Best Supporting Actor 1946: Charles Coburn in The Green Years

Charles Coburn received his third and final Oscar nomination for portraying Alexander Gow in The Green Years.The Green Years portrays the growth of a young Irish orphan Robert Shannon who goes to live with his sometimes distant relatives in Scotland.Charles Coburn portrays one of Robert's relatives his Great Grandfather specifically. Alexander Gow is the ends up being the...

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May 2012 be for you what 2011 was for…

Natalie Portman, Ty Burrell, Lady Gaga, Lady Antebellum, THE BOOK OF MORMON, the Green Bay Packers, Norbert Leo Butz, Melanie Amaro, BRIDESMAIDS, Justin Verlander, Julianna Margulies, the Dallas Mavericks, Jay-Z, J-Lo, J.R. Martinez, Colin Firth, Mark Rylance, the Boston Bruins, Viola Davis, Zooey Deschanel, THE KING’S SPEECH, Robert Griffith III, Thomas Sargent, Guy Pearce, Louis CK, Yemeni...

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My final rant of the year

How do you know it's the end of the year?  Because a cable provider is threatening to drop a popular channel or two.  This time the feud is between Time Warner Cable (big shock) and the MSG network in New York.   Last year, cable subscribers in many areas were in danger of losing all Fox networks.   These contracts expire on December 31st.  And invariably there is an impasse, threats, ads taken...

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Regrets? I've had a few... or at least one

For some reason all the Friday Questions today come from people whose names begin with C. It would be really eerie if I hadn't just hand selected them.  ChicagoJohn gets us started.I love your casting stories.  It makes me curious; have you ever skipped over a performer, who later on became a superstar?And if so, is there ever any regret that you didn't cast them?We passed on Kathy Bates ...

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Best Supporting Actor 1946: Claude Rains in Notorious

Claude Rains received his fourth and final Oscar nomination for portraying Alexander Sebastian in Notorious.Notorious is a thriller about the daughter of a Nazi spy Alicia Huberman (Ingrid Bergman) who in an attempt to prove her loyalty to America agrees to infiltration her father's organization, even though she is torn through her duty and her love for her spy liaison Devlin...

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My favorite dumb quotes for 2011

This was a particularly good one for a non-election year.  But with Herman Cain, Kim Kardashian, Michele Bachmann, and Joe Biden around, how can you miss?   And before you write angry comments, this is Bi-partisan idiocy.  "When they ask me, 'Who is the president of Ubeki-beki-beki-beki-stan-stan?' I'm going to say, 'You know, I don't know. Do you know?"' — Then-presidential candidate Herman...

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Best Supporting Actor 1946: Clifton Webb in The Razor's Edge

Clifton Webb received his second Oscar nomination for portraying Elliott Templeton in The Razor's Edge.The Razor's Edge is a very bad film that tells the story of a troubled War vet ran who takes a personal journey to find the meaning of life.Clifton Webb was apparently the go to snobbish society type before John Gielgud took over that perpetual role....

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This year in my blog...

Since every magazine, radio station, and blog seem to do their year-end retrospective this week,  here's mine: Crazy Charlie Sheen made news early in the year.  This was my take.  It sure provoked a lot of comments.  My book came out in March.  What?  You haven't ordered yours yet?  For only $2.99?  It's not too late.One of my true passions is reviewing cheese-rich reality shows.  PREGNANT...

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Mission Impossible vs. Sherlock Holmes

Instead of taking a sleigh to grandma’s house or making snowmen or handing out candy canes I went to action movies. Saw both SHERLOCK HOLMES and MISSION IMPOSSIBLE. Happy to say I liked them both. They each had their strengths and weaknesses. So as a public service I thought I would compare them. Don’t worry. No spoiler alert necessary. I won’t go into the specifics of the plots. I have...

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Best Supporting Actor 1946: William Demarest in The Jolson Story

William Demarest received his only Oscar nomination for portraying Steve Martin in The Jolson Story.William Demarest portrays Steve Martin a vaudevillian cellist who discovers Al Jolson. They eventually work together for awhile until Jolson becomes far more successful leading Jolson to go on his own, but he eventually brings Martin back as his...

