69th Annual Golden Globe Awards Nominees

Below are the nominees. My Week With Marilyn was somehow nominated as a comedy/musical. I have not seen the film yet. The Muppets were completely shutout by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. That will definitely change at the Oscars. Also, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association can suck it for not properly formatting a press release.

HOLLYWOOD FOREIGN PRESS ASSOCIATION 2012
GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011

BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
THE DESCENDANTS - Ad Hominem Enterprises; Fox Searchlight Pictures
THE HELP – DreamWorks Pictures, Participant Media; Touchstone Pictures
HUGO – Paramount Pictures presents a GK Films Production; Paramount Pictures
THE IDES OF MARCH – Columbia Pictures, Cross Creek Pictures, Exclusive Media Group, Crystal City Entertainment; Sony Pictures Releasing
MONEYBALL – Columbia Pictures; Sony Pictures Releasing International
WAR HORSE – DreamWorks Pictures; Touchstone Pictures

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
GLENN CLOSE – ALBERT NOBBS
VIOLA DAVIS – THE HELP
ROONEY MARA – THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
MERYL STREEP – THE IRON LADY
TILDA SWINTON – WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
GEORGE CLOONEY – THE DESCENDANTS
LEONARDO DICAPRIO – J. EDGAR
MICHAEL FASSBENDER – SHAME
RYAN GOSLING – THE IDES OF MARCH
BRAD PITT – MONEYBALL

BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
50/50 – Summit Entertainment and Mandate Pictures; Summit Entertainment
THE ARTIST – La Petite Reine, Studio 37, La Classe Americaine, JD Prod, France3 Cinema, Jouror Production, uFilms; The Weinstein Company
BRIDESMAIDS – Universal Pictures, Relativity Media, Apatow Productions; Universal Pictures
MIDNIGHT IN PARIS – A Mediapro, Versatil Cinema & Gravier Production; Sony Pictures Classics
MY WEEK WITH MARILYN – The Weinstein Company

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
JODIE FOSTER – CARNAGE
CHARLIZE THERON – YOUNG ADULT
KRISTEN WIIG – BRIDESMAIDS
MICHELLE WILLIAMS – MY WEEK WITH MARILYN
KATE WINSLET – CARNAGE

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
JEAN DUJARDIN – THE ARTIST
BRENDAN GLEESON – THE GUARD
JOSEPH GORDON-LEVITT – 50/50
RYAN GOSLING – CRAZY, STUPID, LOVE.
OWEN WILSON – MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN – Paramount/Columbia/Hemisphere Capital/Amblin/Wingnut Films/Kennedy/Marshall Production
ARTHUR CHRISTMAS – Columbia Pictures & Sony Pictures Animation; Sony Pictures Releasing International
CARS 2 – Walt Disney Pictures, Pixar Animation Studios; Walt Disney Pictures
PUSS IN BOOTS – DreamWorks Animation; Paramount Pictures
RANGO – Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies, A Blind Wink/GK Films Production; Paramount Pictures

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
THE FLOWERS OF WAR (CHINA) (Jing Ling Shi San Chai) – New Pictures Film Company; New Pictures Film Company
IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY (USA) – GK Films; FilmDistrict
THE KID WITH A BIKE (BELGIUM) (Le Gamin au Velo) – Les Films du Fleuve; Sundance Selects
A SEPARATION (IRAN) (Jodaeiye Nader az Simin) – Asghar Farhadi; Sony Pictures Classics
THE SKIN I LIVE IN (SPAIN) (La piel que habito) – El Deseo D.A., S.L.U.; Sony Pictures Classics

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
BERENICE BEJO – THE ARTIST
JESSICA CHASTAIN – THE HELP
JANET MCTEER – ALBERT NOBBS
OCTAVIA SPENCER – THE HELP
SHAILENE WOODLEY – THE DESCENDANTS

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
KENNETH BRANAGH – MY WEEK WITH MARILYN
ALBERT BROOKS – DRIVE
JONAH HILL – MONEYBALL
VIGGO MORTENSEN – A DANGEROUS METHOD
CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER – BEGINNERS

BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE
WOODY ALLEN – MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
GEORGE CLOONEY – THE IDES OF MARCH
MICHEL HAZANAVICIUS – THE ARTIST
ALEXANDER PAYNE – THE DESCENDANTS
MARTIN SCORSESE – HUGO

BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE
WOODY ALLEN – MIDNIGHT IN PARIS
GEORGE CLOONEY, GRANT HESLOV, BEAU WILLIMON – THE IDES OF MARCH
MICHEL HAZANAVICIUS – THE ARTIST
ALEXANDER PAYNE, NAT FAXON, JIM RASH - THE DESCENDANTS
STEVEN ZAILLIAN, AARON SORKIN – MONEYBALL

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE
LUDOVIC BOURCE – THE ARTIST
ABEL KORZENIOWSKI - W.E.
TRENT REZNOR, ATTICUS ROSS - THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO
HOWARD SHORE – HUGO
JOHN WILLIAMS – WAR HORSE

BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE
“HELLO HELLO” — GNOMEO & JULIET
Music by: Elton John, Lyrics by: Bernie Taupin
“THE KEEPER” — MACHINE GUN PREACHER
Music & Lyrics by: Chris Cornell
“LAY YOUR HEAD DOWN” — ALBERT NOBBS
Music by: Brian Byrne, Lyrics by: Glenn Close
“THE LIVING PROOF” — THE HELP
Music by: Mary J. Blige, Thomas Newman, Harvey Mason, Jr., Lyrics by: Mary J. Blige, Harvey Mason, Jr., Damon Thomas
“MASTERPIECE” — W.E.
Music & Lyrics by: Madonna, Julie Frost, Jimmy Harry

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
AMERICAN HORROR STORY FX
Twentieth Century Fox Television
BOARDWALK EMPIRE HBO
Leverage, Closest to the Hole Productions, Sikelia Productions and Cold Front Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
BOSS STARZ
Lionsgate Television in association with Grammnet NH Productions, Roya Productions and Old Friends Productions
GAME OF THRONES HBO
Bighead, Littlehead, 360 Television, Grok and Generator Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
HOMELAND SHOWTIME
SHOWTIME Presents, Teakwood Lane Productions, Cherry Pie Productions, Keshet, Fox 21

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
CLAIRE DANES – HOMELAND
MIREILLE ENOS – THE KILLING
JULIANNA MARGULIES – THE GOOD WIFE
MADELEINE STOWE – REVENGE
CALLIE THORNE – NECESSARY ROUGHNESS

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
STEVE BUSCEMI – BOARDWALK EMPIRE
BRYAN CRANSTON – BREAKING BAD
KELSEY GRAMMER – BOSS
JEREMY IRONS – THE BORGIAS
DAMIAN LEWIS – HOMELAND

BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
ENLIGHTENED – HBO - Ripcord Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
EPISODES – SHOWTIME – SHOWTIME Presents, Hat Trick Productions, Crane Klarik Productions
GLEE - FOX – Ryan Murphy Television in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
MODERN FAMILY – ABC – Levitan-Lloyd Productions in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television
NEW GIRL - FOX – Chernin Entertainment in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES - COMEDY OR MUSICAL
LAURA DERN – ENLIGHTENED
ZOOEY DESCHANEL – NEW GIRL
TINA FEY – 30 ROCK
LAURA LINNEY – THE BIG C
AMY POEHLER – PARKS AND RECREATION

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
ALEC BALDWIN – 30 ROCK
DAVID DUCHOVNY – CALIFORNICATION
JOHNNY GALECKI – THE BIG BANG THEORY
THOMAS JANE – HUNG
MATT LEBLANC – EPISODES

BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
CINEMA VERITE – HBO - A Pariah Production in association with HBO Films
DOWNTON ABBEY (MASTERPIECE) – PBS - A Carnival/Masterpiece Co-production
THE HOUR – BBC AMERICA – Kudos Film and Television/BBC America co-production.
MILDRED PIERCE – HBO - A Killer Films/John Wells Production in association with MGM and HBO Miniseries
TOO BIG TO FAIL – HBO – A Spring Creek and A Deuce Three Production in association with HBO Films

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
ROMOLA GARAI – THE HOUR
DIANE LANE – CINEMA VERITE
ELIZABETH MCGOVERN – DOWNTON ABBEY (MASTERPIECE)
EMILY WATSON – APPROPRIATE ADULT
KATE WINSLET – MILDRED PIERCE

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION
HUGH BONNEVILLE – DOWNTON ABBEY (MASTERPIECE)
IDRIS ELBA – LUTHER
WILLIAM HURT – TOO BIG TO FAIL
BILL NIGHY – PAGE EIGHT (MASTERPIECE)
DOMINIC WEST – THE HOUR

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TV
JESSICA LANGE – AMERICAN HORROR STORY
KELLY MACDONALD – BOARDWALK EMPIRE
MAGGIE SMITH – DOWNTON ABBEY (MASTERPIECE)
SOFIA VERGARA – MODERN FAMILY
EVAN RACHEL WOOD – MILDRED PIERCE

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TV
PETER DINKLAGE – GAME OF THRONES
PAUL GIAMATTI – TOO BIG TO FAIL
GUY PEARCE – MILDRED PIERCE
TIM ROBBINS – CINEMA VERITE
ERIC STONESTREET – MODERN FAMILY

18th Annual SAG Awards Nominations

18th ANNUAL SCREEN ACTORS GUILD AWARDS® NOMINATIONS
THEATRICAL MOTION PICTURES
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
DEMIÁN BICHIR / Carlos Galindo - A BETTER LIFE (Summit Entertainment)
GEORGE CLOONEY / Matt King - THE DESCENDANTS (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
LEONARDO DiCAPRIO / J. Edgar Hoover - J. EDGAR (Warner Bros. Pictures)
JEAN DUJARDIN / George - THE ARTIST (The Weinstein Company)
BRAD PITT / Billy Beane - MONEYBALL (Columbia Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
GLENN CLOSE / Albert Nobbs - ALBERT NOBBS (Roadside Attractions)
VIOLA DAVIS / Aibileen Clark - THE HELP (DreamWorks Pictures / Touchstone Pictures)
MERYL STREEP / Margaret Thatcher - THE IRON LADY (The Weinstein Company)
TILDA SWINTON / Eva - WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN (Oscilloscope Laboratories)
MICHELLE WILLIAMS / Marilyn Monroe - MY WEEK WITH MARILYN (The Weinstein Company)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
KENNETH BRANAGH / Sir Laurence Olivier - MY WEEK WITH MARILYN (The Weinstein Company)
ARMIE HAMMER / Clyde Tolson - J. EDGAR (Warner Bros. Pictures)
JONAH HILL / Peter Brand - MONEYBALL (Columbia Pictures)
NICK NOLTE / Paddy Conlon - WARRIOR (Lionsgate)
CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER / Hal - BEGINNERS (Focus Features)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
BÉRÉNICE BEJO / Peppy - THE ARTIST (The Weinstein Company)
JESSICA CHASTAIN / Celia Foote - THE HELP (DreamWorks Pictures / Touchstone Pictures)
MELISSA McCARTHY / Megan - BRIDESMAIDS (Universal Pictures)
JANET McTEER / Hubert Page - ALBERT NOBBS (Roadside Attractions)
OCTAVIA SPENCER / Minny Jackson - THE HELP (DreamWorks Pictures / Touchstone Pictures)

