Oscar Preview Week: Director, Foreign Language Film, and Animated Feature Film

It's a triple threat as we continue Oscar Preview Week with the Directing, Foreign Language Film, and Animated Feature Film field. For one of the director nominees, could this year finally be it after six tries?

DIRECTING (directors' names are in parentheses):
"Babel" (Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu)
"The Departed" (Martin Scorsese): His eighth Director nomination, and there is buzz that he may finally win on Sunday.
"Letters From Iwo Jima (Clint Eastwood): Last time around, he beat Scorsese to the Oscar stage for "Million Dollar Baby". Clint also scored a one-two punch in 1992 for "Unforgiven."
"The Queen" (Stephen Frears): Previous nomination was for "The Grifters."
"United 93" (Paul Greengrass): As the events of September 11, 2001 unfold with a documentary-like realism, the chaos and confusion surrounding the terrorist attacks are felt throughout air traffic control headquarters and the military branches responding to the attacks. On United Airlines Flight 93, terrorists seize control of the plane as the terrified passengers piece together a plan to overcome them.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM:
"After The Wedding" (Denmark): When Jacob, the head of an Indian orphanage, returns to Copenhagen at the request of a potential benefactor, he is persuaded by the man to attend his daughter's wedding. There, he meets the donor's wife, Helene; an encounter that reawakens difficult memories from Jacob's past. Denmark won back-to-back honors in that category in 1987 and 1988.
"Days of Glory (Indigenes)" (Algeria): For the North African troops fighting for France during the Second World War, their experience in uniform becomes a painful lesson in just how little regard their colonial rulers have for their humanity. As one company of soldiers pushes north through Europe, its members continue to find themselves denied the basic rights taken for granted by their French counterparts. Algeria's fourth nomination; its last win was in 1969 for "Z."
"The Lives Of Others" (Germany): In East Berlin in 1984, the secret police organization, Stasi, conducts extensive surveillance operations against any East German citizen suspected of opposing the Communist regime. When Captain Gerd Weisler begins monitoring the daily life of the playwright Georg Dreyman, he finds himself increasingly unwilling to betray his subject's private moments to his superiors. Germany's seventh nomination, but prior to reunification it received nine other nods; the overall total now is 15.
"Pan's Labyrinth" (Mexico): In the violent period following the Spanish Civil War, a young girl captivated by a fairy tale comes to believe she is the lost princess of the story. In the wake of her mother's remarriage to a cruel fascist officer, young Ofelia explores a vast stone labyrinth, where she encounters the faun Pan and is given a series of three tasks to perform. Mexico's seventh Foreign Language nod, and thanks to several wins from BAFTA and U.S. critics' awards (it lost the Golden Globe to "Letters From Iwo Jima"), it is a heavily favored to claim the prize.
"Water" (Canada): In India in 1938, eight-year-old Chuyia--a child bride--learns she is now a widow. Taken from her parents, Chuyia is sent to live for the remainder of her life in a widow's ashram run by the greedy, tyrannical Madhumati. There, she is befriended by the beautiful Kalyani, a young widow who is shunned by the other women and forced by Madhumati to work as a prostitute. Canada's fourth nomination with its previous win being for 2003's "The Barbarian Invasions."

ANIMATED FEATURE FILM:
"Cars": Cocky racecar Lightning McQueen is heading across the country to face his rivals in the California Piston Cup racewhen he is forced to stop in the small town of Radiator Springs. Sentenced by the town judge to repair its mainroad, loner Lightning learns a lesson in friendship from the easygoing locals. "Cars'" other nomination is for Best Song (Randy Newman). If he wins, he'll make us all forget about Three Six Mafia from last year.
"Happy Feet": Mumble is a young Emperor penguin who, unlike the rest of his colony, can't sing a note but is a dazzling dancer. Banished for this perceived flaw by the colony's rigid elders, Mumble begins an odyssey that leads him to a band of friendly Mexican penguins...and his first encounters with the two-legged creatures whose presence threatens the animals' Antarctic home.
"Monster House": When twelve-year-old DJ confronts Nebbercracker, the owner of the menacing house across the street, the sinister old man is taken away after a seemingly fatal seizure. Along with his friends, Chowder and Jenny, DJ decides to explore the house...only to discover that it has its own fatal way of dealing with invaders.

Tomorrow, the conclusion of Oscar Preview Week with Best Picture and my picks. See you then, and good night.

Oscar Preview Week: Best Actor/Actress

Hello, everybody. I'll get to the (very) latest on Britney Spears' antics in a bit, but we continue our Oscar Preview Week with a look at the Lead Acting nominees. Best Actor has two black nominees; one of them was up before for "Ali" while another is fresh off his Golden Globe win. We also have another ex-Mouseketeer, an Honorary Oscar winner, and a double nominee in the mix.

BEST ACTOR:
Leonardo DiCaprio, "Blood Diamond": Leonardo DiCaprio plays Danny Archer, a South African smuggler who forms a partnership with a man who has found a valuable diamond. Film synopsis: Amid the chaos of Sierra Leone's civil war, fisherman Solomon Vandy is parted from his family and forced to work in mining camps. When he escapes after finding a valuable pink diamond, he enters into an uneasy alliance with a South African smuggler who advises him to sell the stone in order to save his family. "Blood Diamond's" other nominations include Film Editing, Sound Editing, and Sound Mixing.
Ryan Gosling, "Half Nelson": Ryan Gosling portrays Dan Dunne, a teacher and basketball coach struggling with a drug problem as he attempts to mentor a talented young girl. Film synopsis: High school history teacher Dan Dunne leads a troubled personal life that is mired in a downward spiral of drugs and drinking. A committed teacher and girl's basketball coach despite his problems, he becomes a mentor to 13-year-old Drey, a studious girl whose own difficult family life has left her in desperate need of a father figure. Other than the third incarnation of the "Mickey Mouse Club" (along with Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, and of course, the very troubled Britney), Gosling is also best known from "The Notebook" with girlfriend and fellow Canadian Rachel McAdams.
Peter O'Toole, "Venus": Peter O'Toole plays Maurice, an aging actor who begins an unlikely friendship--and tentative courtship--with his best friend's great-niece. Film synopsis: Maurice is an aging, albeit still working, actor whose main source of social interaction is his friendship with fellow thespian Ian. When Ian's great-niece, the working-class Jessie, moves in with him, Maurice finds himself smitten with the girl, and the two begin an unlikely friendship that Maurice hopes will lead to something more. He may have received an Honorary Oscar in 2002, but this is his eighth straight Best Actor nomination and at 74, he may be the second oldest winner behind Peter Fonda. Besides "Venus", O'Toole was also in "One Night With The King" last year.
Will Smith, "The Pursuit of Happyness": Will Smith plays Chris Gardner, a loving father who struggles to care for his young son while trying to regain his financial footing after becoming homeless. Film synopsis: When Chris Gardner loses both his money and his wife through a disastrous investment, he struggles to care for his young son while attempting to get back on his feet. Without a home or income, Chris must find a way to last through his six-month internship at a brokerage firm without losing custody of five-year-old Christopher. Like I mentioned, Smith's last nomination was for "Ali"; he lost to Denzel Washington.
Forest Whitaker, "The Last King of Scotland": Forest Whitaker plays Idi Amin, the notorious Ugandan dictator whose charismatic personality cannot mask the savage brutality of his actions. Film synopsis: An idealistic Scottish doctor working in Uganda unexpectedly finds himself selected by the nation's dictator, Idi Amin, to serve as his personal physician. As young Nicholas Garrigan succumbs to the seductive extravagances of palace life, he also becomes an eyewitness to the horrors and brutality of Amin's regime. Whitaker along the way received Golden Globe and BAFTA honors for that role, and there's a good chance he may score the trifecta on Sunday night.