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What to do today?

So this is Christmas celebration day – as opposed to celebrating Christmas on Christmas day. The real reason for this of course is to squeeze an extra day off from work. It’s an idea I heartily approve and you non-Americans should definitely try to get it instituted in your country, too. Jews have Hanukah, which is eight days, and trust me -- we tried to get all eight days off from wo...

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A real holiday treat

Remember when radio stations would do big year-end specials? They'd play the top hits of the past year, have produced retrospectives, countdowns, contests, custom jingles for the occasion. Now only three companies own all the radio stations in America and they celebrate the season by firing those few employees they still have. Well, good news! Fun radio still lives!  Okay, you have to go to...

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Our holiday greetings

MERRY CHRISTMAS from the Levine family to yours...

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All I want for Christmas...

is Jews....

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The gifts you can't return

One clear sign that it’s Christmas in LA is that you see more TV show jackets. For years that has been the Christmas gift of choice for staffs of television series. Which if fine if you work on THE OFFICE, not so fine if you work on WORLD'S BIGGEST LOSER.You feel a little bit like a schmuck anyway, wearing a show jacket, like you’re bragging, hoping to impress “the chicks”. Trust me, an...

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Let's do lunch/dinner/breakfast but not coffee

Something to read in line while buying Christmas gifts – some Friday Questions.First up is EnvyYou.As a German scribe and filmmaker, I often read or hear about the meeting etiquette of Hollywood. You touched the topic briefly. It sounds like a bastard version of "THE CODE" or "THE RULES". But how could a newbie decipher that? What does a Wednesday one-on-one breakfast meet at Musso's&Frank's...

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Best Supporting Actor 1946

And the Nominees Were:Claude Rains in NotoriousCharles Coburn in The Green YearsHarold Russell in The Best Years of Our LivesClifton Webb in The Razor's EdgeWilliam Demarest in The Jolson St...

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No worries

photo by H. HoffmanHere is my latest travelogue.  For more of these, I invite you to buy my book, WHERE THE HELL AM I? TRIPS I HAVE SURVIVED.  E-book is only $2.99.  Orders a dozen right here.   I can’t think of a better way to start a vacation than to read that American Airlines has just filed for bankruptcy and then five minutes later having to hop on an American Airline flight....

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This is the kind of fine establishment I want to frequent

...

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Best Supporting Actor 1971: Results

5. Leonard Frey in Fiddler on the Roof- Leonard Frey gives an enunciation and energetic performance that might be a bit much, but is fitting for the part.4. Richard Jaeckel in Sometimes a Great Notion- Jaeckel is barely noticeable most of the film, although he is always fine when he is on screen, but his final scene is quite effective.3. Roy Scheider in The French...

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Best Supporting Actor 1971: Roy Scheider in The French Connection

Roy Scheider received his first Oscar nomination for portraying Detective Buddy 'Cloudy' Russo in The French Connection.Roy Scheider portrays Detective Cloudy Russo who is the Narcotics partner to 'Popeye' Doyle (Gene Hackman), and they together try to foil a heroine trade between French and American criminals. Scheider has a descent amount of screentime actually but his role...

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Christmas Eve of Destruction

Because you can hear "Joy to the World" only so many times, here's the contrasting point-of-view. Set up by an excerpt from my memoir of growing up in the '60s (which will finally be out early next year!). The video provided comes from a network teen music show on NBC called HULLABALOO. Like SNL, it featured a weekly guest host, someone kids would find totally cool. This week's guest was Je...

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Best Supporting Actor 1971: Jeff Bridges in The Last Picture Show

Jeff Bridges received his first Oscar nomination for portraying Duane Jackson in The Last Picture Show.. Jeff Bridges portrays Duane Jackson one of the more popular teenagers in the town who goes out with the most popular girl Jacy (Cybil Shepherd). Jeff Bridges actually most certainly has a challenge here to make Duane a compelling or likable character. Duane after all...

