SWEENEY TODD
b. RYAN GOSLING – LARS AND THE REAL GIRL
c. TOM HANKS – CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR
d. PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN – THE SAVAGES
e. JOHN C. REILLY – WALK HARD: THE DEWEY COX STORY

I love you, John C. Reilly, but you do not belong on this list for that movie. Depp, always fabulous, is in a musical about a demon barber. So….yeah. Gosling is great in Lars and the Real Girl, but it’s far from his best work (and the movie as a whole, though entertaining, is dubious). I LOVE Hanks in Charlie Wilson’s War. I think he’s pitch-perfect in playing “against type” and I don’t think he got enough credit for his performance. Still, it’ll be tough to topple the award-gobbling behemoth that is Hoffman (though I’d rather see him win for his supporting turn in Charlie Wilson’s War).

7. BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
a. BEE MOVIE DreamWorks Animation; DreamWorks Animation
b. RATATOUILLE Pixar; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Distribution
c. THE SIMPSONS MOVIE Gracie Films; Twentieth Century Fox

I was under whelmed by all three of these films, but I give the edge to the mighty Pixar.

8. BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

a. 4 MONTHS, 3 WEEKS AND 2 DAYS (ROMANIA) Mobra Films; IFC First Take
b. THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY (FRANCE AND USA) A Kennedy/Marshall Company and Jon Kilik Production; Miramax Films
c. THE KITE RUNNER (USA) DreamWorks Pictures Sidney Kimmel Entertainment and Paramount Classics Participant Productions Present a Sidney Kimmel Entertainment and Parkes/Macdonald Production Distributed by Paramount Classics
d. LUST, CAUTION (TAIWAN) Haishang Films; Focus Features
e. PERSEPOLIS (FRANCE) 247 Films; Sony Pictures Classics

Uhm…I am embarrassingly without opinion in the foreign film category (not that this is unusual, unfortunately). Still, from what I know, I’m pulling for Persepolis.

9. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

a. CATE BLANCHETT – I’M NOT THERE
b. JULIA ROBERTS – CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR
c. SAOIRSE RONAN –ATONEMENT
d. AMY RYAN – GONE BABY GONE
e. TILDA SWINTON – MICHAEL CLAYTON

Good grief, Blanchett. Is being awesome ONCE a year not enough for you? This is an impressive list of impressive performances…but I’m pulling for Amy Ryan. She was an absolute revelation.

10. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE

a. CASEY AFFLECK – THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD
b. JAVIER BARDEM –NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
c. PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN – CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR
d. JOHN TRAVOLTA – HAIRSPRAY
e. TOM WILKINSON – MICHAEL CLAYTON

Cuter Affleck? No. More talented Affleck? Probably.

AUGH! The anguish of this category is killing my soul slowly. I dismiss Travolta and Wilkinson outright. Sorry guys. I feel like Bardem may win, due to the way critics are slobbering all over his performance in the film. However, I fell over backward with how good Hoffman (also guilty of the "do you have to be ridiculously awesome in EVERYTHING?" affliction) and Affleck were in their respective roles. I will be pulling for Affleck, because his Robert Ford made me squirm in my seat and fascinated me at the same time.

11. BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE

a. TIM BURTON – SWEENEY TODD
b. ETHAN COEN & JOEL COEN – NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
c. JULIAN SCHNABEL – THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY
d. RIDLEY SCOTT – AMERICAN GANGSTER
e. JOE WRIGHT – ATONEMENT

I think this one is going to go to the Coens. There’s really not much else to say, except I really, really liked what Wright did with Atonement.

12. BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE

a. DIABLO CODY – JUNO
b. ETHAN COEN & JOEL COEN – NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
c. CHRISTOPHER HAMPTON – ATONEMENT
d. RONALD HARWOOD – THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY
e. AARON SORKIN – CHARLIE WILSON’S WAR

I think it’s going to be a three-way battle between Cody, the Coens and Sorkin. Not quite sure who will come out on top (especially since the Globes don’t necessarily count out quirk like the Oscars) but I’m hoping for Cody or Sorkin…I had minor gripes with each screenplay, but they were the strongest and most enjoyable of the year for me.

13. BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE

a. MICHAEL BROOK, KAKI KING, EDDIE VEDDER – INTO THE WILD
b. CLINT EASTWOOD – GRACE IS GONE
c. ALBERTO IGLESIAS – THE KITE RUNNER
d. DARIO MARIANELLI – ATONEMENT
e. HOWARD SHORE – EASTERN PROMISES

I'm starting a campaign for Hal Holbrook...

Oh, Into the Wild. How I love thee. Go and win.

14. BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE

a. "DESPEDIDA" – LOVE IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA
Music by: Shakira, Antonio Pinto
Lyrics by: Shakira
b. "GRACE IS GONE" – GRACE IS GONE
Music by: Clint Eastwood
Lyrics by: Carole Bayer Sager
c. "GUARANTEED" – INTO THE WILD
Music & Lyrics by: Eddie Vedder
d. "THAT’S HOW YOU KNOW" – ENCHANTED
Music By: Alan Menken
Lyrics By: Stephen Schwartz
e. "WALK HARD" – WALK HARD: THE DEWEY COX STORY
Music & Lyrics by: Marshall Crenshaw, John C. Reilly, Judd Apatow, Kasdan

I would giggle a LOT (and the 5-year-old inside of me would be full of glee) if Menken and Schwartz won for “That’s How You Know.” Do it, HFPA. Make me happy.