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
THE ARTIST (The Weinstein Company)
BÉRÉNICE BEJO / Peppy
JAMES CROMWELL / Clifton
JEAN DUJARDIN / George
JOHN GOODMAN / Al Zimmer
PENELOPE ANN MILLER / Doris

BRIDESMAIDS (Universal Pictures)
ROSE BYRNE / Helen
JILL CLAYBURGH / Annie’s Mom
ELLIE KEMPER / Becca
MATT LUCAS / Gil
MELISSA McCARTHY / Megan
WENDI McLENDON-COVEY / Rita
CHRIS O’DOWD / Rhodes
MAYA RUDOLPH / Lillian
KRISTEN WIIG / Annie

THE DESCENDANTS (Fox Searchlight Pictures)
BEAU BRIDGES / Cousin Hugh
GEORGE CLOONEY / Matt King
ROBERT FORSTER / Scott Thorson
JUDY GREER / Julie Speer
MATTHEW LILLARD / Brian Speer
SHAILENE WOODLEY / Alexandra King

THE HELP (DreamWorks Pictures / Touchstone Pictures)
JESSICA CHASTAIN / Celia Foote
VIOLA DAVIS / Aibileen Clark
BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD / Hilly Holbrook
ALLISON JANNEY / Charlotte Phelan
CHRIS LOWELL / Stuart Whitworth
AHNA O’REILLY / Elizabeth Leefolt
SISSY SPACEK / Missus Walters
OCTAVIA SPENCER / Minny Jackson
MARY STEENBURGEN / Elaine Stein
EMMA STONE / Skeeter Phelan
CICELY TYSON / Constantine Jefferson
MIKE VOGEL / Johnny Foote

MIDNIGHT IN PARIS (Sony Pictures Classics)
KATHY BATES / Gertrude Stein
ADRIEN BRODY / Salvador Dali
CARLA BRUNI / Museum Guide
MARION COTILLARD / Adriana
RACHEL McADAMS / Inez
MICHAEL SHEEN / Paul
OWEN WILSON / Gil

PRIMETIME TELEVISION
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
LAURENCE FISHBURNE / Thurgood Marshall - THURGOOD (HBO)
PAUL GIAMATTI / Ben Bernanke - TOO BIG TO FAIL (HBO)
GREG KINNEAR / Jack Kennedy - THE KENNEDYS (REELZ CHANNEL)
GUY PEARCE / Monty Beragon - MILDRED PIERCE (HBO)
JAMES WOODS / Richard Fuld - TOO BIG TO FAIL (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
DIANE LANE / Pat Loud - CINEMA VERITE (HBO)
MAGGIE SMITH / Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham - DOWNTON ABBEY (PBS)
EMILY WATSON / Janet Leach - APPROPRIATE ADULT (Sundance Channel)
BETTY WHITE / Caroline Thomas - HALLMARK HALL OF FAME: THE LOST VALENTINE (CBS)
KATE WINSLET / Mildred Pierce - MILDRED PIERCE (HBO)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
PATRICK J. ADAMS / Mike Ross - SUITS (USA)
STEVE BUSCEMI / Enoch “Nucky” Thomson - BOARDWALK EMPIRE (HBO)
KYLE CHANDLER / Eric Taylor - FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS (DirecTV)
BRYAN CRANSTON / Walter White - BREAKING BAD (AMC)
MICHAEL C. HALL / Dexter Morgan - DEXTER (Showtime)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
KATHY BATES / Harriet Korn - HARRY’S LAW (NBC)
GLENN CLOSE / Patty Hewes - DAMAGES (DirecTV)
JESSICA LANGE / Constance - AMERICAN HORROR STORY (FX)
JULIANNA MARGULIES / Alicia Florrick - THE GOOD WIFE (CBS)
KYRA SEDGWICK / Dept. Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson - THE CLOSER (TNT)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
ALEC BALDWIN / Jack Donaghy - 30 ROCK (NBC)
TY BURRELL / Phil Dunphy - MODERN FAMILY (ABC)
STEVE CARELL / Michael Scott - THE OFFICE (NBC)
JON CRYER / Alan Harper - TWO AND A HALF MEN (CBS)
ERIC STONESTREET / Cameron Tucker - MODERN FAMILY (ABC)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
JULIE BOWEN / Claire Dunphy - MODERN FAMILY (ABC)
EDIE FALCO / Jackie Peyton - NURSE JACKIE (Showtime)
TINA FEY / Liz Lemon - 30 ROCK (NBC)
SOFIA VERGARA / Gloria Delgado-Pritchett - MODERN FAMILY (ABC)
BETTY WHITE / Elka Ostrovsky - HOT IN CLEVELAND (TV Land)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

BOARDWALK EMPIRE (HBO)
STEVE BUSCEMI / Enoch “Nucky” Thompson
DOMINIC CHIANESE / Leander Cephas Whitlock
ROBERT CLOHESSY / Ward Boss Jim Neary
DABNEY COLEMAN / Commodore Louis Kaestner
CHARLIE COX / Owen Sleater
JOSIE & LUCY GALLINA / Emily Schroeder
STEPHEN GRAHAM / Al Capone
JACK HUSTON / Richard Harrow
ANTHONY LACIURA / Eddie Kessler
HEATHER LIND / Katy
KELLY MACDONALD / Margaret Schroeder
RORY & DECLAN McTIGUE / Teddy Schroeder
GRETCHEN MOL / Gillian Darmody
BRADY & CONNOR NOON/ Tommy Darmody
KEVIN O’ROURKE / Mayor Edward Bader
ALEKSA PALLADINO / Angela Darmody
JACQUELINE PENNEWILL / Lilian
VINCENT PIAZZA / Lucky Luciano
MICHAEL PITT / Jimmy Darmody
MICHAEL SHANNON / Agent Nelson Van Alden
PAUL SPARKS / Mickey Doyle
MICHAEL STUHLBARG / Arnold Rothstein
PETER VAN WAGNER / Isaac “Icky” Ginsburg
SHEA WHIGHAM / Sheriff Elias Thompson
MICHAEL KENNETH WILLIAMS / Chalky White
ANATOL YUSEF / Meyer Lansky

BREAKING BAD (AMC)
JONATHAN BANKS / Mike
BETSY BRANDT / Marie Schrader
RAY CAMPBELL / Tyrus Kitt
BRYAN CRANSTON / Walter White
GIANCARLO ESPOSITO / Gus Fring
ANNA GUNN / Skyler White
RJ MITTE / Walter White, Jr.
DEAN NORRIS / Hank Schrader
BOB ODENKIRK / Saul Goodman
AARON PAUL / Jesse Pinkman

DEXTER (Showtime)
BILLY BROWN / Chicago Mike
JENNIFER CARPENTER / Debra Morgan
JOSH COOKE / Louis
AIMEE GARCIA / Jamie Batista
MICHAEL C. HALL / Dexter Morgan
COLIN HANKS / Travis Marshall
DESMOND HARRINGTON / Joey Quinn
MARIA DOYLE KENNEDY / Sonya
RYA KIHLSTEDT / Michelle
C.S. LEE / Vince Masuka
EDWARD JAMES OLMOS / Professor Gellar
JAMES REMAR / Harry Morgan
LAUREN VELEZ / Lt. Maria LaGuerta
PETER WELLER / Liddy
DAVID ZAYAS / Sgt. Angel Batista

GAME OF THRONES (HBO)
AMRITA ACHARIA / Irri
MARK ADDY / King Robert Baratheon
ALFIE ALLEN / Theon Greyjoy
JOSEF ALTIN / Pypar
SEAN BEAN / Lord Eddard “Ned” Stark
SUSAN BROWN / Septa Mordane
EMILIA CLARKE / Daenerys Targaryen
NIKOLAJ COSTER-WALDAU / Ser Jaime Lannister
PETER DINKLAGE / Tyrion Lannister
RON DONACHIE / Ser Rodrik Cassel
MICHELLE FAIRLEY / Lady Catelyn Stark
JEROME FLYNN / Bronn
ELYES GABEL / Rakharo
AIDEN GILLEN / “Littlefinger” Petyr Baelish
JACK GLEESON / Joffrey Baratheon
IAIN GLEN / Ser Jorah Mormont
JULIAN GLOVER / Grand Maester Pycelle
KIT HARINGTON / Jon Snow
LENA HEADEY / Queen Cersei Lannister
ISAAC HEMPSTEAD WRIGHT / Bran Stark
CONLETH HILL / Lord Varys
RICHARD MADDEN / Robb Stark
JASON MAMOA / Kahl Drogo
RORY McCANN / Sandor Clegane
IAN McELHINNEY / Barristan Selmy
LUKE McEWAN / Rast
ROXANNE McKEE / Doreah
DAR SALIM / Qotho
MARK STANLEY / Grenn
DONALD SUMPTER / Maester Luwin
SOPHIE TURNER / Sansa Stark
MAISIE WILLIAMS / Arya Stark

THE GOOD WIFE (CBS)
CHRISTINE BARANSKI / Diane Lockhart
JOSH CHARLES / Will Gardner
ALAN CUMMING / Eli Gold
MATT CZUCHRY / Cary Agos
JULIANNA MARGULIES / Alicia Florrick
CHRIS NOTH / Peter Florrick
ARCHIE PANJABI / Kalinda Sharma
GRAHAM PHILLIPS / Zach Florrick
MAKENZIE VEGA / Grace Florrick

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

30 ROCK (NBC)
SCOTT ADSIT / Pete Hornberger
ALEC BALDWIN / Jack Donaghy
KATRINA BOWDEN / Cerie
KEVIN BROWN / Dotcom
GRIZZ CHAPMAN / Grizz
TINA FEY / Liz Lemon
JUDAH FRIEDLANDER / Frank Rossitano
JANE KRAKOWSKI / Jenna Maroney
JOHN LUTZ / Lutz
JACK MCBRAYER / Kenneth Parcell
TRACY MORGAN / Tracy Jordan
MAULIK PANCHOLY / Jonathan
KEITH POWELL / Toofer

