So last night Hollywood offered up its best and most glamorous for the 81st annual Academy Awards. This is one of my favorite nights of the year and my Oscar party, as usual, kept the actual show from putting me to sleep.



No, I won't be recapping who won what here, if you're really interested, visit http://www.oscar.com/ for the official winners list.



For me, it's always all about who's there, who they're with, and, of course, who they're wearing! Fashion, fashion, it's all about the fashion! The Acacemy Awads Red Carpet is the Superbowl of Fashion. And just to prove it, Heidi Klum AND Tim Gunn were there last night!



So, I started my evening off watching E! from 6-8 for the oh-so-awaited arrivals.



ABC, knowing full well, that the red carpet draws almost as much attention at the awards themselves, opted to start their evening with red carpet coverage at 6:30. It was interrupted at 7 for the Barbara Walters Special and then returned at 8 as a precursor to the Oscar telecast, which began at 8:30.



What follows are just my notes and observances of the evening.



First acknolwedged celebrity to arrive on E!'s arrival show was Miley Cyrus, who I guess was there to support Animated Feature nominee Bolt. She was wearing a hideous scalloped dress that did nothing for her ... and her mom was showing off her first-ever pair of real diamond earrings.

Are you serious??? Is Billy Ray really that cheap, that he never bought his wife of something like 20 years a pair of REAL diamond earrings??



Next notable celeb up was the oh-to-pretty Zac Efron and his onscreen-offscreen love Vanessa Hudgens, who had a lovely black mermaid dress on. So far, this one's my fave.

I also loved Viola Davis' golden halter creation. It looked beautiful on her and flattered her skin color. I was not nearly as impressed with fellow nominee Taraji P. Henson's white layered gown as Miss Jay from E! was. I thought it looked like she was wrapped in toilet paper.

My highlight came at 6:55 when vampire Edward Cullen, I mean presenter Robert Pattinson, showed up dressed head-to-toe in Dolce & Gabbana! OK, so I'm biased here, but I was so thrilled that he went the classic route with perfect tux and bow tie, instead of the I'm Young Hollywood and Don't Have to Comply with the Academy look that some younger stars donned.

Remember, even though you're not nominated now, the Academy is watching, showing respect now will pay off later ...



OK, now I'm getting annoyed ... Is it really necessary to have the camera on Marissa Tomei so looonng? Her geometric-layered white (yes, another white) gown, while better than others that she wore this awards season, was a miss.



I'm liking Amanda Seyfried's red dress -- although later when she was presenting, I took that back ... that bow was ridiculous!



Oh my, who's the Cinderella at the end of the red carpet -- why it's Sarah Jessica Parker, in a full white/silver ball gown. A tiny bustiere topping a very full dress -- like I said, Very Cinderella. (I later found out it was Diore couture, very ooh la la!) Why is she the only celebrity that can pull off such a variety of looks?

This photo doesn't do the dress justice, watch for it on TV tonight during all the post-Oscar entertainment shows!

And she confirmed to E! that all four principals have signed on to make another Sex & The City movie -- yay!



7:15 pm -- Seacrest finally does something worthwhile and interviews Pattinson! Oddly enough, Ryan's the same height, which only proves my speculation that he's standing on a box behind that fake hedge. Ryan, we all know you're not that tall. Anyway, Pattinson admits to "catastrophically" blowing his rehearsal Saturday and predicts he will be the let down of the whole show. Actually Rob, you were my high point of the whole show!



And a big thank you to the person who had the sense to seat Rob behind Mickey Rourke. Rourke donned a hideous white suit (though it looked better than anything else he had worn to an awards show) and every time the camera panned the audience, he was easily spotted. Then all I had to do was look immediatly behind him and Hello Rob!

Back to Rourke for a sec -- I thought it was totally endearing that he wore a necklace with a photo of his recently deceased best friend, Loki, his chihauhau, who passed only six days ago ... Loki was supposed to attend the show with her master and Rourke had a little tux made. He said he had it with him.



Right after that 15-time nominee (yes, that's a record) Meryl Streep showed up -- frumpy as usual. While one of the greatest actresses of all time, don't look for her on Project Runway anytime soon. Meryl couldn't pick out a flattering dress to save her life.



Next up was Ron Howard (who ALWAYS looks better when he's wearing a hat). Howard was nominated for best director for his film Frost/Nixon, and walking the red carpet with him actually was Sir David Frost!!



Josh Brolin walked with wife Diane Lane. Is it just me or does Josh look more like his handsome father everyday? Yeah, James is still better looking, but Josh is catching up ...



Queen Latifah looked great in custom couture, joking that it had to be custome 'cause "They don't make couture in my size!"



Flipping over to the Barbara Walters Special just in time to see The Jonas Brothers -- hey WTH, where's the sound???



Back to E! Jessica Biel shows up, looking like she just rolled outta bed. What was with her hair? Not a good look Jess.



Peter Gabriel, who backed out of performing his best song nominee -- just looked old, while 74-year-old Sophia Loren looked fabulous!! Man, that lady's got some great genes!



Natalie Portman was gorgeous in a fuschia strapless gown. Another of my faves.

OMG -- at 7:38 Brangelina shows and she's looking fabulous too. After making frumpy appearances at the Golden Globes (where she opted to wear her gown backwards) and the SAG Awards. Angie stunned the red carpet in a black strapless sheath-gown that fit her in all the right places. Brad looked tired -- hey, the man's got six kids now! Tired or not, he's still gorgeous.