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Best Supporting Actor 1971: Ben Johnson in The Last Picture Show

Ben Johnson won his Oscar from his only nomination for portraying Sam the Lion in The Last Picture Show.The Last Picture Show tells of various relationships within a small Texas town.Ben Johnson plays Sam the Lion who owns the local billiards, diner, and picture show. Same the Lion is a very particular character in the town because he is one of the few people who believes...

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the NFL Pro Hollywood Boot Camp

So all the idiots who beat me out for girls in high school are now trying to take jobs away from me as well. Swell! From Peter King of Sports Illustrated:"And the league will announce this week the NFL Pro Hollywood Boot Camp in April, designed to help players interested in screenwriting, producing, film financing and the business of motion pictures."Hey, great! Forget all the advice I ever...

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Best Supporting Actor 1971: Leonard Frey in Fiddler on the Roof

Leonard Frey received his only Oscar nomination for portraying Motel Kamzoil in Fiddler on the Roof.Leonard Frey portrays Motel Kamzoil the poor tailor who is love with the eldest daughter Tzeitel of the milkman Tevye (Topol). Motel is only a small aspect of the story, and is a rather modest character as well. Motel though is quite passionate in his love for Tzeitel, and does...

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Best Supporting Actor 1971: Richard Jaeckel in Sometimes A Great Notion

Richard Jaeckel received his only Oscar nomination for portraying Joe Ben Stamper in Sometimes A Great Notion.Sometimes a Great Notion depicts the lives of an independent logging family the stampers who are at odds with Union loggers who are on strike.This is the sort of nomination that just boggles the mind because one must ask why exactly did anyone in the academy...

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Another bizarre casting story

Mid ‘90s, doing ALMOST PERFECT starring Nancy Travis. In the show she’s supposed to be the showrunner of a fictional cop show. We wanted to do the scene where she has to fire her first person. And we thought it would be fun to give the fire-ee the worst possible reaction. So we created a character of an incompetent writers’ assistant. And when Nancy finally has to fire her she has...

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Best Supporting Actor 1971

And the Nominees Were:Leonard Frey in Fiddler on the RoofJeff Bridges in The Last Picture Show Ben Johnson in The Last Picture ShowRichard Jaeckel in Sometimes a Great Notion Roy Scheider in The French Connect...

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Best Supporting Actor 1991: Results

5. Ben Kingsley in Bugsy-Kingsley gives a rather dull performance that never really even becomes comfortable with his gangster mannerisms he attempts to employ.4. Harvey Keitel in Bugsy- Keitel certainly is as good as one could be as the gangster here being exactly as he should be unfortunately he does almost nothing over the course of the film.3. Jack Palance in...

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The Christmas I got fired

One of the many reasons I became a writer is that I got tired of being fired as a disc jockey. Today marks the 38th anniversary of the last time I signed off my show with “see you tomorrow” and was never heard from again.   This is a blog tradition:  the anniversary of the Christmas I was fired.  1974, I’m Beaver Cleaver on KSEA, San Diego, playing “The Night Chicago Died” and “Billy Do...

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Best Supporting Actor 1991: Jack Palance in City Slickers

Jack Palance won his Oscar from his third and final nomination for portraying Curly Washburn in City Slickers.City Slickers is a comedy about a literal group of city slickers who go on a cattle drive.Jack Palance portrays the trial boss Curly who heads the cattle drive. He is rough tough, and with a glint of a philosophical side as well, an all around old fashioned...

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Why I go to Maui

And why I'm still here.  These are just a few of the pictures my son, Matt took from Maui (when he wasn't pulling vicious pranks on his dear father).   If you're interested, you can see more here. And below are two pictures that I took.   Who's the better photographer?  You decide....