THE BIG BANG THEORY (CBS)
MAYIM BIALIK / Amy Farrah Fowler
KALEY CUOCO / Penny
JOHNNY GALECKI / Leonard Hofstadter
SIMON HELBERG / Howard Wolowitz
KUNAL NAYYAR / Rajesh Koothrappali
JIM PARSONS / Sheldon Cooper
MELISSA RAUCH / Bernadette Rostenkowski

GLEE (FOX)
DIANNA AGRON / Quinn Fabray
CHRIS COLFER / Kurt Hummel
DARREN CRISS / Blaine Anderson
ASHLEY FINK / Lauren Zizes
DOT MARIE JONES / Coach Beiste
JANE LYNCH / Sue Sylvester
JAYMA MAYS / Emma Pillsbury
KEVIN McHALE / Artie Abrams
LEA MICHELE / Rachel Berry
CORY MONTEITH / Finn Hudson
HEATHER MORRIS / Brittany Pierce
MATTHEW MORRISON / Will Schuester
MIKE O’MALLEY / Burt Hummel
CHORD OVERSTREET / Sam Evans
LAUREN POTTER / Becky Johnson
AMBER RILEY / Mercedes Jones
NAYA RIVERA / Santana Lopez
MARK SALLING / Noah ‘Puck’ Puckerman
HARRY SHUM, JR. / Mike Chang
IQBAL THEBA / Principal Figgins
JENNA USHKOWITZ / Tina Cohen-Chang

MODERN FAMILY (ABC)
AUBREY ANDERSON-EMMONS / Lily
JULIE BOWEN / Claire
TY BURRELL / Phil
JESSE TYLER FERGUSON / Mitchell
NOLAN GOULD / Luke
SARAH HYLAND / Haley
ED O’NEILL / Jay
RICO RODRIGUEZ / Manny
ERIC STONESTREET / Cameron
SOFIA VERGARA / Gloria
ARIEL WINTER / Alex

THE OFFICE (NBC)
LESLIE DAVID BAKER / Stanley Hudson
BRIAN BAUMGARTNER / Kevin Malone
CREED BRATTON / Creed Bratton
STEVE CARELL / Michael Scott
JENNA FISCHER / Pam Beesly Halpert
KATE FLANNERY / Meredith Palmer
ED HELMS / Andy Bernard
MINDY KALING / Kelly Kapoor
ELLIE KEMPER / Erin Hannon
ANGELA KINSEY / Angela Martin
JOHN KRASINSKI / Jim Halpert
PAUL LIEBERSTEIN / Toby Flenderson
B.J. NOVAK / Ryan Howard
OSCAR NUÑEZ / Oscar Martinez
CRAIG ROBINSON / Daryll Philbin
JAMES SPADER / Robert California
PHYLLIS SMITH / Phyllis Lapin-Vance
RAINN WILSON / Dwight Schrute
ZACH WOODS / Gabe Lewis

SAG HONORS FOR STUNT ENSEMBLES
Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU (UNIVERSAL PICTURES)
COWBOYS & ALIENS (UNIVERSAL PICTURES)
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 2 (WARNER BROS. PICTURES)
TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON (PARAMOUNT PICTURES)
X-MEN: FIRST CLASS (20TH CENTURY FOX)

Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series
DEXTER (SHOWTIME)
GAME OF THRONES (HBO)
SOUTHLAND (TNT)
SPARTACUS: GODS OF THE ARENA (STARZ)
TRUE BLOOD (HBO)

Screen Actors Guild Awards 48th Annual Life Achievement Award
MARY TYLER MOORE

Presidential dollar coin program to end

It's a sad day for the presidential dollar program. Here it is, I had just ordered volume 2 of the Presidential Dollar folder, which starts up with the 2012 coins on to the end of the program.

And perhaps for that very reason, Vice President Joseph Biden announced Tuesday that the U.S. Mint would halt the production of those pesky $1 coins for circulation, because they’re not exactly in demand.

In fact, the U.S. Treasury Department said there are 1.4 billion surplus $1 presidential coins just sitting in the vaults of the Federal Reserve, and that the government would save taxpayers at least $50 million per year in production and storage costs by suspending their production.

Instead, U.S. Mint will produce a limited number of the coins, which “will be sold at a premium to collectors, so it will ensure that the coins will not be produced at a cost to taxpayers,” said Treasury spokesman Matt Anderson.

Until Tuesday's announcement, the U.S. Mint had been on track to produce 1.6 billion more of the $1 presidential coins through the year 2016, even though the 1.4 billion in surplus is enough to meet demand for more than a decade, Anderson said.

Shame on you, my fellow Americans. Shame on you!

Critics's Choice Nominations

BEST PICTURE
The Artist
The Descendants
Drive
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
The Help
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
The Tree of Life
War Horse

BEST ACTOR
George Clooney – “The Descendants”
Leonardo DiCaprio – “J. Edgar”
Jean Dujardin – “The Artist”
Michael Fassbender – “Shame”
Ryan Gosling – “Drive”
Brad Pitt – “Moneyball”

BEST ACTRESS
Viola Davis – “The Help”
Elizabeth Olsen – “Martha Marcy May Marlene”
Meryl Streep – “The Iron Lady”
Tilda Swinton – “We Need to Talk About Kevin”
Charlize Theron – “Young Adult”
Michelle Williams – “My Week With Marilyn”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Kenneth Branagh – “My Week With Marilyn”
Albert Brooks – “Drive”
Nick Nolte – “Warrior”
Patton Oswalt – “Young Adult”
Christopher Plummer – “Beginners”
Andy Serkis – “Rise of the Planet of the Apes”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Bérénice Bejo – “The Artist”
Jessica Chastain – “The Help”
Melissa McCarthy – “Bridesmaids”
Carey Mulligan – “Shame”
Octavia Spencer – “The Help”
Shailene Woodley – “The Descendants”

BEST YOUNG ACTOR/ACTRESS
Asa Butterfield – “Hugo”
Elle Fanning – “Super 8”
Thomas Horn – “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”
Ezra Miller – “We Need to Talk About Kevin”
Saoirse Ronan – “Hanna”
Shailene Woodley – “The Descendants”

BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE
The Artist
Bridesmaids
The Descendants
The Help
The Ides of March

BEST DIRECTOR
Stephen Daldry – “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”
Michel Hazanavicius – “The Artist”
Alexander Payne – “The Descendants”
Nicolas Winding Refn – “Drive”
Martin Scorsese – “Hugo”
Steven Spielberg – “War Horse”

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
“The Artist” – Michel Hazanavicius
“50/50” – Will Reiser
“Midnight in Paris” – Woody Allen
“Win Win” – Screenplay by Tom McCarthy, Story by Tom McCarthy & Joe Tiboni
“Young Adult” – Diablo Cody

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
“The Descendants” – Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash
“Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close” – Eric Roth
“The Help” – Tate Taylor
“Hugo” – John Logan
“Moneyball” – Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin, Story by Stan Chervin

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
“The Artist” – Guillaume Schiffman
“Drive” – Newton Thomas Sigel
“Hugo” – Robert Richardson
“The Tree of Life” – Emmanuel Lubezki
“War Horse” – Janusz Kaminski

BEST ART DIRECTION
“The Artist” – Production Designer: Laurence Bennett, Art Director: Gregory S. Hooper
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” – Production Designer: Stuart Craig, Set Decorator: Stephenie McMillan
“Hugo” – Production Designer: Dante Ferretti, Set Decorator: Francesca Lo Schiavo
“The Tree of Life” – Production Designer: Jack Fisk, Art Director: David Crank
“War Horse” – Production Designer: Rick Carter, Set Decorator: Lee Sandales

BEST EDITING
“The Artist” – Michel Hazanavicius and Anne-Sophie Bion
“Drive” – Matthew Newman
“The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” – Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall
“Hugo” – Thelma Schoonmaker
“War Horse” – Michael Kahn

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
“The Artist” – Mark Bridges
“The Help” – Sharen Davis
“Hugo” – Sandy Powell
“Jane Eyre” – Michael O’Connor
“My Week With Marilyn” – Jill Taylor

BEST MAKEUP
Albert Nobbs
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
The Iron Lady
J. Edgar
My Week With Marilyn

BEST VISUAL EFFECTS
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Hugo
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Super 8
The Tree of Life

BEST SOUND
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
Hugo
Super 8
The Tree of Life
War Horse

BEST ANIMATED FEATURE
The Adventures of Tintin
Arthur Christmas
Kung Fu Panda 2
Puss in Boots
Rango

BEST ACTION MOVIE
Drive
Fast Five
Hanna
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Super 8

BEST COMEDY
Bridesmaids
Crazy, Stupid, Love
Horrible Bosses
Midnight in Paris
The Muppets

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
In Darkness
Le Havre
A Separation
The Skin I Live In
Where Do We Go Now?

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
Buck
Cave of Forgotten Dreams
George Harrison: Living in the Material World
Page One: Inside the New York Times
Project Nim
Undefeated

BEST SONG
“Hello Hello” – performed by Elton John and Lady Gaga/written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin – Gnomeo & Juliet
“Life’s a Happy Song” – performed by Jason Segel, Amy Adams and Walter/written by Bret McKenzie – The Muppets
“The Living Proof” – performed by Mary J. Blige/written by Mary J. Blige, Thomas Newman and Harvey Mason, Jr. – The Help
“Man or Muppet” – performed by Jason Segel and Walter/written by Bret McKenzie – The Muppets
“Pictures in My Head” – performed by Kermit and the Muppets/written by Jeannie Lurie, Aris Archontis and Chen Neeman – The Muppets

BEST SCORE
“The Artist” – Ludovic Bource
“Drive” – Cliff Martinez
“The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
“Hugo” – Howard Shore
“War Horse” – John Williams

Rhodes

Mark Story catches up with ex-Wildcat Rodrick Rhodes.

AFI 2011 Top Ten

I can't find it online at AFI but EW is reporting the following.

AFI Movies of the Year
Bridesmaids
The Descendants
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
The Help
J. Edgar
Hugo
Midnight in Paris
Moneyball
The Tree of Life
War Horse

AFI Special Awards
The Artist
The Harry Potter Series

AFI TV PROGRAMS OF THE YEAR
Breaking Bad
Boardwalk Empire
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Game Of Thrones
The Good Wife
Homeland
Justified
Louie
Modern Family
Parks And Recreation

Not eligible were The Artist or Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

Not making the list are: Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, The Ides of March, Young Adult, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 , although the latter received a special award as well as The Artist.

Celtics news

Adrian Wojnarowski reports the following on twitter:

Boston-NO deal for David West still on hold, sources say. Waiting on NBA. C's rookies, JaJuan Johnson and E'Twan Moore discussed in deal.