Yay, Kate Winslet's here! Can't wait to see what -- what the hell?? - is she wearing? Oh Kate, don't do this to me!! You showed up at the Globes and SAG looking spectacular and tonight is sooo going to be your night. After 5 nominations, Kate will finally win and that's what she chose to wear? Sorry, your Yves Saint Laurent dress is not working for me babe.

Hey Robert Downey Jr. just showed up -- looking amazing! I don't know what he's had done since the SAG awards, but he looks amazingly younger! Good for you Robert -- so glad to see you back and doing so well.

Back Barbara Walters, and yes, she's interviewing Oscar host and Sexiest Man Alive Hugh Jackman. I love this guy and soo looking forward to the show because of him! In typical style, Babs goes for the tears -- and Jackman, while not blubbering, does well-up while talking about his father coming to see him at Carnegie Hall.



And how's this for irony? Hugh's dad was a senior partner at Price-Waterhouse, the same company that famously tallies the Oscar votes year after year, and now his son is hosting the Oscars.



E! coverage ends with a tribute to Bollywood! Indian dancers, who will later grace the Oscar stage, stop in to teach E!'s hosts how to dance Bollywood-style. And, hilariously, E! gets the jokeand proceeds to show everyone from E! doing the Indian-style dance!

Over to ABC's official red carpet, hosted by GMA's Robyn Roberts and Tim Gunn (Yay Tim Gunn!!). Roberts looks superb in a lovely red gown, while Tim is always the personification of class.



The ABC coverage gave us the chance to see Gunn gush over Brad & Angie, practically accosting them, while Mickey Rourke continued to pay homage to Loki.



And finally it was time for the show.



Jackman hits the stage performing a song & dance number for each of the movies nominated for Best Picture. He enlists the help of Anne Hathaway, who managed to change dresses. It's better than when Rob Lowe danced with Snow White, but nothing like what Billy Crystal would've done ...



Jackman is rewarded for his efforts with standing ovation from his peers. Overall, the show felt more intimate, like theater. However, that intimacy dragged on and left some people falling asleep in their chairs and me in mine too ...



Then Whoopi Goldberg showed up in that hideous leopard print nightmare (sorry I couldn't find a photo, probably 'cuz that dress cracked every camera lens trained on it)!! Along with her was Tilda Swinton, last year's winner for best supporting actress -- looking equally horrible. It's OK Tilda, we expect that from you.

Fortunately, Jennifer Aniston walked out with Jack Black and showed them all how it should be done. Her beaded white strapless was perfect.



Right off the bat, I'm annoyed because one of the new "changes" to the format is apparently not showing clips from the nominated-actors performances. Instead they're bringing out former winners in the acting categories and having them each say something (drawing things out more ... snore) about a nominee. Yawn!



These must be the "surprise" presenters, as we did not see them on the red carpet.



Then finally, some comic relief arrives in the form of Ben Stiller channeling his outer Joaquin Phoenix, complete with sunglasses and messy beard. Thanks Ben, we needed it!



Afterwards it was time for that atrocious musical number. Sorry Hugh, I love you, but this really didn't work for me. I was especially disappointed it didn't end with a kick line -- and I'm serious! Hugh's long legs kicking is a sight to behold. Although I gotta give it to Beyonce, she worked it girl! And managed to look better than everyone else.



After many, many minor categories were presented five former best supporting actor winners hit the stage to present the same -- and leave it to Cuba Gooding Jr. to make us laugh again. He was honoring Robert Downey Jr.'s performance as (here we go again, last time, I promise) "the dude playing the dude disguised as another dude" in Tropic Thunder, and congratulated him on his next movie -- "Shaft."



During the same presentation, Kevin Kline teared up while honoring the late Heath Ledger, who went on to win as expected. Heath's family got a standing ovation while accepting his Oscar. Queu close-ups of Brad Pitt, Adrian Body, Robert Downey Jr., Ben Kingsley, Anne Hathaway and Angelina Jolie, all visibly tearing up.



Boy this is really getting long isn't it? Now you know how I felt last night ...



Next up, Best Documentary feature -- and it goes to "Man on Wire," a film about a French man Phillippe Petit, walking a tight rope stretched across the World Trade Center. While the producers are accepting, Petit runs up to the stage to say thank you and balances the Oscar upside-down on his chin!



Will Smith takes the stage and he's such a big star that he presents 4, yeah 4, Oscars. This must have been to make up for those unknown A-listers who allegedly backed out at the last minute ...



It's song/dance time again -- this time for the songs actually nominated. Thank goodness for Bollywood!! The two songs from Slumdog Millionaire actually livened things up for a minute or two. And the Oscar goes to -- "Jai Ho" from Slumdog! I might actually have to look up this soundtrack. (Note to producers: Every Oscar ceremony shoul feature an upbeat Bollywood song, even it none is nominated!)

At 11:05 ABC airs a preview of next week's Brothers & Sisters. While I've been encouraged many times to watch this show, I never have. But after watchig that wicked promo, I might actually tune in next week!

Either that or I was just really, really bored at this point.

Here comes a shocker -- Waltz with Bashir didn't win Best Foreign Film (what???????). Yeah, after winning every other award that came along, it's completely shut out by Japan's Departures.

Where the hell is Hugh Jackman? He's been missing a long time now. And I guess that's my main complaint. I think he's doing a great job, they're just not using him enough!