On the Best Actress side, two nominees took the Oscar stage before, while two of them after a few nominations has yet to. Add in a spicy Spaniard and this is one hot battle.
BEST ACTRESS:
Penelope Cruz, "Volver": As Raimunda, Penélope Cruz portrays a Spanish woman dealing with a series of surprising events that threaten to throw her life into chaos. Film synopsis: The women in a Spanish family support one another through a series of dramatic changes in their lives. When young Paula kills her abusive father, her mother, Raimunda, hides his body in the freezer of a neighbor's vacant restaurant and then decides to run the business herself, while her sister Sole is stunned by the reappearance of their mother, who perished in a fire years ago.
Judi Dench, "Notes On A Scandal": Judi Dench plays Barbara Covett, a lonely teacher who develops a crush on a new colleague and uses herknowledge of the woman's affair with a student to manipulate her. Synopsis: Barbara Covett is a lonely teacher who develops an unrequited infatuation with her school's newest staff member, the beautiful Sheba Hart. When Barbara catches Sheba in an affair with a student, she uses her knowledge to place Sheba in her debt...a situation she hopes will give her the upper hand in their relationship. With nomination #6 now, Dench's only win was in 1998 for "Shakespeare in Love" (Supporting Actress).
Helen Mirren, "The Queen": As Queen Elizabeth, Helen Mirren portrays the British monarch facing changes in her traditional role during thedifficult period following the 1997 death of Princess Diana. With BAFTA and Golden Globe prizes for "The Queen" (to go along with the Emmy and Golden Globe she already got for "Elizabeth I"), she is the odds-on favorite to take it all the third time around.
Meryl Streep, "The Devil Wears Prada": Meryl Streep plays Miranda Priestly, the icily difficult fashion editor whose outrageous demands make the lives of her two assistants a nerve-wracking challenge. Synopsis: When idealistic journalism major Andy Sachs lands a job as an assistant to fashion magazine editor Miranda Priestly, she is soon struggling to cope with both the high-pressure demands of the critical Priestly and her colleagues' open disdain for her own lack of style and fashion sense. In her 14th nomination with two wins in 1979 ("Kramer vs. Kramer") and 1982 ("Sophie's Choice"), Streep is the most nominated actress in Academy Awards history. Also, she is the only lone American up for this year's Actress prize.
Kate Winslet, "Little Children": Kate Winslet plays discontented wife and mother Sarah Pierce, whose affair with a neighbor may destroy both their marriages. Synopsis: When Sarah and Brad, two young parents dissatisfied with the boredom of their suburban lives, meet through their children at the park, they begin an affair that may destroy both their marriages. Interwoven with their story is the troubled life of sex offender Ronald McGorvey, who becomes an object of suspicion and rage following his return to the neighborhood. This is Winslet's third Best Actress nomination to go along with her two previous Supporting Actress nods, making it five overall.

Tomorrow, we continue Oscar Preview Week with Director, Foreign Language Film, and Animated Feature Film; then on Friday, Best Picture and my predictions.

Now...Oops, she's out of rehab again! Just a little after 24 hours, Britney Spears checked out of Promises Treatment Center in Malibu on Wednesday just a few days after going bald, donning a wig, and adding another tattoo.

I said last night that the self-destruction for Britney has already begun, and it wouldn't be long until she explodes. And while Aguilera has added two more Grammys this year while Ryan Gosling is hoping to upset Forest Whitaker on Sunday, Britney meanwhile continues to fall off the deep end. And if she is reading this blog, I have a very urgent and open message to her: GROW UP BEFORE YOU SCREW UP!!!!!

But the one story we serious news junkies care about is that British troops are scheduled to be pulled out of Iraq by this summer. As for the casulaties, only 130 of those were killed since 2003 while the U.S. continues to lead the tally with over 3,000 of our troops. The news on the withdrawal may be a wake-up call to President Bush to do the same here.

Well, with all that said...have a good night.

Hello, everybody. Before I go any further, let me be honest with you on this:

The reason why I didn't offer my usual thoughts on what's been going on in recent weeks (Indianapolis Colts winning Super Bowl XLI, the Grammy Awards, Anna Nicole Smith's death) was because my computer was experiencing "technical difficulties." The hard drive which had all my data from all those years was bad (something about lots of bad sectors) and a fresh one was installed, though I'm keeping the old drive in hopes of getting my stuff recovered so I would transfer them to the new drive. Thankfully, I have backed up all my old "NewsBeats", "Plain Truths", and other HTML files from the old Allen Report site -- except for the graphics I've created which are in the bad old drive -- to the external hard drive. It's going to be quite a while, and I'm hoping and praying that everything will be back to full strength.

With that out of the way...I'm sure you've already heard and seen by now that Britney Spears has literally lost it. Over the weekend, she went bald by shaving her head and the pictures of it would be seen around the world; now, she's in rehab.

I've said time and time again starting with my "Daily News-Miner" Letter to the Editor in 2000 defending her after her MTV Video Music Awards performance, "Let Britney Spears be Britney Spears". Now, in the wake of the aftermath of Anna Nicole's death, the self-destruction of Britney has already begun. It's only time now when she will explode.

Anyway...next Sunday is the 79th Annual Academy Awards, and all this week like I've been doing on the old site we'll be taking a look at who's up for the coveted prize, starting with the Supporting Acting nominees.

Oscar Preview Week: Supporting Actor and Actress
(As always, thanks to Oscar.com for nomination info and film synopses)

SUPPORTING ACTOR:
Alan Arkin, "Little Miss Sunshine: Alan Arkin portrays the salty, heroin-addicted Grandpa, who joins his family on a road trip to California, where his granddaughter has entered a children's beauty pageant. A two-time Best Actor nominee in the 1960's, this is his third nomination.

Jackie Earle Haley, "Little Children": Jackie Earle Haley portrays Ronnie J. McGorvey, a sex offender whose return home from prison gives rise to panic and hatred among his neighbors. Many remember Haley from the "Bad News Bears" movies; the first one starred 1973 Supporting Actress winner Tatum O'Neal.

Djimon Honshu, "Blood Diamond": As Solomon Vandy, Djimon Hounsou plays an African husband and father who hopes to save his family through the sale of an enormous diamond. Honshu was nominated in that very same category before, for "In America" in 2003.

Eddie Murphy, "Dreamgirls": Eddie Murphy plays James "Thunder" Early, an African-American singer in the early 1960s who is unable to make the crossover leap to a wider white audience.

Mark Wahlberg, "The Departed": As Dignam, Mark Wahlberg plays a Boston police sergeant who places an undercover cadet in a crime syndicate, unaware that one of his own men is working for its boss.

SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Adriana Barraza, "Babel": Adriana Barraza plays Amelia, a nanny whose longing to attend her son's wedding leads her to take her two young charges with her to Mexico.

Cate Blanchett, "Notes on a Scandal": As Sheba Hart, Cate Blanchett portrays an art teacher who becomes involved with one of her students and finds herself at the mercy of an older colleague. The last time she was up for that same category in "The Aviator", she won. Blanchett was also previously nominated for Best Actress in "Elizabeth", but it went to her "Talented Mr. Ripley" co-star Gwyneth Paltrow.

Abigail Breslin, "Little Miss Sunshine": Abigail Breslin plays Olive, a brightly optimistic seven-year-old who dreams of traveling to California and competing in the Little Miss Sunshine pageant. At 10 years old, 11 months, she would become the second youngest Supporting Actress winner behind O'Neal, who picked up her Oscar at 10 years old, five months.

Jennifer Hudson, "Dreamgirls": Jennifer Hudson plays Effie White, a talented singer whose weight leads her manager and lover to relegate her to a back-up role in her singing group. Film synopsis, since it was shut out for Best Picture: The Dreamettes, an African-American Motown trio, are spotted at a 1962 talent contest by the ambitious CurtisTaylor Jr. Sensing the women's potential as pop music crossover stars, Taylor renames them the Dreams...and relegates plump lead singer Effie to a backup role behind the more glamorous Deena. Hot off the heels of Carrie Underwood's recent Grammy wins (including Best New Artist), Hudson has all of "American Idol" rooting for her.

Rinko Kukuchi, "Babel": Rinko Kikuchi plays Chieko, a troubled deaf teenager living in Tokyo with her father and haunted by the tragic death of her mother.

Tomorrow, Oscar Preview Week continues with Best Actor and Actress; followed by Director, Foreign Language Film, and Animated Feature Film on Thursday, and wrapping up on Friday with Best Picture and my predictions. So long!

Good evening. A whole lot of stuff to get to as always, so on with it.

Late tonight, a troubled President Bush gave his annual State of the Union speech in front of a Democrat-controlled House and in front of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. With approval ratings still at its lowest ever, this was his one and only moment to pick up some ground. Terence Hunt of the Associated Press has more, and this is probably the first time since the Allen Report site that I've posted a news story here:

Bush challenges foes of Iraq troop plan
By TERENCE HUNT, AP White House Correspondent

A politically weakened President Bush implored a skeptical Congress Tuesday night to embrace his unpopular plan to send more U.S. troops to Iraq, saying it represents the best hope in a war America must not lose. "Give it a chance to work," he said.