It's hard to speculate at just moment just how much of this relates to the fallout of the Chris Paul trade. The two-time All Star, a graduate of Xavier University, has played all 8 seasons with the New Orleans Hornets.

Celtics Life has reports updated to Friday night. It's probably going to happen but it's a matter of who all is involved. Reports have mentioned Jermaine O'Neal as a possible candidate.

Chauncey Billups has a warning for those wanting his services.

“I’ m tired of being the good guy,” Billups told Yahoo! Sports by phone on Saturday afternoon. “I’m tired of being viewed as the guy. After a while, you just kind of get taken advantage of in these situations. I’ve been known as a leader, and I am a leader, but a leader can be as disruptive as he can be productive, especially when you carry a strong voice and people rally around you. This is about me now. This is about me, and teams should know that right now.”[...]

“I just don’t deserve the treatment that I’ve continually gotten,” Billups said. “Historically, these things never happen to the supposed great players and good guys. They continually happen to me, and it gets old. Listen, I feel I’ve been blessed in the game, and I’ve been given back, but these things start to wear on you. But there’s not another guy in history who keeps dealing with this, getting thrown into these things to make the money right. I really believe it’s because people take my kindness and professionalism for weakness. They think I’ll be OK with this. I won’t be OK with this. I’ve saved my money. I may just retire if I don’t get my freedom here.

“I want my freedom. My goal is to control my own destiny. And as you’ve seen in my career, I’ve never been in a position to do that. I know some teams out there are saying, ‘Oh, Chauncey will be great in mentoring’ and I’m tired of that. I’ve got a few good years left to play, and I’m not trying to come in and sit on the bench, or be a mentor. I’m not going to be that guy. I want to go somewhere and win. I want to choose.”

Clooney to produce Smothers Brothers biopic

This smells Oscar all over if you ask me.

Sony Pictures and Smokehouse partners George Clooney and Grant Heslov will turn the story of 60s comedians Tom and Dicky Smothers into a feature film. They’ve optioned the David Bianculli book Dangerously Funny: The Uncensored Story Of The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and they’ve set Brian Hecker and Craig Sherman to write the script. Clooney and Heslov will produce. It’s too early to determine whether or not Clooney will star or direct.

Kentucky blows foul, Ryan Braun tests positive

While everyone is disgusted with the fact that Kentucky blew an opportunity to foul in the final seconds against Indiana, let's turn our attention to Ryan Braun.

ESPN is reporting tonight that 2011 National League MVP Ryan Braun has tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. The report from ESPN states as follows:

National League MVP Ryan Braun, who last season led the Milwaukee Brewers to their first division title in nearly three decades, has tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug and faces a 50-game suspension if the initial finding is upheld, two sources familiar with the case told "Outside the Lines."

Major League Baseball has not announced the positive test because Braun is disputing the result through arbitration.

A spokesman for Braun issued a statement Saturday: "There are highly unusual circumstances surrounding this case which will support Ryan's complete innocence and demonstrate there was absolutely no intentional violation of the program. While Ryan has impeccable character and no previous history, unfortunately, because of the process we have to maintain confidentiality and are not able to discuss it any further, but we are confident he will ultimately be exonerated."[...]

To affirm the results and strengthen its case, MLB asked the World Anti-Doping Agency lab in Montreal, which conducts its testing, to perform a secondary test to determine whether the testosterone spike resulted from natural variations within Braun's body or from an artificial source. The test indicated the testosterone was exogenous, meaning it came from outside his body.

There's more in the article but this is a huge blow to the Milwaukee Brewers as they possibly lose star first baseman Prince Fielder to free agency.

Grimes names transition team

Secretary of State-elect Alison Lundergan Grimes has announced her transition team. The following was sent in an email blast.

Hon. Tim Firkins - Chairman

1. OFFICE ADMINISTRATION
Hon. David Boswell
Sharon Kaye Charles
Dr. Charles Derrickson

2. COMMUNICATIONS
Leah Adkins
Craig Blanton
Tim Wireman

3. LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES
Rep. Darryl T. Owens
Senator Robert Leeper
Rep. Alecia Webb-Edington

4. BUDGET
Kyna Koch
Gov. Julian Carroll
Hon. Teresa Isaac

5. ELECTIONS & ELECTION FINANCE
Dr. Don Butler
Michael Kem
Willie Payton
Scott White, Esq.

6. BUSINESS & CIVICS EDUCATION
Tom Rutledge, Esq.
Dr. Jack Rose
Col. Mike Weaver

Tayshaun Prince extends NBA career

Former Kentucky Wildcat star Tayshaun Prince has signed a new deal with the Detroit Pistons.

Tayshaun Prince will be returning to the Detroit Pistons after reaching agreement on a $27 million, four-year contract, a league source told ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher.

Prince, an unrestricted free agent, has spent his entire career with the Pistons since coming into the league in 2002. The veteran swingman averaged 14.1 points in 78 games last season.

Pujols leaves Cards, goes Hollywood

Albert Pujols has decided to leave the greatest baseball city in the world to head west to Los Angeles, where he will play for the Angels.

Reports are that it is a 10 year deal for $250 million. I'm also hearing reports that there is no opt-out contained in the contract.

It cements the fact that Stan Musial remains the greatest Cardinal of all time. If there is one thing that fans appreciate the most, it's the guys that put their heart and soul into the organization and don't care about how high their salary is.

Mark McGwire fell in love with the city and the fans--he gave the club a hometown discount.

Ten years at a quarter-billion dollars, honestly, is too much to pay especially when you look at the age factor and injury factor.

Could St. Louis still be a contender for the playoffs next season? It's hard to say. We're losing a lot of offensive production in Albert Pujols' departure for Hollywood.

Albert Pujols is one of the once-in-a-generation players and will surely be a lock for the Hall of Fame but I don't place him in the same category as Lebron James but this is one of those that will take some time to really digest.

Curt Schilling says Pujols would do better in St. Louis than Hollywood.

The legacy factor is where one must really think about things. Pujols could have been the greatest Cardinal of all time but as of now, he is in second place to many of Stan's numbers.

2012 BBWAA Hall of Fame Ballot

The candidates on the ballot this winter for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame next summer include:
Jeff Bagwell
Jeromy Burnitz
Vinny Castilla
Juan Gonzalez
Brian Jordan
Barry Larkin
Javy Lopez
Edgar Martinez
Don Mattingly
Fred McGriff
Mark McGwire
Jack Morris
Bill Mueller
Terry Mulholland
Dale Murphy
Phil Nevin
Rafael Palmeiro
Brad Radke
Tim Raines
Tim Salmon
Ruben Sierra
Lee Smith
Alan Trammell
Larry Walker
Bernie Williams
Tony Womack
Eric Young

Of that list, those appearing on the first time are Williams, Mueller, Sierra, Castilla, Salmon, Lopez, Womack, Mulholland, Radke, Burnitz, Jordan, Young and Nevin.

Returning candidates: Don Mattingly, Fred McGriff, Mark McGwire, Dale Murphy, Tim Raines, Alan Trammell, Edgar Martinez, and Lee Smith.

At some point over the next few days or weeks, I'll look at their stats and tell you who I would vote for.

Shaking my head: Jose Reyes and Hanley Ramirez

The Miami Marlins have Hanley Ramirez signed through 2014. He plays short stop. The problem? The Marlins just signed Jose Reyes for a 6 year deal to play short stop. Ramirez has no interest in moving positions--something that the Marlins probably did not even stop to consider.

This past season was a very down year for Ramirez but I feel that he will be back to form next season. There are mixed reports surfacing regarding Hanley Ramirez and a trade demand.

Fincher on advanced screenings

David Fincher has some really harsh things to say about advanced screenings.

"Embargoes … look, if it were up to me, I wouldn’t show movies to anybody before they were released," Fincher told Miami Herald critic Rene Rodriguez. "I wouldn’t give clips to talk shows. I would do one trailer and three television spots and let the chips fall where they may....If I had my way, the New York Film Critics Circle would not have seen this movie and then we would not be in this situation. I would be opening this movie on Wednesday Dec. 21, and I would have three screenings on Tuesday Dec. 20 and that would be it."

As a film buff, I've seen a huge amount of promotional screenings, the most recent being War Horse last week. They might take away from the box office but in the long run, they add to the box office as the word of mouth spreads around.

I'm not a professional critic. G-d knows how many we have of those...I always find it interesting when the local paper publishes the worst review for a highly praised film. Maybe that's just me though.

Yarmuth changes

Trey Pollard will be leaving Congressman John Yarmuth's office to work as a deputy Press Secretary for the national Sierra Club. He will be replaced by Stephen George as the new communications director. George previously wrote for LEO Weekly, where he also served as editor.

Ron Santo inducted to HOF

Ron Santo has finally got his due. Too late in my opinion as he is not alive to see it. I may be a die-hard St. Louis fan but I know HOF-caliber ballplayers when I see them.

Santo was the lone candidate among a ballot of 10 men, whose greatest contributions were realized between 1947 and 1972, to receive the 12 votes necessary to earn 75 percent and election to the Hall of Fame by the Golden Era Committee. Santo received 15 votes from the 16-member electorate and will be enshrined into the Baseball Hall of Fame on July 22nd in Cooperstown.

"The numbers of are there," said Committee member and Hall of Famer Billy Williams. "Everybody saw the numbers, the home runs, the Gold Gloves. And I think everyone looked at it with a different view saying, 'This guy should be in the Hall of Fame.'"

Santo died on December 3, 2010, but his wife believes he is celebrating today.

"I am sure he is smiling down on this day," she said. "I am a believer in what's meant to be. I believe he was meant to be in the Hall, unfortunately it couldn't be during his lifetime. But I think the message is to never give up. This was always his dream."

Santo becomes the 12th major league third baseman to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, the first elected at the position since Wade Boggs in 2005. Including three selections from the Negro leagues, there are now 15 third basemen in the Hall of Fame. In 15 major league seasons, Santo compiled a .277 lifetime batting average, with 2,254 hits in 2,243 games, while totaling 1,331 runs batted in and 365 doubles.[...]

Santo played for 14 seasons with the Chicago Cubs and one with the Chicago White Sox and was a nine-time All-Star. He hit 342 career home runs and won five Rawlings Gold Glove Awards for his defense at third base. He was honored by the Cubs Walk of Fame, becoming a member of the inaugural Class of 1992 and was selected to the club's all-century team in 1999. He was also a Cubs broadcaster for 21 years.[...]

"[During the voting process], some people brought out more than the numbers of Ron Santo," said Williams. "And talked about what he did for the community."