And here comes another highlight of the annual Oscar telecast for me.

In Memoriam.

C'mon now, you all know that you like this segment too. It's always interesting to remember those who've entertained us over the years and pay homage to them. And this past year was a doosy! Included were Cyd Charisse, Bernie Mac, Van Johnson, Michael Crichton, Isaac Hayes, Ricardo Montalban, Stan Winston, Sydney Pollack, Anthony Minghella, Roy Scheider, Charlton Heston and Paul Newman. God bless ...

I promise, we're almost thru.

Finally, the big ones -- Kate Winslet got her Oscar for Best Actress -- finally! Shouting out for her dad to whistle so she could find him in the audience. And he did!

Robert DeNiro had the privilege of honoring Sean Penn for his nomination, asking "How did Sean Penn for all those years play straight men?" And pointing out the way he "gently reasons with the papparazzi."

And here's my favorite part of the whole show -- while the camera was trained on Mickey Rourke, being honored for his nomination, Rob Pattinson could be seen lurking over his shoulder! I swear I missed everything that was said about Rourke,because I was completely mesmerized by Rob!

In the upset of the evening, Penn beat out Rourke, winning his second Oscar. And who knew Sean Penn could be so light-hearted.

"You commie, homo-loving sons of guns!" joked Penn to the audience. "I do know how hard I make it to appreciate me." Before the end of his speech, Penn returned to his usual political demeanor, asking the audience to reflect on shame for being against gay marriage.

Then Penn got all emo on Rourke for winning his award.

Finally Steven Spielberg arrived to present Best Picture, which went, as expected, to Slumdog Millionaire, and it looked like the entire cast got up on stage to accept.

All in all it was a typical Academy Awards evening. And although I seem to be complaining now, I had a great time! I think I'm just a bit cranky 'cuz I didn't get to go to all the after parties, even though this morning I felt like I had been up all night!


Till next year!

For more pictures, interviews, etc. visit http://www.oscars.org/

OK, it's Wednesday ... you know what that means ... LOST and Top Chef, two of my current favorite shows! And they're not on at the same time, BONUS!



Anyway, just a quick preview for any who are interested.

Tonight on ABC at 9 pm Lost continues with their 5th season, after coming back last week. Tonight's episode will center on Desmond's search for Daniel's mother (who I think is the same lady who's running the show for Ben, seen at the end of last week's episode). Oh no, I hope that doesn't lead Penny right to Ben, who vowed to her father, the evil Charles Widmore, that he will kill her.


Yeah, Desmond

Anyway, any episode featuring Desmond is just fine with me! I totally love him. And don't forget, last week Daniel, during a blast into the past on the island told Desmond that he's different from everyone else and the time travel "rules don't apply" to him.... hmmmm what the hell does that mean? Unfortunately, we still have two more seasons till we get "all" the answers ...

Last week's final hour of Lost repeats at 8 pm, just before the new episode.

For more info on LOST visit http://abc.go.com/primetime/lost/index?pn=index



After Lost, I'll be clicking on over to Bravo for another rousing episode of their culinary giant Top Chef New York (10 pm). Tonight hijinx will feature former contestants playing against this season's hopefuls, including fan faves Spike and "I've got a culinary boner" Andrew. Yes, Top Chef's original Bromance will be hand to shake things up. Should prove to be very interesting, although I hope they're not just there for the QuickFire Challenge as has been the case with past contestants' cameos ...

For more on Top Chef visit http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef/season/5/index.php

Elsewhere: Hoping to capitalize on Lost's good ratings, ABC is bringing back its new series Life On Mars at 10 pm, right after its Wednesday night behemoth ... Life follows the story of New York police detective Sam Tyler (Jason O'Mara), who gets hit by a car in 2008 and finds himself unexpectedly catapulted into the year 1973, where he's working for a less-PC NYPD. It's based on a popular BBC series and has gotten pretty good reviews.

For more on Life on Mars visit http://abc.go.com/primetime/lifeonmars/index?pn=index

The Biography Channel offers up some sweet beefcake tonight with back-to-back episodes of, what else, Biography, from 8-11.
Up first, it's this year's Academy Awards' host and Wolverine Hugh Jackman at 8, followed by Batman himself, Christian Bale, at 9, and the late Heath Ledger at 10.

Enjoy!



In other news: What the hell is going on on Nip/Tuck? This show is becoming a hot mess -- and I don't mean that in a good way. During last night's episode it sunk to new lows, with newly "reformed" breast cancer survivor Christian Troy insulting women during a cancer survivors support group. He basically told them that any woman who doesn't get reconstructive surgery after losing their breasts is a victim, not a survivor. Then he quickly picked up the hottest looking broad there (who didn't even have cancer), took her back to his place and, well you know Christian ...
Then, when he refused to remove her breasts -- both her mother and sister had died of the disease, so she feared it was only a matter of time -- she went to their practice and used some of electric saw to cut them off herself!!
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwww.
Then the lovely Portia de Rossi, who plays Julia's lover, got a face lift from Sean, but didn't tell him she was on antidepressants, and later died!! Oh, you can bet Julia's not happy with Sean.
Christian decided to try a relationship with lesbian Liz ... eewww.
And, if all that's not ridiculous enough -- Portia's TV daughter Eden, showed up to collect her mothers ashes from Julia, who didn't want to part with them, and decided that her mother belonged with Julia afterall, throwing the ashes all over Julia and Sean!! Major Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!