Facing a political showdown with Democrats and Republicans alike, Bush was unyielding on Iraq in his annual State of the Union address. He also sought to revive his troubled presidency with proposals to expand health insurance coverage and to slash gasoline consumption by 20 percent in a decade.

Democrats — and even some Republicans — scoffed at his Iraq policy. Unmoved by Bush's appeal, Democrats said the House and Senate would vote on resolutions of disapproval of the troop buildup.

"We need a new direction," said freshman Sen. Jim Webb, picked by the Democrats to deliver their TV response. "The majority of the nation no longer supports the way this war is being fought; nor does the majority of our military," said Webb, a Vietnam veteran opposed to Bush's invasion of Iraq.

Republican Sen. Norm Coleman of Minnesota, also took issue with Bush. "I can't tell you what the path to success is, but it's not what the president has put on the table," he said.

It was a night of political theater as Bush went before the first Democratic-controlled Congress in a dozen years with his lowest approval ratings in polls.

Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, the first woman to lead the House, sat over Bush's shoulder, next to Vice President Dick Cheney. Reaching out to the Democrats, Bush opened with a tribute to Pelosi and paused to shake her hand. He also asked for prayers for Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson, hospitalized for more than a month after suffering a brain hemorrhage, and Republican Georgia Rep. Charlie Norwood, suffering from cancer.

The speech audience included up to a dozen House and Senate members who have announced they are running for president or are considered possible contenders.

Bush divided his 49-minute address between domestic and foreign issues, but the war was topic No. 1.

Pelosi set the tone for Democrats. She sat silently and did not applaud as Bush warned of high stakes in Iraq and said American forces must not step back before Baghdad is secure.

With Congress poised to deliver a stinging rebuke on his troop increase, he made a personal plea to lawmakers.

"I have spoken with many of you in person. I respect you and the arguments you made," Bush said. "We went into this largely united, in our assumptions and in our convictions. And whatever you voted for, you did not vote for failure."

"Our country is pursuing a new strategy in Iraq and I ask you to give it a chance to work," Bush said. "And I ask you to support our troops in the field and those on their way."

Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid gave Bush a swift answer. "While the president continues to ignore the will of the country, Congress will not ignore this president's failed policy," they said in a joint statement after his address. "His plan will receive an up-or-down vote in both the House and Senate, and we will continue to hold him accountable for changing course in Iraq."

Bush said the Iraq war had changed dramatically with the outbreak of sectarian warfare and reprisals.

"This is not the fight we entered in Iraq, but it is the fight we are in," the president said. "Every one of us wishes that this war were over and won. Yet it would not be like us to leave our promises unkept, our friends abandoned and our own security at risk.

"Ladies and gentlemen: On this day, at this hour, it is still within our power to shape the outcome of this battle," the president said. "Let us find our resolve and turn events toward victory."

Key Republicans have joined Democrats in drafting resolutions of opposition to the plans he announced two weeks ago to send an additional 21,500 troops to Iraq. Bush said his approach had the best chance to succeed, but clearly many lawmakers — and overwhelming majority of Americans — disagreed.

"Many in this chamber understand that America must not fail in Iraq because you understand that the consequences of failure would be grievous and far reaching," the president said. "If American forces step back before Baghdad is secure, the Iraqi government would be overrun by extremists on all sides."

In such a case, he forecast "an epic battle," Shiite extremists backed by Iran against Sunni extremists aided by al-Qaida and supporters of Saddam Hussein's government, leading to violence that could spread across the Middle East. "For America, this is a nightmare scenario," Bush said.

On domestic matters, he pressed Congress to help find ways to overhaul entitlements such as Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid before they impose huge problems for future generations.

"Somehow we have not found it in ourselves to act," he said. "So let us work together and do it now."

On immigration, too, the president made a plea to lawmakers that he has made before, seeking comprehensive changes including a guest worker program, that go beyond tougher border controls. Members of his own party were the main obstacle to success in that area — a fact Bush acknowledged even as he pressed for a better result now than Capitol Hill is run by Democrats more amenable to his ideas.

"Convictions run deep in this Capitol when it comes to immigration," he said. "Let us have a serious, civil and conclusive debate."

Bush said his energy proposals would cut American imports by the equivalent of 75 percent of the oil coming from the Middle East. His prescription, as always, relied primarily on market incentives and technological advances — not government mandates.

"America is on the verge of technological breakthroughs that will enable us to live our lives less dependent on oil," he said. "These technologies will help us become better stewards of the environment — and they will help us to confront the serious challenge of global climate change."

Bush called for changing the tax code to encourage more people not covered by medical insurance to buy a plan, and to discourage others from keeping the most costly health care plans.

Under Bush's proposal, employer-financed health care benefits would be considered taxable income after a deduction of $15,000 for families and $7,500 for individuals. Those buying their own plan would get the same deductions on their taxes.

The White House said 80 percent of workers with health insurance through their jobs would see a tax cut as a result of the change. But about 20 percent would see a tax increase — those workers whose health insurance cost more than the standard deduction.

"With this reform, more than 100 million men, women and children who are now covered by employer-provided insurance will benefit from lower tax bills," Bush said. "At the same time, this reform will level the playing field for those who do not get health insurance through their job."

The administration sought to make Bush's energy initiatives — in particular a 20 percent cut in gasoline usage by 2017 — an eye-catching centerpiece of his address, the one major element not revealed until hours before the speech. "It is in our vital interest to diversify America's energy supply, and the way forward is through technology," Bush said.

The cut would be achieved primarily through a sharp escalation in the amount of ethanol and other alternative fuels that the government mandates must be blended into the fuel supply. The rest would come from raising fuel economy standards for passenger cars, a plan that Bush has proposed in the past but failed to win from Congress.

Acknowledging that some would say such a drastic increase in alternative fuels is unrealistic, the White House argued that the new mandate — which would need approval from Congress — would spur investments in the industry and give technological research a boost.

While setting cutback goals, the president spurned appeals from environmentalists and some major corporations to impose mandatory ceilings on U.S. greenhouse gas emissions in hopes of slowing climate change.

Now, the AP story stated that Pelosi didn't applaud when Iraq was mentioned, and for good reason: Sending in over 20,000 troops would be overkill.

Of course, in the audience was Senator Hillary Clinton of New York, who made it official over the weekend that she's running for President in 2008. It probably won't be long till Illinois Senator Barack Obama will make his big decision. I'm sure they have very different plans to deal with this Iraq mess.

Anyway...we're now down to two, as it'll be the Chicago Bears and the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLI. Da Bears beat the New Orleans Saints, who despite a stream of fans from that area and the Mississippi Coast making the 12-hour train ride up to Chicago, was no match for Chicago's strong defense. And thanks to a fourth-quarter rally, Peyton Manning's Colts came from behind to prevent the New England Patriots from turning Super Bowl XLI to Super Bowl XX. The only downside for the Patriots? They were facing against Indianapolis' Adam Vinatieri, whose field goals helped his old team win three Super Bowls!! Boy, that bit them in the ass!

Now that Chicago will be heading to the big game again, they may have to do a new version of the "Super Bowl Shuffle", which they recorded a few months before they went to Super Bowl XX. But I don't know if the Colts will fight back with a rally song of their own; remember "The Patriots and We" as the response to "Super Bowl Shuffle" immediately after they won the AFC title? Guess not. One of the lines said they would beat the Bears 100-3; in the end, it was 46-10 for Chicago.

The Bears may be shuffling on down to Miami for Super Bowl XLI, but a lot of motion pictures' finest will be doing a different shuffle of their own on February 25: The Oscar Shuffle! That's right, earlier this morning nominations for the 79th Annual Academy Awards were announced, and there were shocks and surprises as always.

"Dreamgirls" leads the way with eight nominations including Supporting Acting honors for Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Hudson, that's the good news. The bad? Of those eight, none of them are for Best Picture of 2006; those five vying for that are "Babel", "The Departed", "Letters from Iwo Jima", "Little Miss Sunshine", and "The Queen".

In Best Actor, Leonardo DiCaprio in his third overall nomination for "Blood Diamond" (his second in leading) will be facing against Ryan Gosling, Peter O'Toole (eighth nomination), Will Smith (second nod), and Golden Globe winner Forest Whitaker. On the Actress side, Meryl Streep in her record 14th nomination may prevent eventual favorite Helen Mirren's chances of taking Oscar home. But don't rule out Penelope Cruz, Judi Dench, and Kate Winslet; the latter two have been at this before.