Here's how the voting went down:

Results of the Golden Era Ballot (12 votes needed for election): Ron Santo (15 votes, 93.75%); Jim Kaat (10 votes, 62.5%); Gil Hodges (9 votes, 56.25%); Minnie Minoso (9 votes, 56.25%); Tony Oliva (8 votes, 50%); Buzzie Bavasi, Ken Boyer, Charlie Finley, Allie Reynolds and Luis Tiant each received less than three votes.

The 16-member Golden Era Committee was comprised of Hall of Fame members Hank Aaron, Pat Gillick, Al Kaline, Ralph Kiner, Tommy Lasorda, Juan Marichal, Brooks Robinson and Billy Williams; major league executives Paul Beeston (Blue Jays), Bill DeWitt (Cardinals), Roland Hemond (Diamondbacks), Gene Michael (Yankees) and Al Rosen (retired); and veteran media members Dick Kaegel, Jack O'Connell and Dave Van Dyck. Hall of Fame Chairman of the Board Jane Forbes Clark served as the non-voting chairman of the Golden Era Committee.

DC Film Critics

After announcing their nominations the other day, the Washington, DC Film Critics announced their winners this morning.

The interesting thing to note is that they are the second group so far this awards season to name The Descendants for Adapted Screenplay and 50/50 for original screenplay.

Best Film:
The Artist

Best Director:
Martin Scorsese (Hugo)

Best Actor:
George Clooney (The Descendants)

Best Actress:
Michelle Williams (My Week with Marilyn)

Best Supporting Actor:
Albert Brooks (Drive)

Best Supporting Actress:
Octavia Spencer (The Help)

Best Acting Ensemble:
Bridesmaids

Best Adapted Screenplay:
Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash (The Descendants)

Best Original Screenplay:
Will Reiser (50/50)

Best Animated Feature:
Rango

Best Documentary:
Cave of Forgotten Dreams

Best Foreign Language Film:
The Skin I Live In

Best Art Direction:
Dante Ferretti, Production Designer, and Francesca Lo Schiavo, Set Decorator (Hugo)

Best Cinematography:
Emmanuel Lubezki (The Tree of Life)

Best Score:
Ludovic Bource (The Artist)

The whole BCS thing...

Why there has not been a playoff set up is beyond me. This year, more than ever, there are many non-SEC fans upset at the likelihood of the BCS Championship game being a rematch from this past season and that's not a non-conference game.

Dan Wetzel is right on the money here (to borrow a line from CJ columnist Eric Crawford) in his recent article on Mike Slive's fight for a BCS playoff system.

There’s a sizeable portion of college football that is lamenting that the BCS championship game could feature a rematch of two teams from the same league – LSU and Alabama of the Southeastern Conference.[...]

If it were up to the SEC, though, it never would’ve happened. At least not without giving teams from two other leagues a chance to prove themselves on the field.

In 2008, commissioner Mike Slive pitched a so-called “plus-one” plan that essentially was a four-team playoff using existing bowl games. Other than the ACC, the other conferences not only summarily rejected the plan, they refused to even discuss its details.

“I remember it being a lonely meeting,” Slive said Saturday. “That’s all I want to say about it.”[...]

Slive is humble guy, a genteel 71-year old, almost allergic to trash talk. Besides, he doesn’t have to say it because in this case, to the rejected go the spoils. Sticking with a simple 1-2 matchup in the BCS title game has proven to be a boon for the SEC and a disaster for just about everyone else.

Under Slive’s plan, LSU and Alabama would’ve had to beat two extremely good teams on a neutral field to assure this season’s title game.[...]

Besides, a one-loss SEC team is almost always going to get the benefit of the doubt with voters over a one-loss anyone else. That’s just how it is in a subjective system.

The BCS built the SEC’s reputation. And now the SEC’s reputation has overwhelmed the BCS.[...]

Slive went back to Birmingham humbled. Now his league has grown so dominant that in any given season, the SEC is all but assured of one spot in the title game. The other 100-some odd schools compete for the other.

And now they have to compete with the second-best SEC team for it.

“The decision was made a long time ago in the BCS to say you don’t have to be a champion, that there shouldn’t be any constraints, either formal or informal,” Slive said. “If it’s the two best teams in our league or the two best in another league, they are the two best teams.

“This may put this in perspective that people may not have thought about.”

National Board of Review announces 2011 winners

The National Board of Review announced their awards today. They are usually the first out of the gate just like Iowa is with the presidential campaign but the NY Film Critics jumped ahead this year. Anyway, their announcement includes more awards than the NY critics included.

Best Film: Hugo

Best Director: Martin Scorsese, Hugo

Best Actor: George Clooney, The Descendants

Best Actress: Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin

Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Best Supporting Actress: Shailene Woodley, The Descendants

Best Original Screenplay: Will Reiser, 50/50

Best Adapted Screenplay: Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash, The Descendants

Best Animated Feature: Rango

Breakthrough Performance: Felicity Jones, Like Crazy

Breakthrough Performance: Rooney Mara, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Debut Director: J.C. Chandor, Margin Call

Best Ensemble: The Help

Spotlight Award: Michael Fassbender (A Dangerous Method, Jane Eyre, Shame, X-Men: First Class)

NBR Freedom of Expression: Crime After Crime

NBR Freedom of Expression: Pariah

Best Foreign Language Film: A Separation

Best Documentary: Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory

Special Achievement in Filmmaking: The Harry Potter Franchise – A Distinguished Translation from Book to Film

Top Films
(in alphabetical order)
The Artist
The Descendants
Drive
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
The Ides of March
J. Edgar
Tree of Life
War Horse

Top 5 Foreign Language Films
(in Alphabetical Order)
13 Assassins
Elite Squad: The Enemy Within
Footnote
Le Havre
Point Blank

Top 5 Documentaries
(in Alphabetical Order)
Born to be Wild
Buck
George Harrison: Living in the Material World
Project Nim
Senna

Top 10 Independent Films
(in Alphabetical Order)
50/50
Another Earth
Beginners
A Better Life
Cedar Rapids
Margin Call
Shame
Take Shelter
We Need To Talk About Kevin
Win Win

NY Film Critics Awards

I didn't post the NY Film Critics awards the other day but I meant to. Here is how they voted:

Best Picture: The Artist
Best Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki (The Tree of Life)
Best Screenplay: Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin (Moneyball)
Best Director: Michel Hazanavicius (The Artist)
Best Foreign-Language Film: A Separation
Best Actor: Brad Pitt (Moneyball, The Tree Of Life)
Best Actress: Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady)
Best Supporting Actress: Jessica Chastain (The Tree Of Life, The Help and Take Shelter)
Best Supporting Actor: Albert Brooks (Drive)
Best Nonfiction Film: Cave Of Forgotten Dreams
Best First Feature: Margin Call
2011 Special Award: Raoul Ruiz (posthumous)

War Horse Movie Review

The following contains my review of War Horse so I have the trailer shown first so as to avoid any spoilers.



I saw an advanced screening of War Horse this evening. It is, without the shadow of a doubt, the best picture I have seen this year and that includes a lengthy list of Oscar contenders.

Steven Spielberg originally signed on to produce but opted to direct the film when he read the first draft of the screenplay. This film likely would not have happened had it not been for Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy attending the London stage production with their two daughters. At the time in 2009 when they saw it, nobody had bothered to buy the film rights so they did. When DreamWorks optioned the rights sometime thereafter, Spielberg was quoted as saying:

"From the moment I read Michael Morpurgo's novel War Horse, I knew this was a film I wanted DreamWorks to make ... Its heart and its message provide a story that can be felt in every country."

At the heart of this film is the phenomenal story of a friendship between a boy and his horse. They become separated at the start of the war but someway, somehow, their story finds a miraculous way be intertwined as they try to survive the horrors of World War I.

The film featured a nice reunion towards the end of the film when one officer asks that the horse be shot due to the extent of his injuries but then the horse reacts to a noise in the distance coming from Albert, the boy that raised him. It's a reunion that leaves you teary eyed.

There was a nice scene in which the English and Germans come to a truce to free Joey (Albert named him that) from the barbed wire.

Based on the book of the same name published in 1982 by Michael Morpurgo, Spielberg directs from a screenplay by Richard Curtis and Lee Hall. It's a well done script as well so don't be shocked if it somehow takes the lead as front runner for adapted screenplay. The cast includes David Thewlis, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, Peter Mullan, and Tom Hiddleston.

The play was adapted by Nick Stafford.

The usual suspects are involved as far as music, cinematography, and editing. John Williams composed an amazing score that fit the film. Janusz Kamiński, as he has since 1993, did the cinematography. Michael Kahn edited the film. There was a nice shot where the mother was sewing and they did a quick shot to the plowing of the farm. It could be because this is the first of Spielberg's films to be digitally edited.

You can't ask for a better director than Speilberg to film a war movie. Keep in mind that he's directed six set during or before WW2 (1941, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Empire of the Sun, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Schindler's List and Saving Private Ryan). He's produced both Clint Eastwood movies set during WW2 (Flags of our Fathers, Letters to Iwo Jima).

Producer Kathleen Kennedy commented about the appeal of the story saying "In cinema we've told very few stories about World War I and I think that's one of the things that attracted us to this ... It's a forgotten war in the United States, and that had a very powerful effect on Steven and I."

The synopsis via RT:

Set against a sweeping canvas of rural England and Europe during the First World War, War Horse begins with the remarkable friendship between a horse named Joey and a young man called Albert, who tames and trains him. When they are forcefully parted, the film follows the extraordinary journey of the horse as he moves through the war, changing and inspiring the lives of all those he meets-British cavalry, German soldiers, and a French farmer and his granddaughter-before the story reaches its emotional climax in the heart of No Man's Land. The First World War is experienced through the journey of this horse-an odyssey of joy and sorrow, passionate friendship and high adventure.

I cannot recommend this film enough. It's definitely going to see a bluray purchase this spring.

Shailene Woodley: Breakout Star

If you saw The Descendants this weekend, you saw one hell of a performance by actress Shailene Woodley, who just turned 20 this past month.

USA Today profiled her.

At year's end, when studios launch their best hopes for Oscar attention, there usually is one or two Cinderellas poised to step into the lead or supporting-actress category.

It might be Woodley's turn, thanks to her knockout performance as Alex, a recovering addict whose profanity-laced resentment toward her distant dad gradually shifts to respect after her mother falls into a coma.

"She really elevates that role from a stereotype," Clooney says with paternal pride of his movie daughter, who has been acting on TV since she was 5. "You can write and direct it. But at the end of the day, someone has to play it." The scene that grabs 'em every time: Alex's breakdown in a pool after being told tragic news. "She cries underwater," marvels the actor.