I told you we need The Carver back stat!!

And the job of hosting The 81st Annual Academy Awards goes to ....


The Sexiest Man Alive! While watching the Soup this weekend, I almost fell off the couch when I saw scrolling at the bottom of the TV screen that Hugh Jackman was asked to host the Oscars next year (and accepted)!



Whahoooo! After a pretty dismal year at the movies ... this actually gives me something to look forward to! And I'm speaking generally, of course. Yes, I loved Iron Man and The Dark Knight. I enjoyed Cloverfield, Twilight, Sex and the City, Saw V, The Ruins and The X-Files. But overall, not an exciting year.

And though The Dark Knight actually might have a shot at a Best Picture nomination, we all know it doesn't have much chance of actually winning. And since most of the movies that will get nominated aren't even out yet -- there's not much to get excited about.

But Hugh Jackman!!! That's excitement worthy! I don't care how bad Australia was (I've heard, haven't actually seen it yet), I'm sure he'll be able to keep us entertained for the requisite 3 1/2 to 4 hours the Academy lumbers thru. That sexy Australian accent alone could get me thru the show.

Afterall, this is the man who brought us to Broadway in droves to see him star as gay icon Peter Allen in The Boy From Oz.



He was so popular in the show indeed, that it had to close when his extended run ended because they literally couldn't find anyone who could compare!

Good Luck Hugh -- I'll be watching!

The 81st Annual Academy Awards airs live on ABC at 8 p.m. Feb. 22. Nominations will be announced live at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 22 on E! and network morning shows.

Many apologies to everyone who reads this blog for keeping you hanging for a few days. Things have been very busy around here, and with this being a Holiday week, things are even busier, so I may have to post at night this week.

Twilight's Edward & Bella
Anyway, this is just a little heads up to what’s been goin on lately. Of course, I saw Twilight, and I will give my opinion in a separate post so as not to bore those who aren’t interested.
I will, however, take this moment to say --- $70.6 million!!! Take that James Bond!! That’s Twilight’s estimated weekend gross so far. And just to put that in perspective …
Going into the weekend, Twilight was expected to take in a big $50 million.
Of the Top 30 openers of all time, of which Twilight is now one, only seven cost less than $100 million to produce. And only one, The Passion of the Christ, cost less than the $35 million Twilight.
According to Box Office Mojo, Twilight has unseated Hugh Jackman’s Van Helsing as the top-opening vampire movie of all time.
Twilight also bested Iron Man for top opening day ticket sales, selling $35.7 million to Iron Man’s $35.2 last May.
And at one point on Friday, Fandango reported selling five Twilight tickets per second.
Should be very interesting to see how sales go over the big holiday weekend. See if the fangirls flock back to see the inhumanly gorgeous Edward Cullen, the way they returned over and over to see Titanic’s Jack Dawson. God knows I did, Twilight got my money Friday, Saturday and Sunday, despite the fact that it wasn’t the greatest movie I’ve ever seen. I paid for two uninterrupted hours of Robert Pattinson …
Of course, Summit Entertainment responded on Saturday by immediately green-lighting Twilight’s first sequel New Moon, details to follow …

Two Hours of Pattz -- Priceless!

Last week’s Top Chef didn’t disappoint, long story short, Jill was told to pack her knives and go. I’ll save my rehash for Wednesday before the new episode airs.

Last week’s Survivor offered up an incredible episode that I will recap prior to this week’s. Yes, there will be a new episode airing Thanksgiving night. Not to keep you in suspense, but Randy was ousted. It was one of the great coups in Tribal Council history.

Bye-Bye Randy


This isn’t a new direction for this blog, I will try to continue posting these recaps in a more timely manner, things just got behind last week.

Here’s some TV news to keep you updated.

The LA Times and TV Guide report this week that ABC has failed to order any new episodes of Pushing Daisies, Eli Stone and Dirty Sexy Money, effectively canceling them when their 13 episodes run out this season.

Scrubs, ending their run on NBC last season, will be seen on ABC beginning Jan. 6 with back-to-back episodes airing for at least the first weeks.

ABC will move Private Practice to 10 p.m. Thursdays, following Grey’s Anatomy. (Yes, I have more to say about the Denny-Izzy storyline, but it will have to wait till later.)


Showtime's Dexter
Everyone’s favoite serial killer, Dexter will continue to keep up his murderous mayhem for Showtime for at least two more seasons! A total of 24 episodes have been ordered up for their top-rated drama. The show is also the network’s best-selling DVD title.
And speaking of Dexter Morgan, Canadian filmmaker Peter Twitchell, an avid Dexter fan, was charged by Edmonton police with the Halloween murder of a man who he lured to a garage through the Internet. The man, Johnny Altinger, reportedly thought he was meeting a women he encountered online. The body hasn’t been found, but police arrested Twitchell after finding a script, in which a male killer lures a cheating husband through an Internet dating scam and decapitates him with a power saw, according to the Vancouver Sun.The killer in Twitchell’s script works for the police, as does Dexter, a Miami blood splatter analyst who moonlights as a serial killer.

Fox has ordered nine more episodes of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.

And so has NBC, keeping Knight Rider around a little while longer.

According to the NY Post, the creator of NBC’s ailing Heroes, Tim Kring, says the series could move away from its serialized format. They’re hoping to entice fans back by offering stand alone episodes, instead of the current format, where if you miss one week, you’re lost.