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Best Supporting Actor 1991: Tommy Lee Jones in JFK

Tommy Lee Jones received his first Oscar nomination for portraying Clay Shaw in JFK.JFK is Oliver Stone's inaccuracy and conspiracy filled depiction of District Attorney Jim Garrison (Kevin Costner) investigation into the JFK's assassination.  Tommy Lee Jones portrays the very elusive and mysterious businessman Clay Shaw who in the film seems...

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FCC puts a stop to loud commercials (yeah, right)

The FCC earlier this week passed a law requiring broadcasters and Pay TV distributors to air commercials at the same volume as regular programming.  No longer can they jack up the volume during commercials.  It will take a year for this law to be fully implemented (why, I don't know.  How long does it take to turn a knob down?)How fucking stupid are commercial makers?   Do they think we don't...

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Best Supporting Actor 1991: Michael Lerner in Barton Fink

Michael Lerner received his only Oscar nomination so far for portraying Jack Lipnick in Barton Fink.Barton Fink depicts the strange story of a playwright hired for the movies to write a wrestling picture but suffers from writer's block well living in a bizarre hotel.This is a strange nomination since after the watching the film I would think that anyone would most likely say...

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Friday Questions

Take a break from Christmas shopping by perusing some Friday Questions. (By the way: I wear a size “car”.) purplejilly gets us started:This question comes from my husband, a longtime Cheers and Orioles fan. He always felt like the character of Sam Malone might have been based on Jim Palmer (for the ego). He was wondering if you are allowed to say who Sam was based on, and if it was more t...

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Take the new improved Pepsi Challenge!

Aloha! Always fun to take the Pepsi Challenge. Which of these two do you prefer? Pepsi or Coke?Diane Chambers or Rebecca Howe?Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers?Advil or Aleve?Magic or Bird?Batman or Superman?The View or The Talk?Eva Longoria or Evan Longoria?Kimmel or Ferguson?Adele or Barbra?James Dean or Heath Ledger?Reese Witherspoon or Reese’s Pieces?The old HAWAII FIV...

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Best Supporting Actor 1991: Ben Kingsley in Bugsy

Ben Kingsley received his second Oscar nomination for portraying Meyer Lansky in Bugsy.Kingsley portrays Meyer Lansky Bugsy Segal(Warren Beatty)'s old friend from childhood as well as fellow gangster. He is the more sensible one who sees the big picture, and understands crime in more terms of money refusing to take things too emotionally or personally....

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Best Supporting Actor 1991: Harvey Keitel in Bugsy

Harvey Keitel received his only Oscar nomination so far for portraying Mickey Cohen in Bugsy.Harvey Keitel portrays gangster Mickey Cohen who is a bit of renegade gangster at first but eventually he comes to work for Bugsy Segal (Warren Beatty). This is another odd career nomination for Keitel that is his only nomination he has received so far but for very unsubstantial work....

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Best Supporting Actor 1991

And the Nominees WereBen Kingsley in BugsyHarvey Keitel in BugsyJack Palance in City SlickersMichael Lerner in Barton FinkTommy Lee Jones in ...

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Best Supporting Actor 1987: Results

5. Sean Connery in The Untouchables- Connery has little to do in his role besides act tough and give inspirational talks both which he does adequately enough but never to any sort of amazing degree.4. Denzel Washington in Cry Freedom- Washington gives a fine quietly passionate performance that avoids the problems some of his other performances suffer from.3. Vincent...

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Siri's revenge

I’ve mentioned in the past how I've pulled my share of practical jokes. (My partner, David Isaacs and I wrote all of the Bar Wars episodes of CHEERS). Well, I’m not the only one in my family. At the moment I’m still in Maui. I’ve become friends with one of the waiters at the Grand Wailea poolside burger shack. (He refilled my ice tea once. I love the man.) I told him my son Matt was...

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Best Supporting Actor 1987: Albert Brooks in Broadcast News

Albert Brooks received his first Oscar nomination for portraying Aaron Altman in Broadcast News.Broadcast News is a film for that improved all around on this viewing so much so really that I must say I was rather unfair to William Hurt in my review of his leading performance and I should probably update my review since he achieves far more than I gave him...

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