A Thanksgiving Message - 2011 Edition

May you have a safe, healthy, and happy Thanksgiving.

On this Thanksgiving, I am thankful for my family and friends. Times have been rough, more so these past three years than possibly ever before. Those friends have come through for me in more ways than they could possibly imagine and for that, I'm grateful.

I am thankful for my great-grandparents getting out of Europe and Russia before the war started.

I am thankful for my public school education, although the state of Kentucky has a lot of work to do. The education system in this state needs work. Teachers need to teach, not show the movie Forrest Gump on a rainy day because they don't want to deal with students. No excuse for having seen that movie five times while in the public school system, especially when it had nothing to do with the curriculum. Seriously, teachers. Get with it. A history class? Sure. Other classes, no way.

I am thankful to those of you who have forgiven me for doing that which will not be mentioned, although it gave me my first fifteen minutes of fame. If you don't know what I am talking about here, please message me appropriately. Strike that. In 2009, I was told by a friend of mine that used to be on mainstage at Second City that he loved it. These guys know what they are talking about. They do this for a living. It makes up for all the death threats that I recieved, whether those were done in a joking manner or not.

I am thankful for our troops serving us overseas even if I disagree with why we went over there in the first place, except for Afghanistan which was justified.

I am thankful to be living in a free country which allows the freedom of religion. On that note, especially this year, I am thankful for the Anshe Sholom community for their warm welcome following my move from Kentucky to Chicago in 2008. And their warm welcome each and every time that I go back to visit until I can get back their for good.

I am thankful for the Jewish comedians of the vaudeville and Borscht Belt eras for paving the way for comedians like Jerry Seinfeld and Jon Stewart.

I am thankful for President Bush for providing so much comedic material along with Sarah Palin as well. She's self-destructing when she doesn't realize it.

I am thankful that shows like The Daily Show, Conan, The Late Show with David Letterman, Saturday Night Live, How I Met Your Mother, The Big Bang Theory, NCIS, CSI: NY, Modern Family, Community, Parks and Recreation, The Office, 30 Rock, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, 2 Broke Girls, Suburgatory, Last Man Standing, Revenge, The New Girl, and The Colbert Report were approved by the networks so that I have television to enjoy.

I am thankful for the writing room of Caesar's Hour, considered to be the smartest and funniest room since Thomas Jefferson dined alone at the White House.

I am thankful for all my friends in the improv and sketch comedy scene, be it in Chicago, New York, or LA.

Last but not least, I am thankful that my first book, Turn That $#!+ Off! has finally been published. It's on sale via CreateSpace, Amazon, and Amazon Kindle as of now.

Classic!

George C. Scott watched the Jack and Jill trailer with Adam Sandler. My thoughts exactly, George.

OVC rejects NKU

The Ohio Valley Conference has rejected Northern Kentucky University due to the lack of a college football program.

Earlier this year, when the news broke, I mentioned that the Horizon League would make the best sense for the school.

It's live!

Turn That $#!+ Off! is now live. You can already purchase the 190 page trade paperback at the CreateSpace Store.

In addition to Create Space, which I HIGHLY RECOMMEND, you can buy via Amazon now.

The Book is finished

More to come on this of course but Turn That $#!+ Off! is now finished. Joe Sonka of Barefoot and Progressive wrote the foreward with less than 24 hours notice, no less.

This book is a series of comical rants and ramblings on politics, sports, entertainment, and life in general. Plus, some oldies but goodies are thrown in.

Cardinals hire Mike Matheny as next manager

It will take some time getting used to referring to Mike Matheny as the newest Cardinals' manager but that's what he is.

The Cardinals announced it this evening and will be hosting a press conference at 11 central.

Former Cardinals catcher Mike Matheny manager will become the team's new manager, the club announced Sunday evening.

He will be introduced at a Busch Stadium news conference on Monday at 11 a.m. CT.

Here's to the very best of wishes for next season.

Crit's future

As Adam Edelen prepares to fill in some really huge shoes, State Auditor Crit Luellen shares her plans with Tom Eblen.

sked what advice she would give her successor, Luallen said Edelen should surround himself with an outstanding professional staff, as she has done. Also, she said, "Never let political considerations or personal relationships color your decisions in this job."

Luallen thinks she accomplished that, despite the fact that many audits had political implications or involved people she had known for years, if not decades. "I can't think of a single thing we did that was not carefully grounded in the facts," she said.

As for her future, Luallen, 59, said she plans to seek elected office again but hasn't decided which one. She has been mentioned as a challenger to U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell in 2014 or a future candidate for governor. "I'll be looking at all of my options," she said.

After leaving the auditor's office next month, Luallen said she plans to take a break to travel and spend time with her husband, Lynn, and their large extended family.

"My husband is a big advocate for me taking a break," she said. "We're negotiating on how long the break is. He's thinking maybe a year. I'm thinking maybe 15 minutes."

New Kentucky Colonels book published

While I have not had a chance to read the book, Mark Story has an interview with Lloyd "Pink" Gardner, author of The Kentucky Colonels of the American Basketball Association: The Real Story of a Team Left Behind alongside Gary West.

Here's one tidbit of what might be had Dan Issel not been traded:

Q: After winning the ABA title in 1975, the Colonels traded Dan Issel in a cost-cutting move that did not go down well with fans. If that trade hadn't happened, would the Colonels be in the NBA now?

A: The phones rang off the hooks with people canceling season tickets because we'd gotten rid of Dan Issel. In my opinion, if we hadn't traded Dan, we would be in the NBA today.

Q: If the NBA came to Louisville now, would it work?

A: In 1975, both U of L and UK were in the Final Four and the Colonels won the (ABA) championship. So they all were surviving.

Could pro basketball survive (in Kentucky) today with the salaries? Who knows? I certainly would have liked to see it.

Gary West was the former daily sports editor with The Kentucky Kernal.

RIP Andy Rooney

Andy Rooney passed away at the age of 92. May he rest in peace.

Shame on you, Howard Fineman!

Howard Finemahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifn made a big mistake in an article for The Huffington Post. He chose to treat Jonathan Miller like "chopped liver."

And then there is the charm factor. [Governor Steve] Beshear is a good ol’ boy of the old school, the kind of guy you’d see at the lunch counter. [Running mate Jerry] Abramson — who would be the first Jew elected to statewide office in Kentucky — looks like a prosperous, well-barbered guy in the good seats at the ballgame, but he’s just as gregarious, and he’s traveling the state from Pikeville to Paducah to talk about the jobs he has managed to bring to the Louisville area. (Emphais added)

Shame on Fineman.

Tony La Russa announces retirement

After 16 seasons as manager of the St. Louis Cardinals, Tony La Russa retired following 33 years managing in the big leagues. La Russa retires as one of only two managers to win a World Series in both leagues.

There isn't one [factor] that dominates [my decision]," La Russa said. "They all just come together, telling you your time is over.

"We went through the season, and I felt that this just feels like it's time to end it, and I think it's going to be great for the Cardinals to refresh what's going on here."[...]

For the time being, La Russa does not have a next job in line. He does not expect to return to the organization but indicated that he had some interest in continuing to work in baseball.

Mozeliak acknowledged that he has a preliminary list of people in mind to be the Cardinals' next manager, but he made it clear that he expects that list to change in the coming days. Mozeliak did not rule out any possibility for the next skipper, from internal candidates to managers not currently with a team to coaches or managers with other teams.

As Matt notes, La Russa joined Billy Southworth as the only Cardinal managers with more than one World Series championship.

In 16 seasons with the Cardinals, La Russa won 1,408 games, and led the Cards to 9 postseason appearances, including winning the NL pennant in 2004, 2006, and 2011. La Russa retires with 1,408 wins over all, good enough for second place behind Connie Mack (3,731) and John McGraw (2,763). While many of us Cardinals fans thought the skipper would have decided to manage to the point where he would finish second all-time, it was never in La Russa's plans as Matt notes here:

La Russa said that he did not consider continuing in order to get the 36 wins he would have needed and pass McGraw on the all-time list.

"I'm aware of the history of the game," La Russa said. "But I would not be happy with myself if the reason I came back was to move up one spot. That's not why you manage...it's not something that motivates me. Wherever you finish, you finish."

La Russa finishes with the following numbers:
Postseason wins: 70 (2nd)
Games: 5,097 (2nd)
Losses: 2,365 (2nd)
Years: 33 (2nd - tie)
Wins: 2,728 (3rd)
Playoffs: 14 (3rd)
World Series titles: 3 (6th - tie)

You can send a note of thanks to Tony La Russa here.

Postseason Award Predictions

NATIONAL LEAGUE
Rookie of the Year: Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves
Most Valuable Player: Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers
Cy Young Award: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers

AMERICAN LEAGUE
Rookie of the Year: Jeremy Hellickson, Tampa Bay Rays
Most Valuable Player: Curtis Granderson, New York Yankees
Cy Young Award: Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers

It's interesting to note that Kershaw and Verlander both led their leagues in Wins, Strikeouts, and ERA. It's the first time since 1924 that two pitchers have won the Triple Crown in their league respectively.

Game 6: An Instant Classic

David Freese saved the St. Louis Cardinals twice tonight. In the bottom of the 9th inning, he tripled to bring in Albert Pujols and Lance Berkman.

In the 11th, he scores the game-winning walk-off home run to win the game for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Freese joins postseason lore with Kirk Gibson, Carlton Fisk, and Joe Carter with a walk-off home run to end the game. Not only that but he joins Jim Edmonds and Ozzie Smith has the only Cardinals to win a postseason game with a walk-off home run. Ozzie with his Game 5 win of the 1985 NLCS. Edmonds did so in extra innings in Game 6 of the 2004 NLCS.

This is an unbelievable season. Down 10.5 at the end of August, the Cards were thought to be out of the postseason. Nope. Atlanta started losing while the Cardinals started winning.

Like in 2006, I did not get any sleep.

Big 12 Takes West Virginia

Louisville fans will just have to wait.
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
According to CBS Sports:

West Virginia has been invited to join the Big 12 Conference, college football industry sources told CBSSports.com Friday.

The Mountaineers will accept the invitation, sources said. The Big 12 is expected to officially announce the invitation later today.

The Big 12's board of directors voted Friday morning and chose West Virginia over Louisville. They will stay at 10 schools, a source said.

Millarworld in the News

Mark Millar has been in the news a lot recently with several developments.

Wanted 2 is being written at the moment. At the moment, I don't know how it can be done with Angelina Jolie's character having been killed. Derek Haas and Michael Brandt, who adapted the original script, were just hired to write the sequel.

Meanwhile, news surrounding a new Millarworld project is being developed by none other than Matthew Vaughn.