And speaking of Lost … ABC is gearing up for the Jan. 21 premiere with great gusto. I’ve seen many promos for it in the past week … and I can’t wait!! You can catch a Lost fix tonight over on the Sci-Fi channel, which is continuing its Monday night minithons from 7-11 p.m.


Serial Billionaire-Dater Padma
Heads-Up Elfman! The NY Post’s Page Six reports today the no man can resist Top Chef hostess Padma Lakshmi (of course, you already knew that). It seems she traveled to Rochester last week to see the Foo Fighters (who are appearing on this week’s episode), and was delighted when Dave Grohl dragged her onstage and introduced her to the audience. Lakshmi stayed on to play tambourine with the band. Backstage, spies reported that drummer Taylor Hawkins “vied for her attention all night.” Sadly, she didn’t give him her number – doesn’t he know she ONLY dates Billionaires!!

Stylist and Bravo reality star Rachel Zoe is looking for a new home. Seems she is totally freaked out after thieves broke into her West Hollywood home and studio last month. Thousands of dollars worth of dresses and merchandise were taken, yikes!

And in Life Immitating Art News: It appears Sopranos’ star Jamie-Lynn Sigler has gotten close with Jerry “Turtle” Ferrara while filming her guest shots on HBO’s Entourage. She’s been appearing as herself on the hit show, and dating Ferrara’s character Turtle. Last week the couple were photographed leaving a pat at the Chateau Marmount in Hollywood holding hands.


Nazi Cruise?
On TV Tonight: If you’re interested in Tom Cruise’s new film Valkyrie, which is due to open in December, you might want to check out the History channel’s Valkyrie: The Plot to Kill Hitler at 10 p.m. It documents the true story on which the film is based.

Over on MTV at 10 p.m. is yet another new episode of that borefest The Hills. Isn’t this season over yet? Oh well, for some reason beyond explanation, I can’t seem to stop watching that utter jerk Spencer Pratt, what will he do next?

The boys on Prison Break seem to be gearing up for some serious action tonight on Fox at 9 p.m. Will they ever get the final pieces of Scylla? The season’s winding down and will end before Christmas to make room for Jack Bauer’s next 24 hours. And speaking of Jack Bauer, I’ll have a 24: Redemption review soon …


Hiya Hugh!
And the sexiest man alive, Hugh Jackman, will sit down with Conan O’Brien tonight to talk up his latest flick opening Wednesday, Australia.
Cheers!

"I had to spit it out into my napkin," Padma Lakshmi, in Bravo's promo for tonight's episode of Top Chef. I don't know about you, but unless she said that after the quick fire challenge, whoever's food she's referring to is going home ...
This is exactly what I love about this show ... the judges' snarky comments! That's what last week's opener was missing, so I'm glad to see it's starting already. Whatever the dish is, I wonder if it'll compare to Season 3's notorious broccolini side dish. I can't remember who made it, but head judge/chef Tom Colicchio called it "the single worst dish in Top Chef history." While guest judge chef Anthony Bourdain said it was "horrifying!" Really, horrifying!! Food? (Dibs to Elfman for reminding me about the "horrifying" quote, thanks).
Top Chef airs tonight at 10 p.m.

So here it is already Wednesday, and I'm still catching up from the weekend. Long story short, dating couple Terence & Sarah were the unlucky last place finishers on the Amazing Race this week. They were eliminated.

Terence & Sarah
Lots of mistakes were made as the season winds down. A Fast Forward was offered at the beginning of the leg, and although they made it there first, Terence & Sarah had to opt out since Terence is vegetarian and it involved eating meat. This ultimately led to their demise. (Nick & Starr easily finished it and came in first again.) Ken & Tina forgot to read a clue at the bottom of a glass of milk, then returned their cow costumes and had to go back for them. And frat boys Andrew & Dan took a cab to the Pit Stop instead of going on foot (as the clue advised) and had to go back to the last challenge and walk it in.
During a commercial break, we got a promo for this week's Survivor, which has Randy thinking of asking Bob for his "immunity idol." Bob's idol is fake, he made it while on Exile Island last week. Should be interesting ...

Over on Wisteria Lane, the Deperate Housewives' lived thru a nightclub fire that saw the demise of Edie's creepy husband's mysterious doctor - at Dave's hands no less. Everyone else survived, making the episode quite a yawn. The most exciting thing for me was near the end when ABC chose to give us a promo for LOST, starting Jan. 21! Mark your calendars ...

HBO's True Blood was equally boring. Bill completed his sentence, turning the young girl into a vamp. Seems the vamps in this series can only be turned by being burried after they're bitten. Sookie and Sam got closer. Tara got arrested on suspicion of DUI and is bailed out by a strange woman whose agenda we don't know yet. Jason's new girlfriend got murdered by the mystery killer, while the two were tripping on vampire blood. Jason asked to be locked up, believing that he did it and must have been the killer all along. And Sookie rescinded her invitation to Bill after he ruffed up Jason, when he came home to find them together (remember, a vampire must be invited into your home or he can't enter). This Sunday is the finale and we're supposed to find out who the killer is ...

And what the hell is going on over at Seattle Grace? While I'm enjoying Grey's Anatomy again, and I love Denny Duquette, how are they going to explain last week's ending. Izzy, who is desperately trying to let her dead fiance, Denny, go, finally gave in at the end and touched him .... WTH? Can't wait to see where this goes tomorrow night.

