Best Supporting Actor 1978: Christopher Walken in The Deer Hunter

Christopher Walken won his Oscar from his first Oscar nomination for portraying Nikonar 'Nick' Chevotarevich in The Deer Hunter.Christopher Walken is an actor with an odd reputation as he is seen as a bit of an oddity with his distinct voice and sometimes very bizarre mannerisms that go in many of his performances. The only thing is if one sees a performance of his that...

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If Microsoft made the iPod

This is a hilarious video.  Apple is as concerned with its packaging as it is with its product.  Clean, cool, elegant.  Microsoft, on the other hand, is... well... Microsoft.  Here is what the iPod box would look like if Microsoft made it. ...

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Forget AMERICAN IDOL, X-FACTOR, and THE VOICE -- here's EUROVISION!

Singing competition shows are big deals in America but folks in Europe know the REAL enchilada is the EUROVISION.  Not just people but nations compete.  I think the grand prize is you get to occupy Norway.  Anyway, this has been going on for years and is gearing up for the 2012 edition.  Among the big winners have been Abba so you know it's legit.Anyway, this was the WINNING song in 1969.  Let...

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Keith Olbermann has been fired: My take

Quick!  Can you even name the network he was on?   The Current Network has apparently dismissed Olbermann and he is pissed.  He claims the termination was baseless and plans to (a) sue, and (b) name Current as the worst network in the world.His tenure there has always been stormy.  On the other hand, you hire Keith Olbermann you know you're not getting an Eagle Scout.Personally, I think he's...

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Best Supporting Actor 1978

And the Nominees Were:Richard Farnsworth in Comes A HorsemanBruce Dern in Coming HomeChristopher Walken in The Deer HunterJack Warden in Heaven Can WaitJohn Hurt in Midnight Express ...

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ARCHER and other topics

A pretty funny show, by the way.  But turning to Friday Questions: William C. Bonner has the ARCHER Q: One of my favorite shows over the past couple of years has been Archer. I've described it to friends as a cross between Get Smart and South Park. It's seasons seem to be 10 episodes long.For a season like this, is it most likely that all of the season will be written and sold, then the...

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Kate Winslet

Birth NameKate Elizabeth Winslet NicknameEnglish Rose Corset Kate Height5' 6½" (1.69 m) Mini BiographyAsk Kate Winslet what she liked about any of her characters, and the word "ballsy" is bound to pop up at least once. The British actress has made a point of eschewing straightforward pretty-girl parts in favor of more devilish damsels; as a result, she's built...

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Best Supporting Actor 1986: Results

5. Denholm Elliot in A Room With a View- Elliot is fine in his few scenes but he never makes much of an impact with his performance.4. Dennis Hopper in Hoosiers- Hopper gives a moving and effective performance that might not be on the level of his work listed below, but it is still a good performance.3. Willem Dafoe in Platoon- Dafoe realizes his good sergeant...

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Only 9 more hours to get my free book

I can't make it any cheaper.  But this promotion ends at midnight PDT.   According to the people who downloaded it for FREE, it's worth twice what they paid for it.    Even if you don't own a Kindle you can get a Kindle ap for your computer or tablet and use that.   And the aps are free.   So take advantage of this nifty offer while you can.   Just click here.   Than...

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Best Supporting Actor 1986: Michael Caine in Hannah and Her Sisters

Michael Caine won his first Oscar from his fourth nomination for portraying Elliot in Hannah and Her Sisters.Hannah and Her Sisters tells of the various stories of Hannah and her sisters as well as the stories of her two husbands.Michael Caine portrays Hannah's (Mia Farrow) second husband who from the opening scene is obsessed with and lusts after Hannah's sister Lee (Barbara...

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Advice to fellow neurotics

Do you always get sick just before a big exam? Or big performance? Or big game? Your problem might not be physical.  Take comfort.  You could just be a neurotic mess.  Your ailments could be psychosomatic. It has happened to me. Going back to my erstwhile radio career as a screaming top 40 disc jockey in the ‘70s, I would always get sick just as a new rating period was about to beg...

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Last chance to get my FREE book!

The offer ends midnight Thursday PDT.  The Kindle version of WHERE THE HELL AM I?  TRIPS I HAVE SURVIVED is FREE if you download before the deadline.  Just go here.    It's normally a book of humorous travelogues but for free they're HILARIO...