Matthew Vaughn hasn’t yet picked a project to direct after the critical and financial success of X-Men: First Class, but a picture is forming as to what his options could be, and they all involve comic book writer Mark Millar.

Vaughn, Millar and artist Dave Gibbons (best known for as the co-creator of The Watchmen) unveiled this week a new comic titled The Secret Service. While plot details are under wraps, Vaughn not only co-created the concept but holds the movie rights.[...]

Vaughn also has the movie rights to Superior, a comic Millar is writing with Leinil Francis Yu doing the art. The plot revolves around a superhero and comic book-idolizing boy afflicted with multiple sclerosis who is given the chance to become a superhero named Superior. The chance, of course, comes with a heavy cost.

THR notes that no writers have been attached to either project but speculation is that Vaughn will co-write with Jane Goldman.

Both projects are in the early stages, with no screenwriters attached. Vaughn is likely to tackle the script for Secret Service himself, possibly with frequent collaborator Jane Goldman, just as he did with Kick-Ass and X-Men: First Class. For Superior, he will supervise the writing, according to sources.

A fourth Millarworld project was announced with Universal picking up rights to War Heroes.

Universal is in negotiations to pick up War Heroes, the project based on the Mark Millar-Tony Harris comic book. Thomas Dean Donnelly and Joshua Oppenheimer, who are writing Doctor Strange for Marvel, are in negotiations to write the script.

Michael De Luca, Chris Morgan and Trigger Street’s Dana Brunetti are attached to produce.[...]

The story centers on a U.S. military experimental program developed in light of dwindling enlistments and the expanding war on terrorism that gives ordinary soldiers superpowers. When a rogue group of the super-soldiers breaks off to form a criminal enterprise, one hero rises from their ranks to prevent catastrophic results.

Could it be true?!?

I hope that this tidbit actually happens!

Could the The Beatles' last film, Let It Be, finally be headed to DVD? Director Michael Lindsay-Hogg says, "We have been working on it pretty much every year for the last couple of years. And the plan is, at the moment, to have it come out, I think, in 2013. This is after they release Magical Mystery Tour as a special DVD release. And it'll be the film itself, the original film -- the color is great, the soundtrack is perfect."

Lindsay-Hogg adds that it will include a bonus DVD, which is a making-of documentary featuring outtakes from the film.

St. Louis wins National League Pennant

That's a winner! 2011 World Series, here we come! Go Cards! It's time to mess with Texas!

Rand Paul keeps spamming me

Rand Paul's senate office keeps spamming me with his newsletter despite unsubscribing EVERY FUCKING TIME that I get them.

Make it fucking stop this fucking minute!

Quote of the Day

"We are here to talk about re-elections, but if we can sign Albert Pujols for four more years, that would be good, too.”
--Missouri Governor Jay Nixon speaking downtown in St. Louis at a fundraiser for President Barack Obama during the Cardinals game, October, 2011

LINK

President Obama visits Cincy

President Obama visits Cincy and mentions Louisville...

Read the full speech or select excerpts.

Behind us stands the Brent Spence Bridge. It’s located on one of the busiest trucking routes in North America. It sees about 150,000 vehicles every single day. And it’s in such poor condition that it's been labeled "functionally obsolete." Think about that -- functionally obsolete. That doesn’t sound good, does it?

AUDIENCE: Nooo!

THE PRESIDENT: It’s safe to --

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Kind of like John Boehner. (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: It's safe to drive on, but it was not designed to accommodate today’s traffic, which can stretch out for a mile. Shipping companies try to have their trucks avoid the bridge. Of course, that only ends up costing them more money as well.

The thing is there are bridges and roads and highways like that throughout the region. A major bridge that connects Kentucky and Indiana just closed down for safety reasons. Another aging bridge that crosses over the Ohio River in Ironton could be replaced right now. There are rail stations in Cleveland and Toledo in desperate need of repair. And the same is true in cities and towns all across America. It makes your commute longer. It costs our businesses billions of dollars -- they could be moving products faster if they had better transportation routes. And in some cases, it’s not safe.

Now, we used to have the best infrastructure in the world here in America. We’re the country that built the Intercontinental Railroad, the Interstate Highway System. (Applause.) We built the Hoover Dam. We built the Grand Central Station. (Applause.) So how can we now sit back and let China build the best railroads? And let Europe build the best highways? And have Singapore build a nicer airport? At a time when we've got millions of unemployed construction workers out there just ready to get on the job, ready to do the work to rebuilding America. (Applause.)[...]

So my question is, what's Congress waiting for? Why is it taking so long? Now, the bridge behind us just happens to connect the state that’s home to the Speaker of the House --

AUDIENCE: Booo --

THE PRESIDENT: -- with the home state of the Republican leader in the Senate.

AUDIENCE: Booo --

THE PRESIDENT: Now, that’s just a coincidence. (Laughter.) Purely accidental that that happened. (Laughter.) But part of the reason I came here is because Mr. Boehner and Mr. McConnell, those are the two most powerful Republicans in government. They can either kill this jobs bill, or they can help pass this jobs bill. (Applause.) And I know these men care about their states. They care about businesses; they care about workers here. I can’t imagine that the Speaker wants to represent a state where nearly one in four bridges are classified as substandard -- one in four. I know that when Senator McConnell visited the closed bridge in Kentucky, he said that, “Roads and bridges are not partisan in Washington.” That’s great. I know that Paul Ryan, the Republican in charge of the budget process, recently said that "you can’t deny that infrastructure does creates jobs." That's what he said.

Well, if that’s the case, there’s no reason for Republicans in Congress to stand in the way of more construction projects. There’s no reason to stand in the way of more jobs.

Mr. Boehner, Mr. McConnell, help us rebuild this bridge. (Applause.) Help us rebuild America. Help us put construction workers back to work. (Applause.) Pass this bill.

AUDIENCE: Pass this bill! Pass this bill! Pass this bill! Pass this bill!

THE PRESIDENT: Let’s pass the bill.

2011 Primetime Emmy Winners

The winners for the 63rd Annual Emmy Awards are:

COMEDY SERIES: Modern Family (ABC)
COMEDY ACTOR: Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)
COMEDY ACTRESS: Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly)
SUPPORTING COMEDY ACTOR: Ty Burrell (Modern Family)
SUPPORTING COMEDY ACTRESS: Julie Bowen (Modern Family)
DRAMA SERIES: Mad Men (AMC)
DRAMA ACTOR: Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights)
DRAMA ACTRESS: Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)
SUPPORTING DRAMA ACTOR: Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones)
SUPPORTING DRAMA ACTRESS: Margo Martindale (Justified)
MINISERIES OR TV MOVIE: Masterpiece: Downton Abbey (PBS)
LEAD ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE: Kate Winslet (Mildred Pierce)
LEAD ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE: Barry Pepper (The Kennedys)
SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE: Maggie Smith (Masterpiece: Downton Abbey)
SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE: Guy Pearce (Mildred Pierce)
VARIETY, MUSIC, OR COMEDY SERIES: The Daily Show With Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)
REALITY-COMPETITION PROGRAM: The Amazing Race (CBS)
DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES: Modern Family, Michael Alan Spiller (ABC)
DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES: Boardwalk Empire, Martin Scorsese (HBO)
DIRECTING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL: Masterpiece: Downton Abbey, Brian Percival (PBS)
DIRECTING FOR A VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SERIES: Saturday Night Live, Don Roy King (NBC)
WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES: Steve Levitan and Jeffrey Richman, Modern Family (ABC)
WRITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES: Jason Katims, Friday Night Lights (DirecTV)
WRITING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL: Julian Fellowes, Masterpiece: Downton Abbey (PBS)
WRITING FOR A VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SERIES: The Daily Show With Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)

A roundup...

Marc Stanley penned an editorial for JTA.

As Serwer noted, this was in stark contrast to the negative accusations hurled at President Obama after his May 19 State Department address during which he restated -- against a backdrop of supportive statements about Israel’s security -- longstanding U.S. (and, frankly, Israeli) policy that Israel’s negotiations with the Palestinians should take place along “1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps.”

Obama’s statement was unremarkable for many reasons: President George W. Bush said as much in 2005 while standing next to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in the Rose Garden; Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton reiterated the same formula in 2009; and Netanyahu even issued a joint statement with Clinton using that exact phrase last November. In fact, this common understanding has been the basis of bipartisan negotiations for at least 12 years, if not more.

So why was Obama vilified over this statement, but his critics remained silent as Netanyahu took the exact same position? And why do Obama’s critics insinuate that the Israeli government -- Netanyahu in particular -- has concerns with the president and his commitment to a safe and secure Jewish state? Why haven’t Netanyahu’s quite favorable remarks about the current status of the U.S.-Israel relationship been covered in the media?

Perry-phobia is real.

Jon Scheyer, the former Duke basketball player, made aliyah to Israel.

Do the Presbyterians know it's not nice to start their whole divestment thing up again?!?

The church's Committee on Mission Responsibility Through Investment released a report Sept. 9 arguing that the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church divest from Motorola, Hewlett-Packard and Caterpillar.

The release provoked pushback from Presbyterian and Jewish groups, and the American Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation League issued statements condemning the recommendation.

“This renewed effort by some within the Presbyterian Church to penalize Israel does not advance peace,” said Rabbi Noam Marans, AJC's director of intergroup and interreligious relations. “On the contrary, threatening divestment undermines those who are truly committed to Israeli-Palestinian peace.”

The organization Presbyterians for Middle East Peace released a statement condemning the report's authors as giving a "friendly ear" to "a small group of activists within the Presbyterian Church that has relentlessly sought to punish Israel" and want "to find one party at fault in a conflict where all parties have engaged in positive or negative actions."

The group promised in the statement to fight the report from being adopted.

The Jewish outreach for the next election has started already.

Use the force, Luke!

For having a new laptop...

I really ought thttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifo be posting more...I suppose I would be if I was not so busy between work and writing.

I saw Moneyball last night. It's really good. One of the top ten this year if you ask me.

Megyn Kelly shares her feelings on Jon Stewart.

I find Jon Stewart very funny — except for when he’s making fun of me. [laughs] The problem with Stewart is when people think The Daily Show is actual news, or that he made an attempt to be fair, which I think he would freely admit that he doesn’t.

Similarly, in a new issue of Rolling Stone, Jon offers some commentary of his own on his show and FOX News.

“We are both reactions to the news and to government,” he says. “We’re both expressions of dissatisfaction. [Roger Ailes'], I think, happens to be a slightly more powerful version [laughs.]...Ailes was a strategist for Nixon. He comes from the seat of power, and he understands how important the narrative is. We come from comedy, so our natural instinct is not to understand that, and to be bratty. That goes a long way towards explaining the difference between the two organizations.”