Bye-Bye Cody
Last night saw Hannah Montana costar Cody Linley leave the dance floor for the last time on Dancing with the Stars. I guess Julianne Hough didn't have to speed thru her surgical recovery afterall.

Bravo's Real Housewives of Atlanta came to a impasse last night with the show culminating in a dinner where the girls tried to get Kim, Sheree and NeNe back together as friends. It didn't work. Which leaves everything open for an all out brawl next week on the Reunion show (Tuesday, 9 p.m., Bravo).The only other highlight was Project Runway's Mychael Night showing up to offer some fashion design tips to Sheree. Next week, following the reunion, the original real housewives are back for season 3 of the Real Housewives of Orange County.

FX's Sons of Anarchy builds to next week's finale tonight at 10 p.m., while over on Comedy Central, the boys of South Park skewer Twilight.

Over on PBS tonight is the second episode of Monarchy: The Royal Family at Work. I'm totally into this one. It's a guilty pleasure I can't deny (hey, I admit it, I just love the way they talk). And tonight's episode is supposed to feature preparations for the Queen's birthday celebration and a visit by Tony Blair and his wife to the Queen's Balmoral estate.

And speaking of lovely-voiced Brits, Twilight star Robert Pattinson stops by the Today show tomorrow to promote, what else, the most anticipated movie of the holiday season. His co-star Kristen Stewart will appear as well. Today airs from 7-11 a.m. on NBC.

Yeah, just another excuse for
a pic of Pattz
In other Brit news (and I know this is a little late): BBC announced that Scottish actor David Tennant will leave the long-running science fiction series Doctor Who. Tennant has played the show's time- and space-traveling alien hero since 2005. He will appear in a Christmas special and four hour-long episodes to be aired in 2009 and 2010, but when the show returns for its next season there will be a new Doctor. Oddly enough, besides the Doctor, Tennant is best known for playing Barty Crouch Jr. in Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire.

The Doctor
And as long as we're on the subject, a new trailer for Harry Potter & The Half Blood Prince is supposed to be attached to Twilight and debuting in theaters this weekend.


Bad Boy Bruno
Bruno sighting: Production on NBC's Medium was temporarily shut down earlier this month when an unruly extra in a tense courtroom scene turned out to be Borat star Sacha Baron Cohen, in disguise, filming his next movie. Security forcibly removed Cohen from the jury box and production resumed.
The film is tentatively titled: Bruno: Delicious Journeys Through America for the Purpose of Making Heterosexual Males Visibly Uncomfortable. Now that's a mouthful.

Sexy Jackman!
And finally, congratulations to Hugh Jackman, People magazine's newest Sexiest Man Alive. I couldn't agree more!The saucy-aussie, who will next be scene on the big screen in Baz Luhrman's Australia with Nicole Kidman, sure is one tall drink of water. And let's not forget, we'll get to see him in his rugged sexiness this summer in his very own Wolverine flick. Now that's something to look forward too! Yum!

Sexier Wolverine!

Tonight's the night! Pack your knives and get ready for Top Chef Season 5 at 10 p.m. on Bravo. The show repeats immediately afterwards at 11:15 p.m. So do the math ... the premiere is actually an hour and 15 minutes, just in case you're taping, I wouldn't want you to miss to ending.

So here's what I've been able to find out about tonight's episode. As I stated before, Top Chef will be set in none other than New York City this season, which should make things interesting since NYC has per capita the greatest gathering of "top chefs" in just about the whole world (maybe eclipsed only by Paris, I think).
Tonight, 17 new chef contestants will descend on the Big Apple to test their culinary skills and compete for a chance at $100,000 and other prizes, including a feature in Food & Wine magazine and the honor of being named Top Chef!

Tom, Gail & Padma -- Judges Table awaits
Joining the contestants will be judges Tom Colicchio, chef/owner of the Craft Restaurants, Gail Simmons of Food & Wine magazine, hostess/actress/cookbook author/elfman fave Padma Lakshmi and brand new judge Toby Young, food critic and author of "How to Lose Friends and Alienate People." Young also fills the void for a cranky, wise-cracking Englishman (a la Simon Cowell). But don't look for him on tonight's episode, guest judge will be none other than Jean-George Vongerichten, probably the biggest chef in this city of big chefs! If you haven't heard of him - google it! You'll be amazed. I'm surprised he hasn't been to QVC yet to hawk culinary items like Wolfgang Puck (another chef I'd love to see guest here).

How's this pic Elfman?
Top Chef has always been a step above Fox's Hell's Kitchen, although I would absolutely LOVE to see Gordon Ramsay guest judge on this show. While Hell's Kitchen is all about the drama (and where do they get their "chefs"), Top Chef is more about the talent and the food - ooohh the food!! I've actually learned a thing or to about cooking and especially culinary language while watching this show.
And if you're a fan of Project Runway, you'll love Top Chef. It's essentially the same show, just swap the clothing for well-prepared culinary delights! It's the ultimate cooking show for those of you who enjoy the Food Network!

Season 5 Chefs
OK, back to tonight's episode. Among the 17 contestants are a man from Italy and a guy from Scandanavia, a couple of Long Island/Queens guys, a woman from Georgia and a handsome guy from Miami. Also figure the usual tattooed-guy from Hawaii, an American woman with parents from India, the requisite student from the CIA (Culinary Institute of America, not the other one), another overbearing gay guy and the usual suspects.
Tonight's challenge has thechefs each pick a knife with a region of the city written across it i.e. Little Italy, Little India, Chinatown, Astoria, Brighton Beach, etc. The chefs are taken to those particular areas where they must shop for ingredients and then make an authentic-tasting dish for that area. Since some of the new chefs have never come across the cuisine chosen for them, it'll be interesting to see what they come up with!