As for the others, Martin Scorsese is up for his eighth attempt at grabbing that gold for "The Departed"; the last time, Clint Eastwood beat him to the prize. He is up for "Letters from Iwo Jima", and it's going to be quite a barnburner. "Cars", "Happy Feet", and "Monster House" are up for Animated Feature Film; former Vice President and 2000 Presidential candidate Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" is in the Documentary Feature running; Canada's "Water" is shooting for Foreign Language Film, and in Sound Mixing...in his nineteenth nomination -- yes, NINETEEN!!!!! -- and not a single win, will Kevin O'Connell finally come up to the Kodak Theatre stage for "Apocalypto"?

Oh yeah, there are those who didn't get the wake-up call from the Academy today. I'm talking about Brad Pitt for "Babel" and anybody from "Bobby."

We've got till February 25 to straighten these out; that's when the 79th Annual Academy Awards will be handed out with host Ellen DeGeneres in control. And with all that said...good night!

Hello everybody, and Happy (very belated) New Year. There's a lot of territory to dig up in this first blog of 2007, starting with -- of course -- the 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards last night.

"Dreamgirls" took Supporting Acting honors for Eddie Murphy and Jennifer Hudson, as well as Best Picture (Musical/Comedy). Sacha Baron Cohen ("Borat") and Meryl Streep "(The Devil Wears Prada") claimed that category's lead acting prizes. In Drama, "Babel" picked up Best Picture, while Forest Whitaker received Best Actor for "The Last King of Scotland" and Helen Mirren making it double with Best Actress for "The Queen" and TV Miniseries/Movie Actress for "Elizabeth I". Meanwhile, Clint Eastwood's "Letters from Iwo Jima" got Foreign Language Film and Martin Scorsese, Best Director for "The Departed."

On the television side, "Ugly Betty" was the big story, garnering Best Comedy and Best Comedy Actress for a surprised America Ferrara; "30 Rock's" Alec Baldwin won Comedy Actor. Fellow ABC hit "Grey's Anatomy" made up for their Emmy shutout by picking up Best TV Drama, with Kyra Sedgwick ("The Closer") and Hugh Laurie ("House") being honored in acting.

Hollywood's party of the year began with -- where else -- the red carpet. Beyonce, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Teri Hatcher, the suddenly single Reese Witherspoon, Jessica Biel, Angelina Jolie, and Drew Barrymore all proved why they are called the "Golden Globe Awards" for a reason (especially Barrymore after last year), while Cameron Diaz, Sharon Stone, and the Arquette sisters (Patricia and Rosanna) were probably better off with the Bronze Globes.

However, the real buzz at and prior to the Globes remains the big news about the Beckhams' landfall in the United States. For those not in the know, David Beckham last week agreed to a five-year, $250 million deal to play for Major League Soccer's L.A. Galaxy. David is a big name in soccer; he's like the Michael Jordan/Tiger Woods/Wayne Gretzky of his sport with Victoria (Posh Spice) as his wife. Yeah, now they're going to be calling the States home, the term "Soccer Mom" has already been given a whole new meaning! When the couple landed in L.A. over the weekend, they didn't waste any time shopping for a new home.

What does this mean to soccer on this side of the Atlantic? For decades now, it has taken a backseat to basketball, football, baseball, and (shudder) NASCAR, and Beckham will hopefully be a shot in the arm. And that's what his goal is, to make soccer a mainstream sport in North America than in Europe.

And last but not least...it's never too late for me to chime in on the ongoing verbal brawl between Rosie O'Donnell and Donald Trump, which has already spilled right into 2007. If you saw "WWE RAW" last week, they parodied it with two unknowns playing Rosie and Trump in a mock wrestling match. It was so lame that a few minutes into this, the crowd was chanting "Boring!", "We want wrestling!", and believe it or not, "TNA!" Yes...right in Vince McMahon's ear they were rooting for WWE's new rival! Trump "won" of course, but the damage has already been done.

If the two really want to settle their differences once and for all, they should quit with the squabbling and make up. But then again, I think Rosie has the advantage. Heck, put the thing on pay-per-view, bring in Michael Buffer, and let's watch the fists really fly! With that said, so long!

For the 16th year (and ninth online), it's the one year-end list that's a true original...unlike Letterman's stale Top Tens. It's...

20, (and in her EIGHTH STRAIGHT APPEARANCE!). The newly single Britney Spears (I would've ranked her higher if she put on some damn underwear!)

19. Vice President Dick Cheney shooting an unsuspecting man in the face (suddenly, it's 1986 and that "Duck Hunt" game all over again)

18. The Miami Heat winning the NBA title (and all over Florida, people were drunk on too many Metamucils)

17. John Leguizamo visiting Fairbanks to promote "Ice Age: The Meltdown" (now we know why "Basic Instinct 2" bombed)

16. "Heroes" reviving hopes for fourth-place NBC (I'll only start watching "Heroes" if Hayden Panettiere ditches her cheerleader outfit for a bikini)

15. The WB and UPN becoming The CW (while My Network TV still has a dedicated viewerbase -- all nine of them!)

14. "Crash" upsetting "Brokeback Mountain" for the Best Picture Oscar (moments later, riots at Pottery Barns escolated)

13. Mark Foley's sex-fueled online chats to a congressional page (just imagine if the page was one of those decoys from the "Dateline" predator stings)

12. The Seattle Seahawks almost winning Super Bowl XL (it's the Rolling Stones' fault!)

11. "Grey's Anatomy", "CSI", and "TNA Impact" in a three-way battle on Thursday nights (I'll take non-soap opera wrestling over McWhoever The Hell the Male Grey's Characters Call Themselves, please)

10. TIE: Katie Couric's new stint as "CBS Evening News" anchor (which I don't mind, but give me Peter Mansbridge!), and TomKat tying the knot (I had an invitation, but it was lost in Oprah Winfrey's mail)

9. The scandal involving Miss USA Tara Conner (imagine if it was Vanessa Williams...oh wait, it did, and she really moved on; see "Ugly Betty")

8. Zinedine Zidane's headbutt at the World Cup final (maybe "Hardball" should change its name to "Head Butt with Chris Matthews")

7. Michael Richards' racial rant at a comedy club (suddenly, Julia Louis-Dreyfus is laughing heartily)

6. YouTube (America's fastest-growing network...that is, if you just want to claim your 15 minutes of fame)

5. Rosie O'Donnell joining "The View", replacing Star Jones Reynolds (thanks to her takes on Clay Aiken and now Donald Trump, the show has become the WWE gone verbal)

4. Justin Timberlake back on the charts with "SexyBack" (did he compose that song just for Cameron Diaz or after his fantasies surrounding his Super Bowl incident?)

3. Mel Gibson's scandal after his DUI arrest (glad he didn't say anything about the Jews responsible for those child predator busts on "Dateline")

2. The Democrats cleaning House (which looks to be bad news for Bush even before 2008)

And the #1 thing that had the whole world talking in 2006, even if you don't live here...
1. Alaska Governor Sarah Palin
(suddenly, The Last Frontier is about to get a little hotter!)

Tomorrow...I conclude the "Year In Review" with the final results of Sexiest Woman of 2006 (nobody cared about the men's poll anymore) and my predictions for 2007!

From the second of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" trilogy scooping up lots of box office booty, to year two of Brangelina and TomKat, to two high-profile TV hits in a Thursday night showdown, to Justin Timberlake bringing the "SexyBack" to the charts, to two networks becoming one, to Mel Gibson and Michael Richards literally spewing their guts out, the theme of 2006 in the world of entertainment should be "Hollywood Gone Wild."

At the 78th Annual Academy Awards, "Brokeback Mountain" was the film to beat; in the end, "Crash" walked away with Best Picture. But the night ultimately belonged to George Clooney and the soon-to-be-single Reese Witherspoon, as they copped Supporting Actor and Best Actress for "Syriana" and ""Walk The Line" respectively. Philip Seymour Hoffman and Rachel Weisz got the other acting honors (Best Actor and Supporting Actress), but nobody cared about them.

Not even a new (and controversial) voting process couldn't stop "24" from taking Best Drama and acting honors for Kiefer Sutherland at the 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. Julia Louis-Dreyfus officially ended the so-called "Seinfeld Curse" by taking Best Comedy Actress, while "The Office" took Comedy Series. And in their respective categories, "The Daily Show" and "The Amazing Race" despite heavy competition from "The Colbert Report" and "American Idol" both remained undisputed at 4-0. "Grey's Anatomy" on the other hand, received zero awards.