Comedians talk about tackling a dramatic role.

“It is something to talk about when a dramatic actor can go and do comedy, that’s really impressive,” said Polley. “I think it’s less shocking when a great comedian does a great dramatic role…I was amazed at how surprised that people would be that that would have worked.”

Silverman, who plays Lou’s foul-mouthed sister Geraldine, said she felt some honesty in delivering dramatic lines.

“I feel like in comedy you can be saying a bunch of lies, but the audience smells b---s--- if there isn’t some sort of honesty coming through in this,” she said. “It’s like saying words honestly, it doesn’t really feel so different.”

Rogen concurred, noting that “a lot of people have been talking to me about how it is totally different from what I have done before, but it doesn’t feel different from anything.”

2011 Primetime Emmy Nominations and Predictions

Here are the nominees with my predictions in bold.

COMEDY SERIES
The Big Bang Theory (CBS)
Glee (FOX)
Modern Family (ABC)
The Office (NBC)
Parks and Recreation (NBC)
30 Rock (NBC)

COMEDY ACTOR
Louis C.K. (Louie)
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)
Steve Carell (The Office)
Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)
Johnny Galecki (The Big Bang Theory)
Matt LeBlanc (Episodes)

COMEDY ACTRESS
Laura Linney (The Big C)
Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly)
Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie)
Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation)
Martha Plimpton (Raising Hope)
Tina Fey (30 Rock)

SUPPORTING COMEDY ACTOR
Chris Colfer (Glee)
Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family)
Ed O'Neill (Modern Family)
Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family)
Ty Burrell (Modern Family)
Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men)

SUPPORTING COMEDY ACTRESS
Jane Lynch (Glee)
Betty White (Hot in Cleveland)
Julie Bowen (Modern Family)
Sofia Vergara (Modern Family)
Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live)
Jane Krakowski (30 Rock)

DRAMA SERIES
Boardwalk Empire (HBO)
Dexter (Showtime)
Friday Night Lights (DirecTV)
Game of Thrones (HBO)
The Good Wife (CBS)
Mad Men (AMC)

DRAMA ACTOR
Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire)
Michael C. Hall (Dexter)
Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights)
Hugh Laurie (House)
Timothy Olyphant (Justified)
Jon Hamm (Mad Men)

DRAMA ACTRESS
Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights)
Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)
Kathy Bates (Harry's Law)
Mireille Enos (The Killing)
Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order)
Elizabeth Moss (Mad Men)

SUPPORTING DRAMA ACTOR
Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones)
Josh Charles (The Good Wife)
Alan Cumming (The Good Wife)
Walton Goggins (Justified)
John Slattery (Mad Men)
Andre Braugher (Men of a Certain Age)

SUPPORTING DRAMA ACTRESS
Kelly Macdonald (Boardwalk Empire)
Archie Panjabi (The Good Wife)
Christine Baranski (The Good Wife)
Margo Martindale (Justified)
Michelle Forbes (The Killing)
Christina Hendricks (Mad Men)

MINISERIES OR TV MOVIE
Cinema Verite (HBO)
Masterpiece: Downton Abbey (PBS)
The Kennedys (ReelzChannel)
Mildred Pierce (HBO)
The Pillars of the Earth (Starz)
Too Big to Fail (HBO)

LEAD ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Diane Lane (Cinema Verite)
Elizabeth McGovern (Masterpiece: Downton Abbey)
Kate Winslet (Mildred Pierce)
Taraji P. Henson (Taken From Me: The Tiffany Rubin Story)
Jean Marsh (Masterpiece: Upstairs Downstairs)

LEAD ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Edgar Ramirez (Carlos)
Greg Kinnear (The Kennedys)
Barry Pepper (The Kennedys)
Idris Elba (Luther)
Laurence Fishburne (Thurgood)
William Hurt (Too Big to Fail)

SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Maggie Smith (Masterpiece: Downton Abbey)
Evan Rachel Wood (Mildred Pierce)
Melissa Leo (Mildred Pierce)
Mare Winningham (Mildred Pierce)
Eileen Atkins (Upstairs Downstairs)

SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MINISERIES OR MOVIE
Tom Wilkinson (The Kennedys)
Guy Pearce (Mildred Pierce)
Brian F. O'Byrne (Mildred Pierce)
Paul Giamatti (Too Big to Fail)
James Woods (Too Big to Fail)

VARIETY, MUSIC, OR COMEDY SERIES
The Colbert Report (Comedy Central)
Conan (TBS)
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)
Late Night With Jimmy Fallon (NBC)
Real Time With Bill Maher (HBO)
Saturday Night Live (NBC)


REALITY-COMPETITION PROGRAM
The Amazing Race (CBS)
American Idol (FOX)
Dancing With the Stars (ABC)
Project Runway (Lifetime)
So You Think You Can Dance (FOX)
Top Chef (Bravo)

DIRECTING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
How I Met Your Mother, Pamela Fryman (CBS)
Modern Family, Michael Alan Spiller (ABC)
Modern Family, Gail Mancuso (ABC)
Modern Family, Steve Levitan (ABC)
30 Rock, Beth McCarthy-Miller (NBC)

DIRECTING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
Boardwalk Empire, Martin Scorsese (HBO)
Boardwalk Empire, Jeremy Podeswa (HBO)
The Borgias, Neil Jordan (Showtime)
Game of Thrones, Tim Van Patten (HBO)
The Killing, Patti Jenkins (AMC)

DIRECTING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL
Carlos, Oliver Assayas (Sundance Channel)
Cinema Verite, Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini (HBO)
Masterpiece: Downton Abbey, Brian Percival (PBS)
Mildred Pierce, Todd Haynes (HBO)
Too Big to Fail, Curtis Hanson (HBO)

DIRECTING FOR A VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SERIES
American Idol, Gregg Gelfand (FOX)
The Colbert Report, James Hoskinson (Comedy Central)
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, Chuck O'Neil (Comedy Central)
Late Show With David Letterman, Jerry Foley (CBS)
Saturday Night Live, Don Roy King (NBC)

WRITING FOR A COMEDY SERIES
David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik, Episodes (Showtime)
Louis C.K., Louie (FX)
Steve Levitan and Jeffrey Richman, Modern Family (ABC)
Greg Daniels, The Office (NBC)
Matt Hubbard, 30 Rock (NBC)

WRITING FOR A DRAMA SERIES
Jason Katims, Friday Night Lights (DirecTV)
David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, Game of Thrones (HBO)
Veena Sud, The Killing (AMC)
Matthew Weiner, Mad Men (AMC)
Andre Jacquemetton and Maria Jacquemetton, Mad Men (AMC)

WRITING FOR A MINISERIES, MOVIE OR DRAMATIC SPECIAL
Julian Fellowes, Masterpiece: Downton Abbey (PBS)
Todd Haynes and Jon Raymond, Mildred Pierce (HBO)
Steven Moffat, Masterpiece: Sherlock: A Study in Pink (PBS)
Peter Gould, Too Big to Fail (HBO)
Heidi Thomas, Masterpiece: Upstairs Downstairs (PBS)

WRITING FOR A VARIETY, MUSIC OR COMEDY SERIES
The Colbert Report (Comedy Central)
Conan (TBS)
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart (Comedy Central)
Late Night With Jimmy Fallon (NBC)
Saturday Night Live (NBC)

No quick fix for Sherman Minton Bridge

We have the latest update from the Federal Highway Administration:

s they continue to assess the damage to the closed Sherman Minton Bridge, federal highway officials told Kentucky and Indiana lawmakers Wednesday that even minor repairs could take two to three months.

A more extensive fix to the span could require 1½ to 2 years, while replacing the structure would take several years, Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez said, according to Rep. John Yarmuth and the staff of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.[...]

The initial cost estimate for a relatively simple repair of the cracks is around $10 million, lawmakers were told. A more extensive repair project could run as much as $60 million, and a replacement bridge would cost several hundred million dollars.

One possible pool of money is the highway administration’s emergency relief program, which currently is about $100 million. Federal law allows those funds to be used only to repair or replace bridges that have been seriously damaged by natural disasters or have collapsed because of an external cause.[...]

As questions continue to swirl around the Sherman Minton, inspectors spent part of Wednesday scouring I-65’s Kennedy bridge to check the integrity of the structure and to ease concerns about the increasing number of vehicles it must carry.

Chuck Wolfe, a Kentucky Transportation Cabinet spokesman, said inspectors were sent out at the request of Transportation Secretary Mike Hancock to get some “expert eyes” on the bridge.

Wolfe said inspectors also were directed to look at the Clark Memorial Bridge, on U.S. 31, but it was unclear if that happened Wednesday. He said inspectors would turn their attention to the Clark bridge “as soon as possible,” if they weren’t able to get to it Wednesday.

Rogen not in Knocked Up spinoff

Seth Rogen will not appear in This is Forty, the Knocked Up spinoff written and directed by Judd Apatow.

Movies.com spoke to the actor for his upcoming cancer comedy 50/50, and while he admitted to visiting the set of Apatow's latest movie (This Is Forty was the working title at one point), he claims he's not in it. "Yeah I'm not in it, but I went to visit the set and it looked hilarious," Rogen told us, later admitting that adding his character back into the equation may have been a bit jarring for audiences. "It was a good choice, honestly, because I think it would've confused people.," he said. "But I'm really looking forward to seeing it; I thought the script was unbelievably funny."

During our interview Rogen also said that he'll be beginning production on Jay and Seth vs. the Apocalypse in February, which he calls an "oddly personal" film. He also confirmed that he'll be co-directing with writing partner Evan Goldberg, adding "It's now much more than just Jay and Seth -- there's many other people vs. the apocalypse now. It's gonna be crazy."

Remembering 9/11: 10 Years Later

A poem written by Jack Buck

Since this nation was founded under God
More than 200 years ago

We've been the bastion of freedom...

The light that keeps the free world aglow.
We do not covet the possessions of others,
We are blessed with the bounty we share.

We have rushed to help other nations...
Anything...anytime...anywhere

War is just not our nature...we won't start
But we will end the fight.
If we are involved we shall be resolved to
Protect what we know is right.

We have been challenged by a cowardly foe
Who strikes and then hides from our view.

With one voice we say, "There's no choice
Today, there is only one thing to do"

Everyone is saying the same thing
And praying that we end these senseless
Moments we are living.

As our fathers did before, we shall win
This unwanted war

And our children will enjoy the future,
We'll be giving.


Written by Jack Buck
September 14, 2001

Been busy...

I've been very busy of late with writing the comedic book, which is fully of social commentary including many state and federal politicians.

It's nearly 130 pages at the moment.