Who will be this season's Marcel?
When last heard from, Marcel was journeying to Modor to throw the ring into the fires of Mt. Doom -- I miss Marcel!
Tune in tonight! For more info visit http://www.bravotv.com/Top_Chef/season/5/best_of/index.php

Other than my biker boys on FX (Sons of Anarchy) at 10 p.m., the only other thing interesting me tonight is PBS' premiere episode of its new series Monarchy: The Royal Family at Work. However, tonight's show looks like it's mainly dealing with the Queen's stateside visit from last year, and most of the footage looks like what I've already seen on last spring's 20/20 special. I'll be looking forward to future installments!

About Last Night: Apparently I missed the big fight over on The Biggest Loser: Families edition. Since I haven't been watching, I don't know the contestants names, but there was a big blow up between players, followed by an even bigger upset!
You and I can catch up at http://www.nbc.com/The_Biggest_Loser/


Lisa, Sheree, NeNe, DeShawn & Kim
I did, however, thoroughly enjoy all the controversy over on Bravo's Real Housewives of Atlanta. The girls showed up earlier last night over on Extra, where Sheree, NeNe (who looked like they've made up) and DeShawn were plugging tonight's ep, featuring male models stripping for Sheree's fashion debut. NeNe also took the time to flirt-up Extra host Mario Lopez, and admitted that looking at the show on TV, she wishes she could've said some things differently, "but you can't take it back now."
Anyway, here's a quick run-down: Lisa's pro-football player hubby finished his achilles rehab and signed with the Oakland Raiders. Sheree's samples for her fashion debut were poorly made, leaving her with nothing for the debut, but she had the party anyway. Kim and Sheree boycotted the barbeque Deshawn arranged to get them to make up with NeNe. NeNe held her Big Hat Brunch fund-raiser to kick off her charity for abused women (it was worth watching just for the big hats!). NeNe and her "gay boyfriend" Dwight got pedicures and dissed Sheree's party, with Dwight saying "How can you have a fashion show without fashion? Kharma's a bitch!"
And talking about Kharma, NeNe found out that Curtis (whom she thought was her father from birth) isn't her biological father.
And boy-oh-boy, it looks like the s-t really hits the fan next week.
To catch up or for info visit http://www.bravotv.com/Real_Housewives_Of_Atlanta/season/1/index.php

In other news: While Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman were busy plugging their new big screen epic Australia on Oprah Monday, word was hitting the Internet (www.ropeofsilicon.com) that 20th Century Fox studio execs made director Baz Luhrmann change the ending at the last minute. Of course, that was followed shortly by a statement that Baz Luhrmann has final cut and the movie is just as he wanted it. Right.
You can visit the official movie site at http://www.australiamovie.com/

SPOILER ALERT: If you don't want to know, don't read past the photo!!


It seems they weren't happy with the sad ending Luhrmann had originally filmed, which had Jackman's character dying. They didn't want a Titanic-ending (now I've just ruined Titanic for you too) and insisted Baz change it to a happier one, thus having Jackman survive. And if you couldn't resist reading this, now you don't have to go see it. Tada!

The Finalists - Korto, Leanne & Kenley

Well, it's over ... and now the day after let down. Another season of Project Runway ends, and it's the last we'll see on Bravo. But what an exciting episode it was!
As predicted, Leanne Marshall was awarded the $100,000 grand prize and, as my mom put it, a nice "cheap" Saturn hybrid. But it was a close finish ... for those of you who watched, you know what I mean. My mom, sister and myself kept changing our minds throughout the show, hedging more to Korto to win ... at first we thought Korto was definitely "out" and the real competition would be between Kenley and Leanne. However, early on, continuing her signature snarkiness, Kenley got into a riff with mentor Tim Gunn over her collection ... that's a PR no-no! Even Korto went against Gunn initially and was going to show her wedding dress again. She changed her mind later, and redesigned her bridesmaid's gown instead.
Leanne wasn't satisfied with her pants, but Gunn urged her to leave them in the show anyway. Smart Leanne listened ... and the judges specifically commented on how much they liked them (ALWAYS listen to Tim!).
After casting their models, consulting with hair and make-up artists, (I could've done without the dog poop on the floor though), even Korto remade two outfits in the wee hours of the morning beforehand ... it was off to the big show in Bryant Park.
And what an event it was ... everyone was there, from show owner Harvey Weinstein, to Bravo reality star Rachel Zoe. The audience also included lots of former Project Runway contestants - Christian Siriano (looking fierce, I might add), Gillian, Blaine, Daniel, Rami, Chris March and others, I can't remember them all, sorry.
Afterwards, the judging began and it got heated. While the judges on the whole liked Kenley's collection, she was chastised for looking too much like the Balenciaga collection that was shown earlier in the week. This brought a harsh reaction from Kenley, who is sick and tired of being accused of copying others' work. "No one likes to be called a copycat when they know they're a true artist!"
Korto was praised for implementing her ethnic heritage. Former Elle fashion editor Nina Garcia said her collection was "effortlessly cohesive" - always a good word from the judge's mouth. Gunn said she "hit a bullseye" and called it "sublime," while hostess Heidi Klum considered it "overworked." That's when I knew Korto had lost - "overworked" never bodes well for a contestant.
Leanne's collection received kudos at first, but was criticized for being "too much of one note," considering her theme "waves" was well executed in all her looks. Kors was afraid she would become the Queen of the Petals - "and Petals Marshall sounds like a stripper not a designer."
In the end, we all held our breath as the shows traditional ending beats ticked down till Heidi pronounced the winner - Leanne!