Speaking of "Grey's", it really gave "CSI" (and later "TNA Impact!" on Spike TV) a run for the ratings the moment they moved to Thursdays. With the adventures of McDreamy and McSteamy drawing them in, as well as other hits "Dancing with the Stars", "Ugly Betty", and a resurged "Desperate Housewives", ABC proved they are the real "Must-See TV". Well, at least they didn't run promos telling viewers to "Watch Grey's, tape/Tivo CSI" unlike back then. CBS meanwhile remained the top network despite a controversial "Survivor", while "Deal or No Deal", "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip", "To Catch a Predator", and "Heroes" provided glimmers of hope for STILL fourth-place NBC. And then there's Fox, with powerhouses "American Idol" and "House" in the Top 10 almost every week.

After 11 years of living seperate lives as The WB and UPN, the two networks became one as The CW, with many shows like "Veronica Mars", "Gilmore Girls", "Friday Night Smackdown", and yes "7th Heaven" continuing the legacies left behind. MyNetworkTV on the other end of the dial were just two telenovelas...but was anyone watching?

Well, pretty not, because whenever there's something boring on, we have been watching something on our computers: YouTube! Throughout 2006, and since Google took over in the fall, that site has become the one-stop place for original videos (rants and raves done on a webcam, short movies, cartoons, music) as well as lots and lots of nostalgia (TV opens and promos, clips, episodes, music videos, and commercials from decades gone by). I during Election Night have contributed to the craze, and as a result "Time" magazine named You -- and me and everybody else -- as "Person of the Year".

2006 was also quite a memorable year as Hollywood came to Interior Alaska twice. In March, John Leguizamo and soon-to-be-outgoing governor Frank Murkowski helped open the "Ice Age: The Meltdown" ice park as part of the film's promotion. And in July, Ty Pennington and the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" team brought Christmas to the Rogers family in North Pole, as their tiny home was transformed into an instant palace in a week's time.

At the box office, the year's biggest draw was "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest". In its opening weekend, it grossed $135 million...which is way enough to top 2002's "Spider-Man" for the all-time record. "Cars", "Casino Royale" (with Daniel Craig inheriting the James Bond role), "Little Miss Sunshine", "The Da Vinci Code", "Borat", and "Superman Returns" all had memorable moments worth reliving on DVD, while "Basic Instinct 2" and "Snakes On A Plane" had not-so-memorable moments we'd wish to forget. But Sharon Stone did rebound from her mess with "Bobby" later in the year, and the forecast for another Oscar nomination looks to be good.

In music, it was yet another banner year for "American Idol", both on and away from the show. Taylor Hicks and his "Soul Patrol" may have triumphed over Katherine McPhee for the title; Carrie Underwood may have gotten lots of praise and honors (including a Grammy nomination for New Artist) a year after she won; Kelly Clarkson may be globetrotting in her first world tour; Kellie Pickler, Chris Daughtry, and Bo Bice may have breakout hits even though none of them won...but in the end, it was Jennifer Hudson's performance in "Dreamgirls" that had the last laugh. With a Golden Globe nomination, it probably won't be long until she goes from "American Idol" to Oscar Idol.

After two years of exile over that infamous Super Bowl incident, Justin Timberlake was back with a vengenace with "SexyBack". And back to YouTube for a bit: A music video by an unknown group called OK Go which they performed on treadmills would later lead to a major record deal. Rihanna steamed up the charts, while Beyonce literally "Sounded The Alarm." And after declaring independence from each other, Nick Lachey had a hit and Vanessa Minnillo in his hands while Jessica Simpson's "Public Affair" wasn't anything but public.

But like in every other year, 2006 was indeed a year of makeups, break-ups, and scandals.

We start with the weddings: Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes may have tied the knot in Italy with a who's who including Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony, Brooke Shields, and Jim Carrey among them on the guest list (thankfully, no Oprah), but it was Cruise's ex Nicole Kidman who beat them to the altar months earlier by marrying country singer Keith Urban in June in their native Australia. Other " I Dos" of the year included Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott, Marcia Cross and Tom Mahoney, and Lisa Marie Presley and Michael Lockwood.

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie though not married gave birth to Shiloh, while months after they starred in "The Break-Up", Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn would later break up themselves.

Then there are the couples who said "I Don't", and in surprising ways: Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe, Denise Richards and Charlie Sheen, Hilary Swank and Chad Lowe, Heather Locklear and Richie Sambora (though the latter would shack it up with Richards), Paul McCartney and Heather Mills, Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown (must've been Brown still going over the "KISS MY ASS!!!!!" remark by Whitney on "Being Bobby Brown"), and the ultimate surprise of them all...Britney Spears and Kevin Federline, which I'll get to in a bit!

There were of course scandals galore this year; the biggest of them involved Mel Gibson and Michael Richards. In late July, Gibson after being arrested for DUI made anti-Semitic tirades, including the "Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world" quote. However, the apologies were indeed enough, and Gibson's latest project "Apocalypto" opened as the #1 movie in December.

And then there was Richards. In November, while performing at Los Angeles' Laugh Factory, a couple of hecklers interrupted Richards while performing, and he went through a stream of racial tirades including uttering the "N" word. The cell phone video from TMZ.com would be later broadcast around the world, and Richards' reputation despite apology after apology would be tarnished forever.

Other celebrity scandals of 2006 included: Sara Evans leaving "Dancing with the Stars" before divorcing her husband over accusations of an affair between him and a former nanny; Anna Nicole Smith's son Daniel's mysterious death just days after Anna Nicole gave birth to a baby boy, leading to a huge paternity battle; and though not covered in the "Year in News", embattled Florida Congressman Mark Foley's sexually explicit instant messages to a male page.

And just recently, reigning Miss USA 2006 Tara Conner was in danger of losing her crown after spending nights of hard partying and lesbian trysts with Miss Teen USA 2006. But in the end, pageant owner Donald Trump gave Conner another chance to clean it all up.

However, not everybody was supporting The Donald's decision. Rosie O'Donnell verbally lashed out against him on "The View", but it wouldn't take long for Trump to fire back. In the meantime, Miss Nevada USA Katie Rees was stripped of her title after photos of her really letting her hair down were all over the Internet.

But perhaps the biggest celebrity newsmaker of 2006 has to be an old favorite of mine: Britney Spears. Her year began with the paparazzi taking snaps of Britney's improper holding of Sean Preston, followed by that cringe-inducing "Dateline" interview with Matt Lauer, and giving birth to Jayden James. Oh yeah, not to mention that unkempt freak named Kevin Federline...and that infamous video that was all over the Internet which included Britney burping.

However, it all came to ahead in November, when just moments after popping up on David Letterman, Britney filed the divorce papers. In Toronto, Federline way trying to push his rap album (which sold what, seven copies?) until he learned of the news...via his Blackberry.

It didn't take long for Britney to become Britney once again, and she called on Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton to help. However, her partying ways got to the best of them, when on some occasions, there were shots of Britney without any underwear! She did admit on her website that she took her newfound freedom a little too far, and 2007 is hoping to be a comeback year.

What kind of happenings could 2007 bring in the world of entertainment? Could either "Spider-Man 3" or "The Simpsons Movie" surpass "Dead Man's Chest" as the all-time opening weekend record holder? Who will be fitting into Bob Barker's shoes on "The Price is Right" after he says "Come on Down!" for the final time? And which celebrity couples will be no more? We'll have to find out for ourselves in the new year.

Tomorrow...the "Top 20 Things That Had the Whole World Talking in 2006" as my Year in Review continues.

BREAKING NEWS: Former President Gerald Ford Dead at 93

I'll continue with the "Year in Review" tomorrow with the year in entertainment, but there is some very sad news to report:

Former President Gerald R. Ford died earlier tonight at the age of 93 in his home in Rancho Mirage, California. Ford was the 38th president in 1974 after Richard Nixon resigned in the wake of the Watergate scandal; prior to that, he was Vice President after Spiro Agnew resigned a year earlier. Under Ford, the Vietnam War finally ended in 1975; he was also the only president never elected to a national office, only to lose to Jimmy Carter in 1976.

Ford always had a great sense of humor, as "Saturday Night Live" poked fun at him thanks to Chevy Chase. However, his President Ford wasn't very straightforward, as it was more like a bumbling idiot than a president. And in a 1996 skit, Dana Carvey as Tom Brokaw did pre-tapes covering his apparent death.