Pete Carroll is a Golden God...

...as long as he remains where he is.

ESPN is reporting that Carroll has expressed itnerest in the open head coach position with the Atlanta Falcons. Granted, there is a story like this nearly every offseason. Carroll is one of the top (if not THE top) Division I-A college football coach in the nation. His .844 winning percentage is the highest among all active college coaches in the nation with at least five seasons of coaching experience. He swiftly and surely turned the Trojans' football program around into one of the Top 5 teams in the nation with a wink and a smile.

SMASH! (Again.)

All previous rumors have come to naught. If there ever were official offers, he turned them down. Carroll always says he's very happy where he is. upposedly, nothing short of full creative control over an NFL team would even possibly sway him to leave. However, that's exactly what the Falcons are (reportedly) offering him.

Carroll got burned in the NFL with the Jets and the Patriots and their fans haven't forgotten his "failings" (I can't enter into a conversation with my Boston friends that has the words "Pete Carroll" in it without them going off on a tangent about him...and don't even get me started on Bill Simmons). As the title of this blog states, as a college coach he is a golden god. Seemingly uncriticizable, untouchable, the greatest of the great. I have no trouble believing that Pete Carroll could ask for the moon and Mike Garrett would be on the phone 2.4 seconds later trying to figure out how to get it for him.

Oh, Petey. We love you so (Never ever ever gonna let you go).

I'm not quite sure why this story makes me uneasy. Like I said, he's been courted by the NFL before and has always stayed firmly rooted at USC. But that was before we stumbled this season. Before the rumblings of a crumbling dynasty started. Before Carroll (I keep having to stop myself from calling him "Petey" like many other Trojans I know do, he's that much "our guy") righted the ship by season's end, made Illinois look silly and had those critics eating their words. I don't know why I'm worried. I don't really think he'll leave.

I don't think he'll leave...until he does. If it happens, remind me to find a place to hide until the Trojan fury dies down. It won't be pretty. We don't let of our golden gods without a fight.

I know a Survivor!

I haven't cared about Survivor since Season 3 (no, I can't for the life of me remember what it was called).

However, the cast for Season 16 (no, that is not a typo) was revealed recently, and I discovered that one of the contestants is a former classmate and co-worker of mine: Alexis Jones. She's part of Survivor: Micronesia (rookies vs. favorites).

Yay Alexis!

Here's her Entertainment Weekly profile:

THE ROOKIES:

ALEXIS JONES

AGE: 24

OCCUPATION: Motivational speaker

HOMETOWN: Beverly Hills (originally from Austin, Tex.)

ALEXIS SAYS: ''People will see the Southern belle in me. But I'm fiercely competitive — despite my dimples.''

JEFF PROBST SAYS: ''When she came in she was so excited. And I launched into this speech about how you need to drop the excitement and get your head in the game because these other people out here, they're already playing, they're already playing you, and they're already seeing you're this little simple girl from Texas that they're going to run right over. And she looks at me and says, 'I've read every person here.' And she had a pretty good read on everybody. I thought, This is all I need to know. This girl knows how to play. As a fan, I picked this girl to win.''

See her profile here: http://www.survivorfever.net/s16_alexis_jones.html

Alexis is exactly what Jeff Probst describes. She seems like just a nice, pretty Southern belle...but she's whip smart and will take you to task if you deserve it without breaking a sweat. I think she's the perfect player for this game: no one will see her coming.

Damnit, now I'm actually going to have to watch. Good luck, Alexis! Survivor debuts on February 7th @ 8pm on CBS. Watch and root for her!

BSG: More Awesome By The Day

I admit it: I'm the 12th Cylon.

This photo kills me. KILLS me.

One, it's amazingly good. Entertainment Weekly has it (exclusively) in its January 14th issue. They liken it to a "last supper" photo, contending that every character's placement, actions, expressions and even clothing give big clues to what happens in Season 4.

I love that there are two Sixes. The killer red dress is back. Starbuck and Anders look hot. The Chief looks like he's in love with his knife. I'm not fooled for a second that Adama and Roslin are on complete opposite sides of the table. I'm intrigued that the only side of Tigh you see is the one with the eye patch. Jamie Bamber isn't aging well...though that really doesn't have anything to do with anything, I suppose (it's just sad is all). Helo and Athena are afraid of someone...but who the frak are they looking at?

Two, it makes the wait for new episodes (APRIL!) almost unbearable. Even more unbearable? They didn't finish filming the entire (final) season before the strike, which worries me. It's a show that's been on thin ice in general for its entire run. If it doesn't get to finished, I may riot. You heard it here first.

Cast photos are shot for every show nearly every season. How many of them actually MEAN anything, though? How many of them are laden with so much subtext and careful planning that it makes a fanboy or girl's head spin? How many of them are just so damn awesome that, even though I am WAY too old for this, I will likely be tearing it out and taping it up on my wall?

Just BSG. Because no one does awesome quite like them.

I'll take two. K thx.