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Best Supporting Actor 1986: Dennis Hopper in Hoosiers

Dennis Hopper received his only acting Oscar for portraying Shooter in Hoosiers.Hoosiers is about a basketball coach (Gene Hackman) with a troubled past trying to bring his small town team win the state championship.Dennis Hopper's Oscar nomination for this film is usually seen a bit of a head scratcher, not due to the quality of his performance in the film but rather...

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Imagine going to work HERE everyday

Here’s one of those questions worthy of an entire post: It’s from Nancy Knechtel:You have captured the history of the studios you have worked at so well - Did you ever find out who occupied your offices at the studios in the past? Rumor has it that some writers have worked in Shirley Temple's old dressing room bungalow at Fox. Were your offices old dressing rooms or writers buildings? Any...

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Best Supporting Actor 1986: Denholm Elliot in A Room With A View

Denholm Elliot received his only Oscar nomination for portraying Mr. Emerson in A Room With A View.A Room With A View describes the troubles a young woman faces (Helena Bonham Carter) due the repression involved with Edwardian society.After winning three Baftas in a role for a supporting actor Elliot finally received an Oscar nomination for his role in this film....

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Best Supporting Actor 1986: Willem Dafoe and Tom Berenger in Platoon

 Willem Dafoe and Tom Berenger received both of their first Oscar nominations Dafoe for portraying Sgt. Elias Grodin and Berenger for portraying Sgt. Bob Barnes.Platoon depicts the tour of duty of Pvt. Chris Taylor (Charlie Sheen) in Vietnam who struggles with the war as well as the morality of men within it.I usually do not review performances together even when they...

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The Best Drama on TV

For all the hoopla surrounding the return of MAD MEN, the best drama of the year might well be JUSTIFIED. It has all the complexity of MAD MEN plus shit happens! A lot!  Personally, I was a little underwhelmed by the MAD MEN premiere even though I'm a huge fan of the show.  But that could just be me.  Critics went nuts.   What did you think? But I digress... Graham Yost, who may be as...

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I'm offering my book for FREE

Starting tomorrow for three days only you can get the Kindle version of my travelogue book, WHERE THE HELL AM I?  TRIPS I HAVE SURVIVED for free.   Yes, I'm crazy.  But it's another way of saying thank you for reading my blog.  Just click here.  This begins midnight PDT.  And again, it's for three days only.   Enjoy!And now return to today's regularly scheduled post on why NBC is so...

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NBC screws up yet again!

Here’s another example of how an inept network can kill a good show. Last summer I screened all the pilots for the upcoming season. I deserve a medal. The best comedy pilots I saw were THE NEW GIRL for Fox and BENT for NBC. Although I wasn’t knocked out by BENT I thought it was smart, funny, and had a good cast. Amanda Peet was fine, and David Walton as the irascible handyman was a fi...

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Best Supporting Actor 1986

And the Nominees Were:Tom Berenger in PlatoonWillem Dafoe in PlatoonMichael Caine in Hannah and Her SistersDenholm Elliott in A Room With A ViewDennis Hopper in Hoosi...

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Sunday Funny Fotos

Some taken by me, some taken by others. I took this picture in Beverly Hills.I always wondered where he ended up.  This is in Philadelphia.Art gallery in Maui.  Tony Bennett and David Bowie in big letters and then in smaller font -- Picasso.Also in Maui.Concession stand at the Tokyo Dome where the Mariners are (and I'm not).  Thanks to Shannon Drayer for these next few pictures.You can follow...

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Calls of the wild

This is a great month for sports fans. March Madness, spring training, the NBA and NHL are roaring towards the playoffs where their games actually matter. And who can forget golf (other than me)? I must say March Madness coverage isn’t the same this year without Gus Johnson. Yes, he’s an acquired taste because his enthusiasm sometimes spills over into raving lunatic, but during dramatic...

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Best Supporting Actor 1999: Results

5. Michael Caine in The Cider House Rules- Caine with a strange accent gives a dull sometimes almost lifeless performance that never seems to bring the genuine emotions one would for a part that seems like it is only ever trying to be emotional.4. Michael Clarke Duncan in The Green Mile-Duncan achieves this well with his performance by finding just the right sort...

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