President Bush said in a statement, "The American people will always admire Gerald Ford's devotion to duty, his personal character and the honorable conduct of his administration," while former first lady Nancy Reagan said she was deeply saddened over the news.

Once again...former President Gerald Ford dead tonight at 93.

The AllenBlog's
It was the year that a two-year master plan for the Democrats to win back Capitol Hill from the Republicans worked wonders.

The year that a former NSyncer would bring the sexy back to the charts, while a new Alaska governor would bring the sexy to Juneau.

The year when one popular Internet site became the real "Must-See TV."

The year when one former "Seinfeld" star broke the so-called curse by winning an Emmy, while another revived it in his own way.

The year that an Alaskan at the Winter Olympics tasted the thrill of victory, while a favored figure skater suffered the agony of defeat.

The year that a fourth-place network made a "Deal" with some "Heroes" to get them out of their ratings rut...well, sort of.

The year when a former Iraqi dictator would get the ultimate just desserts for running his country.

The year that the second "Pirates of the Caribbean" film was da box office bomb, while "Basic Instinct 2" was a bomb.

And the year that exposing Internet predators would be the craze...though one Congressman wasn't listening.

That year was 2006.
Join the AllenBlog as I take a look back at one phenomenal year.

All throughout 2006, we've seen winds of political change being blown in North America, more soldiers and civilians getting killed in Iraq while the Stryker brigade returned home to Fairbanks, and Saddam Hussein getting the ultimate punishment for his crimes. Oh, not to mention the Winter Olympics and other sports championships being handed out.

The year started with 13 coal miners being trapped underground in West Virginia. Days later, what we thought that 12 out of the 13 that were rescued proved otherwise; it was sadly the opposite way around.

In late January, Canadians headed to the polls in the wake of a scandal triggered by Prime Minister Paul Martin's Liberal party. In the end, the Conservatives took enough seats for a minority with leader Stephen Harper claiming the top job.

The Seattle Seahawks earned their first ever trip to the Super Bowl in its 40th annual game, but missed calls gave the Pittsburgh Steelers the Vince Lombardi Trophy 21-10. Weeks earlier, USC's chances for a third national title were dashed in the final few moments of the Rose Bowl thanks to Vince Young and his Texas Longhorns.

A dream came true for the late night jokesters as Vice President Dick Cheney accidentally shot friend Harry Whittington during a quail hunt in Texas. Meanwhile at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin, what was thought to be Bode Miller's moment to shine with five gold medals being his goal didn't come to pass; he was disqualified or did not finish in his events.

As for the rest of the games...Michelle Kwan's third and final attempt at gold ended abruptly as a groin injury withdrew her. It however opened the door for Sasha Cohen to take the figure skating gold for the United States, but it ended up around the neck of Japan's Shizuka Arkawa. Cohen settled for silver as a new scoring system was imposed in the wake of what happened at the last games. Alaska got its only medal as Rosey Fletcher earned bronze in snowboarding, while the U.S. women's hockey team received bronze as well; the speed skaters continued their medaling ways with Apolo Anton Ohno receiving gold and bronze in short track speed skating. After the torch was extinguished, Germany took the most medals with 29 including 11 golds followed by the United States (25 with nine golds) and Canada in fifth (24 medals, but 10 silvers and seven golds).

A mudslide in the Philippines killed 1,800 people, while all 65 miners trapped underground after another mine explosion perished, this time in Mexico. And in March, Tropical Storm Larry wreaked havoc on the Australian coast in Queensland while over half a million people took to the streets of Los Angeles demanding illegal immigration reform. The rest of the country would later follow on May 1 in the Great American Boycott. Also in early May, two miners trapped underground in Australia were rescued after two weeks in the Beaconsfield mine collapse.

In spring sports, Florida and Maryland took the NCAA men's and women's college basketball titles respectively, while after the Kentucky Derby, Babraro's chances of breaking a 27-year Triple Crown stranglehold were looking pretty good...until at the start of the Preakness Stakes, when he suffered a severe injury. And in one of the closest finishes in Indianapolis 500 history, Sam Hornish Jr. held off Marco Andretti by a hair.

An air raid in Iraq killed Al-Qaeda's Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, while Israel was to blame for the explosion on a Gaza beach that killed eight Palestinians. The South continued to be on top of the sports world thanks to the Miami Heat (NBA champions) and the Carolina Hurricanes (Stanley Cup champions), while Italy beat France for their fourth World Cup. Of course, the biggest story coming out of it was Zinedine Zidane being given a new nickname: Butt-Head!

After Floyd Landis carried on the Lance Armstrong legacy by winning the Tour de France, it was later revealed that he failed a doping test. However, Landis is still holding on to his yellow jersey. And there was a little sign of change coming to Cuba as Fidel Castro, after undergoing surgery, hands over power to brother Raul...at least for now.

In August, it was almost like after 9/11 all over again as a foiled terrorist plot in London to blow up planes bound for the U.S. using liquid explosives had many travelers emptying out their luggage at the airports, as liquids were banned from flights. After a scary few weeks, the ban was lifted. And near the end of the month, a Comair flight crashed and killed all but one person.

Three school tragedies made news in the fall. First, one was killed and 19 others injured outside Dawson College in Montreal; second, six female students were held hostage at a Colorado high school before the gunman pulled the trigger on himself; and in Pennsylvania, five female students were killed at a Amish school. And at the World Series, it was all St. Louis as the Cardinals took the title after nearly a quarter century.

The master plan for the Democrats to reclaim Capitol Hill from the Republicans worked, as they took both houses of Congress for the first time since 1994. Gubernatorial races were decided as well this year; one of them was here in Alaska, as 42-year-old Sarah Palin -- after dethroning incumbent Frank Murkowski in the August primary -- was elected as not only the first female and youngest governor in this state, but probably the hottest piece of political eye candy ever to grace America.

Of course, we always had to give our last rites to those we've lost in 2006. Among them: Robert Altman, Ed Bradley, Earl Woods (Tiger Woods' father), four-time Iditarod champion Susan Butcher, sportscaster Curt Gowdy, the "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin, game show host Peter Tomarken, actor Peter Boyle, "Jumpin'" Gene Simmons (no relation to the KISS guy), Wilson Pickett, Mike Douglas, Don Knotts, golfer Byron Nelson, former Texas governor Ann Richards, former Cabinet member Caspar Weinberger, country musician Buck Owens, Kirby Puckett, Dana Reeve, Lou Rawls, Louis Rukeyser, Coretta Scott King, Billy Preston, television animation pioneer Joe Barbera, Jack Palance, and on Christmas Day, soul legend James Brown.

So...what could 2007 hold? Will Pope Benedict XVI be making his first U.S. visit two years into his reign? Will Barack Obama and/or Hillary Clinton finally be in or out in 2008 after months of speculation? Will Palinmania spread throughout America as they embrace and adore our governor? And will Saddam Hussein really be put to death as he was given the sentence? When the clock strikes midnight on January 1, 2007, these questions and millions more will be answered.

When "Year in Review Week" continues tomorrow...the biggest entertainment and celebrity stories of 2006.

CHRISTMAS 2006: The Final Countdown

Hello, everybody. With less than a week to go, it's the final push as many of us are deciding on our last-minute Christmas gifts. And malls and stores everywhere are keeping calm as far as customers are concerned...that is, unless if you're the New York Knicks and/or the Denver Nuggets.

Yes, in shades of two years ago, a brawl broke out between those two teams as they played each other Friday night at Madison Square Garden. It began after the Knicks' Mardy Collins hit the Nuggets; J.R. Smith after a drive into the basket with 1:15 left in the game and Denver about to win 123-100. No fans were involved unlike Pistons/Pacers, but Smith and another Knicks player fought and spilled into the seats. Moments later, Denver's Carmelo Anthony punched Collins in the face.

As a result, seven players from both teams were suspended, with Anthony receiving the sitffest amount: 15 games. Smith and Nate Robinson were suspended for ten; Collins, six; Jared Jeffries, four; and Jerome James, a one-game suspension. NBA Commissioner David Stern also fined each team $500,000. There goes their Christmas bonuses.

I don't know why, but with 2006 about to come to a close, this has to stop. I guess the lessons from last time haven't been fully learned yet.

Now last month as you recall, I made my Internet debut on YouTube covering the election as the returns filtered in throughout the night. And throughout 2006, everybody including yours truly have been broadcasting ourselves on that site. As a result, "Time" magazine named all of us their "Person of the Year!" And believe me...it is such an honor sharing that prestigious title with the rest of the world.

With just two weeks left until 2007, a crop of year in review specials are already filtrating our TVs. And perhaps one good sign this year is ending is right now, I'm working on my own wrap-up which you'll be seeing on this blog all next week. From the year's biggest news and entertainment highlights to my annual Top 20 list to my new year's predictions, I've got it all covered from top to bottom; I've been doing this since 1998 (when it was on the old Allen Report site of course)! That's the AllenBlog's 2006 Year In Review, all next week! And in case you're wondering...after a one-year absence, I'm bringing back the intro.

With all that said...so long and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!

PALINMANIA HAS OFFICIALLY BEGUN!

Good evening. Yes, it was another event in the Fairbanks history books today as Sarah Heath Palin was sworn in as Alaska's 11th governor...and at 42, the youngest in this state -- and probably the hottest in America.

Instead of the traditional Juneau, the inauguration took place at the Carlson Center to a packed house. Seats were reserved for 1,600 school children...only that they were in the balcony sections! The remaining were of course open to the public.

Since Palin is our first female governor, Libby Riddles -- the first female to win the Iditarod in 1985 before the late Susan Butcher -- served as mistress of ceremonies. The Fairbanks Red Hackle Pipe Band accompanied Palin and Lieutenant Governor Sean Parnell to the stage.

The reason why Fairbanks was because the University of Alaska Fairbanks served as the site of the Alaska Constitutional Convention in 1955; that of course paved the way to statehood four years later. Four of the convention's surviving delegates were in attendance, as well as former two-term governor Walter Hickel who addressed the crowd.

When the big moment came for Palin and Parnell to be sworn in by Judge Niesje Steinkruger, flashbulbs were popping like crazy! It was like John Leguizamo all over again. After Palin took the oath of office, the crowd went into a "Sarah! Sarah" chant. Parnell's inaugural speech was straightforward compared to Palin's, but I don't need to go there.

But where was outgoing governor Frank Murkowski? He was out of town, but Loren Leman was there to help pass the torch. Don Young, Ted Stevens, or Lisa Murkowski couldn't make it as they're still in session in Washington.

Of course, the local TV stations (including KTUU in Anchorage), PBS, and the print media covered the event; I was even interviewed by one of those stations sharing my thoughts on how Palin will do.

After the ceremonies came the reception, where we all get to mingle with the new governor face to face. And believe me...she seems really cozy taking Alaska's top job; very nice and interactive compared to Murkowski. In my first conversation with her while she signed my program and poster, I brought up the Palinmania remark and that I'm now a fan of two Sarahs: Palin and Michelle Gellar. Yeah, imagine if these two ever meet!

Anyway, it would be down to business for Sarah as far as getting the gas line production up and running is concerned. Since the voters who elected her last month feel Tony Knowles' campaign platform for all proposals being on his desk by the end of January if elected would be too immediate, Palin will be taking things easy as governor. We'll see what happens in the months to come.

First, it was Leguizamo at the Ice Park in March. Then in the summer, it was the "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" gang in North Pole. And now, on December 4, it was the inauguration of Sarah Palin as the third biggest event to take center stage in Interior Alaska in 2006! We all wish her well as Palin is about to bring the sexy back to Juneau (watch as husband and First Gentleman Todd is right now threatening to take this blog down for saying that).

All right...now that that's out of the way, it's time for me to play big-time catch up. First up...Britney Spears may be enjoying the single life now that she and Kevin Federline are no more, but has it become too much?

Last week, she has been spotted partying with Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton; the tabloids have been calling them the "Brit Pack". And to rub salt in the wound even further, the paparazzi have been snapping Britney showing way too much skin...on her lower body!! But hey, she turned 25 over the weekend, so I don't blame her...well, sort of.

If Britney Spears can really become Britney Spears once again, she has to stop flashing her privates in public. Then again, Paris Hilton did one time at Sean "Diddy" Combs' birthday two years ago, but was overshadowed by Tara Reid.

And two weeks later, we're still talking about Michael Richards and his profanity-laden remarks at the Laugh Factory. He has been apologizing left and right, but is it enough? Despite sales for the "Seinfeld" DVDs climbing high since the tirade, I think not. It's going to be quite a while till when Richards gets his groove back.

Man...I've talked so much and the holiday season is heating things up. That's it from me; from the home of now America's Hottest Governor, good night!

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ELECTION UPDATE (9:00pm Alaska Time):

ELECTION UPDATE (8:00pm Alaska Time):

IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS!!

Tomorrow, it will all come to an end. You've heard, seen, and read many sides from this year's mid-term election, and tomorrow, the final chapter will be waiting for us at the polls.

The Republicans have been in trouble these last few years with corruptions and scandals galore, and tomorrow could be a big day for the Democrats to turn all that around; they've been planning this since 2004, when we (unfortunately) re-elected President Bush. But the GOP may have something up their sleeves even at the eleventh hour. Could the Iraqi judge's recent verdict of Saddam Hussein given death by hanging be it?

All 435 House seats and 33 Senate seats will be up for grabs, while 36 gubernatorial races and thousands upon thousands of local and state races and ballot measures/propositions will be decided as well. For the Democrats, six Senate seats and 15 House seats are all they need to reclaim Capitol Hill from the Republicans.

Here in Alaska, we've got a three-way battle for the state's top job between Tony Knowles, Sarah Palin, and Andrew Halcro. No matter what the outcome is, there's history riding on this one. Knowles wants to be the first three-term governor since William Egan (who served from 1959-66 and again from 1970-74), while Palin and Halcro -- both at the age of 42 -- want to be the youngest; for Palin, she wants to be the state's first female governor, something Knowles' former lieutenant governor Fran Ulmer tried in 2002 but Frank Murkowski prevented that from happening.

We've also got one fierce House battle between Don Young and Diane Benson. Will 33 years of Young be enough as Benson hopes to pull off the upset of the night? This is definitely one hot race all of America will be eyeing on.

In my old stomping grounds on the Mississippi Coast, this will be their first general election (and New Orleans') since Hurricane Katrina. I'll be keeping watch on that to see whether or not Trent Lott will still have a job in Washington; several other local and state races there are at stake.

Locally in Fairbanks (for those who care, since this blog is being accessed around the world), we've got a State Senate showdown between Republican incumbent Ralph Seekins and Democrat Joe Thomas. After vising a website that breaks down what Seekins really did during his time in Juneau, I think he's better off selling cars. Nothing against him (though I actually live a couple miles close to him, and we're both at the same neighborhood), but I feel there's a wind of change blowing.

And then, there's two ballot measures; one is to reduce the legislative sessions from 120 days to 90; another is the gas pipeline tax. Will it be yes or no on either of them?

So...with everything going on, this is going to turn out to be one intense night. And yes...I'll be blogging here throughout the night, offering you my instant thoughts on the returns as they trickle in. If you have Yahoo! and/or AIM, you could chat with me live on the elections; my screenname on both is johnnya2k.

Will the Democrats be bringing the truth and ethics back to Capitol Hill (I was thinking of other ways to use the term "bringing the sexy back"), or will the Republicans continue their corruptive ways? Will Knowles, Halcro, or Palin make things work in Juneau? And after over three decades, will Diane Benson really be standing up for Alaska? Tomorrow, when we head to the polls and fill in those circles on our Accu-Vote ballots (well, that's here in Alaska; many states have different voting machines ranging from optical scan all the way to those old, bulky, they-should've-been-in-a-museum-years-ago lever machines), these questions and thousands more will be answered. And me, I'll be waiting till 8:00 pm (when our polls close; that's midnight on the East Coast or 5:00 am if you're in London) to see whether or not we made Alaska's and America's choices. See you back here tomorrow night.

Hello, everybody. No time to title my latest blog, because with the November 7 elections near, there's lots of ground to cover.

First up...it took the Boston Red Sox 86 years to win their World Series in 2004 and the Chicago White Sox 88 years for theirs last year, but for the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday, they clinched this year's World Series title for the first time since...1982?! Almost a quarter of a century?!?! Whether it was predictable or not, they did it in their new home field.

But I guess in economic terms, St. Louis won because they're the home of Budweiser, while Detroit has been in trouble because in recent years, the U.S. automakers lost lots of sales and revenue to Toyota, Honda, and others. Case in point: A few weeks ago, Ford announced they were discontinuing the Taurus after 20 years.

So congratulations to the St. Louis Cardinals, the 2006 World Series champions. I hope the people there celebrating their win weren't drunk on too many Budweisers.

And now that it's over (and I thought it was a pretty boring World Series with no anti-climatic drama), the attention now shifts to November 7. That's the day whether or not the Potomac River flowing through Washington will be turning blue under the Democrats, and the day when we'll be seeing either Tony Knowles, Sarah Palin, or Andrew Halcro usher in a whole new Alaska.

But thanks to the way the Republicans have been running things (or make that ruining things), we've been treated to without a doubt the nastiest political ads we've ever seen or heard or read since 1968 (when America, still reeling from the Robert Kennedy assassination, opted to give Richard Nixon another chance at the White House)! One ad that has been making lots of news was one targeting at Democratic candidate Harold Ford Jr. of Tennessee. The spot -- which pokes fun of Ford frolicking at the Playboy Mansion though he has never been there himself -- had to be pulled because of its racist overtones.

Here in Alaska, while Knowles and Palin have been exchanging verbal fisticuffs, independent gubernatorial candidate Andrew Halcro has been keeping quiet. But like I said a while back, this could be the sexiest race for Alaska's top job we've ever had. You've got the rugged looks of Knowles, the sex appeal of Palin, and the clean-cut boyish attraction of Halcro. Of course, the one thing all the candidates have on their minds is the gas pipeline. If elected, Knowles wants proposals on his desk by the end of January.

Speaking of which, Ballot Measure 2 which is about taxing for the pipeline has been getting lots of support...for its defeat. All three gubernatorial candidates are against it, as well as several Chambers of Commerces and the oil companies. But don't be surprised if it passes.

On the Congress side, we've got Republican incumbent Don Young vs. Democrat Diane Benson. With winds of change in Washington blowing the Democrats' way, we feel that 33 years of service is just enough for Young. Upsets do happen in these elections, and Benson could be one of them.

And of course, you've got lots of state races as far as who stays and who goes is concerned in Juneau. Since this blog is being read around the world, I'm not going to touch on that.

But...we've got one week to go, and things have kicked up lots of notches as we're in the final push. Believe me, ladies and gentlemen: As we've witnessed earlier this year in Canada, the Grand Old Party could be the Gone Old Party after November 7! With that, so long!

TWO PARTIES FOR THE PRICE OF ONE!

Hello, everybody. Tonight was the season premiere of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition", starring the Rogers family and the good people of Interior Alaska. And what better way to celebrate the premiere episode than by throwing out a huge viewing party at the Carlson Center....which I attended, of course.

A quarter-hour or so before the show aired at 6:00, Betsy Rogers addressed the crowd for a few moments, knowing the episode couldn't come at a sad time over the recent passing of high school football coach Buck Nystrom. There were refreshments and lots of prizes to be given away, including hard hats signed by the "Extreme" team.

Of course, it was another busy night for VCRs and TiVos all over Fairbanks, as a not-so-packed crowd -- as well as several volunteers who helped build the home this summer -- enjoyed the two-hour premiere on the big screens in the brand new scoreboard the Carlson Center acquired. After all, it was Fairbanks' night to shine in front of millions of people tuned to ABC.

Now while the constuction took place, the Rogers vacationed at Disneyland. Why did I bring that up again? Because 24 years ago tomorrow in 1982, when Disneyland was just that...I CELEBRATED MY FOURTH BIRTHDAY THERE!!!

That's right! Not only it was a viewing party tonight, it also served double duty as my (unofficial) 28th birthday party too! So consider the season premiere episode of "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" as my early birthday present. I don't know how I'll really celebrate my birthday tomorrow, so so long!

BREAKING NEWS: ALASKA PERMANENT FUND DIVIDEND ANNOUNCED!

Good evening. Just moments ago, Governor Frank Murkowski announced the amount of this year's Permanent Fund Dividend, and here it is:

$1,106.96

That's $261.20 higher than last year's $845.76 payout, but only 60 cents lower than the $1,107.56 we got in 2003.

Many of us who asked for our dividends to be direct deposited into our bank accounts will be in there on October 4 (early bird) or October 19 (regular deposits). Others will have to start watching their mailboxes on November 14 to see if they'll get a little payday of their own.

Once again, $1,106.96 is the amount of the 2006 Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend. Let the spending plans begin. Good night.

BROADBAND HO(ME)!!!!!

Hello, everybody. There are many signs it's fall in America: School students are back hitting the books; football season is back with college and the NFL; all-new TV shows sharing the airwaves with all-old favorites; and at my household...I FINALLY HAVE BROADBAND!!!!!

Yes, nine years of dial-up access came to an end as I finally upgraded to high-speed Internet this week. But this is not new to me, as I've been accessing the net since early 1995 at school. At that time, 33.6 was the fastest connection possible. In 1997, months after I got wired myself, 56k was starting to be the speed of choice.

But in the coming years, many were about to make the move from dial-up to broadband thanks to the explosion of file-sharing systems like Napster (when it used to be free), Kazaa, and Limewire. I with my dial-up connection didn't mind to be behind.

I'd love to tell you more, but there's other stuff to bring up including...

The stingray attack that killed the "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin last weekend. This news came as a shock to us all, because Irwin was like this generation's Marlin Perkins with his wife playing the Jim Fowler role. Irwin will be given a state funeral, while the video of the attack is now in the hands of authorities...probably never to be seen. Many people want the footage destroyed forever, and I agree.

However, one piece of tape that will be kept forever is of a TV reporter being attacked while the camera was rolling. John Mattes, an investigative reporter from San Diego Fox station XETV, was pummeled by one of the subjects of his pieces.

Mattes was interviewing a person who was the victim of a real estate scam, while out of nowhere, Rosa Baraza splashed some water into the camera lens and shouted obscenities while confronting Mattes and hitting him in the face with the water bottle. A while later, husband Sam Sulieman delivered some damage, striking Mattes in the face and head before putting him in a headlock. In fact, that couple was behind the scam.

Police arrived on the scene, and Mattes suffered cracked ribs, cuts to his face, and bite wounds and was sent to the hospital.

Now reporters getting mauled is not new. Remember John Stossel and a pro wrestler on "20/20"? Or when after a reporter got struck after she greeted Bjork at the Bangkok airport? I know they're risking their lives to get the story, but after what happened in San Diego, they should take precautions next time.

And last but not least...it looks like viewers are spending their evenings with Katie Couric just days after filling the anchor chair at the "CBS Evening News." In the first three nights, ratings have overpowered those of ABC and NBC. But will that stay for the long-term?

Sure, Walter Cronkite doing the opening spiel added a nice touch, but that alone won't stablize the numbers. Sometime soon, NBC and ABC will think of ways to put CBS back to third place; but until that happens, we'll be better off with Katie. And with all that said...so long and stay strong!

MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS: 1984-2006?

Hello, everybody. After two years in Miami, the MTV Video Music Awards last night returned to their home sweet home in New York. But from what I've seen, the homecoming was a disappointment.

The main factor? The stage at Radio City Music Hall looks somewhat similar to the Europe Music Awards, as Hamish Hamilton (who has directed those shows) replaced usual VMA director Beth McCarthy Miller this year. Another reason why it sucked can be summed up in two words: JACK BLACK! Yeah, he may have hosted an MTV awards show before -- the 2002 Movie Awards with my favorite girl Sarah Michelle Gellar -- but he didn't seem to be right. Was Jimmy Fallon unavailable or something? And whoever booked Al Gore should be fired!

The performances? Only ones I cared about were OK GO (the guys in the treadmills) and Christina Aguilera; others including Beyonce's had viewers flipping over to something decent, like the U.S. Open. Despite that, some moonmen had to be handed out, like Pink for Best Pop Video ("Stupid Girls"), an absent Kelly Clarkson claiming Female Video, James Blunt's "Beautiful" winning Male Video, and Panic! at the Disco's "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" being honored Video of the Year. And as far as the fashions were concerned, Beyonce, Maria Menounos, Jessica Simpson, Justin Timberlake, and P.Diddy all looked dapper and dazzling.

Thanks to its cold atmosphere, this year's MTV Video Music Awards was a turn-off, simply because we awards show junkies already had our fix with the Emmys last Sunday. And THAT, my friends, was a million times better than the VMAs!

With that said...have a great Labor Day weekend.