Leanne's flawless evening gown

Congratulations on a job well done to all - especially the producers who've achieved another great season. I only hope it continues wherever Project Runway ends up next.
Oh, by the way, for anonymous who asked about a Reunion Show - I can't find anything alluding to there being one. I guess maybe with the lawsuit between NBC and the Weinstein Co., they decided to make the finale the last show period. Bummer. And at the end of the broadcast, Bravo announced that Korto had received the Fan Favorite Award of $10,000. They usually award that during the reunion show.
In case you missed it, the 2-part finale airs again tonight beginning at 8 p.m. on Bravo.
For more info or to see screen captures of all the collections, visit http://www.bravotv.com/Project_Runway/season/5/index.php
And just for fun, check out the Tim Gunn Talking Bobblehead, a great Xmas gift for any Project Runway fan on your list! Visit tim gun bobblehead http://projectrunway.seenon.com/detail.php?p=24069

"Make it work people!"

And don't forget to tune into Bravo tonight for another episode of PR's mentor - Tim Gunn's Guide to Style, which moves into its permanent spot at 10 p.m.

Oh, and I need to mention, as if we weren't having heart palpitations over the impending winner announcement, Bravo took a few extra minutes of commercial time to air a brief look at Baz Luhrman's upcoming epic Australia. I don't know about you, but hunky Hugh Jackman really had my blood pumping! I'm not a huge fan of ice queen Nicole Kidman, but I think I might have to put up the $10 to see this one ... for info visit http://www.australiamovie.com/

Australia

On TV tonight: At 8 p.m. on CBS, it's time to get down and dirty with those wacky castaway's on Survivor: Gabon! Tonight an overwhelming hunger and homesickness jeopardizes one castaway. Oh, and "G Sizzle" gets lost! Hope he's next to go ... for info http://www.cbs.com/primetime/survivor/

My TV dilemma will be at 9 p.m. when CSI, Grey's Anatomy, Supernatural and Kitchen Nightmares all vy for my Nielsen rating ...Here's my plan: CSI was fantastic last week, dealing with the death of one of their own, investigator Warrick Brown ... however, tonight's episode will center around a murderous hypnotist ... I think I'll pass, maybe tape-worthy.

Grey's Anatomy (ABC, 9 pm) will center on McDreamy finding Meredith's mother's diary (oh boy, here goes, more problems for medicine's most morose couple), while Callie prepares for her first real date with Erica. How long are they going to draw out the lesbian hook-up storyline? I mean really, we get it, they like each other. Funny how everyone else on the show has no problem hoping in and out of bed with each other, but this flirt-fest has been going on since last Spring. Get over it already! As you can guess, I'll be skipping this one ...

Over on Fox, malicious chef Gordon Ramsay will unleash his fury on another failing restaurant on Kitchen Nightmares. This is one of my guiltiest pleasures. I hated this guy when Fox started airing Hell's Kitchen. Months later I caught his BBC America show (Kitchen Nightmares), same show, only filmed in Europe and came to greatly appreciate and respect this often scary man. So when Fox started an American version, I was right there for the premiere. Whether you love or hate him, you have to admit, he really knows his way around the kitchen and managing successful restaurants (according to Wikipedia, he owns 11 around the world).

However, as part of my Halloween Horror Watch, I'll be watching the CW's Supernatural at 9 p.m. Tonight's episode has demon hunter bros Sam and Dean chasing a shape-shifter, killing its victims disguised as classic movie monsters i.e. the wolfman, Dracula, the mummy, etc. Yeah, I'm definitely a horror junkie, especially every October ...

Then I'll probably switch on over to the Discovery Channel at 10 p.m. for Tornado Rampage 2008, a rehash, with lots of new footage, I hope, of all the tornadic carnage during tornado season last spring. I don't know what it is, but I just can't resist watching these amazing weather phenomena on TV - way better than seeing them in person!

For those of you not intersted in any of the above, why not tune in to HBO, which will be airing a mini-thon of the last three episodes of its vampire drama True Blood. Catch up on what people are talking about and get a little "taste" for yourself. http://www.hbo.com/trueblood/

Or you can get all teary and sentimental over on the ABC Family Channel beginning at 8 p.m. with that heart-tugging epic The Notebook. Starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams as young star-crossed lovers in this tale told by an aging man in a nursing home to an Alzheimer's victim. Be sure to have lots of tissues on hand!



Late Night Tonight: Presidential candidate John McCain finally makes his long-due debut on the Late Show with David Letterman (CBS, 11:35 pm). After cancelling a prior appearance, Dave has been really riding the Republican, let's hope he can make amends tonight.
Meanwhile, Democratic VP candidate Joe Biden sits down with Jay Leno on The Tonight Show (NBC, 11:35 pm).
And, Max Payne himself, Mark Wahlberg, stops by Jimmy Kimmel (ABC, 12:05 am) to chat up his latest flick, opening tomorrow.

And back to McCain ... apparently Obama supporter Jon Bon Jovi isn't too pleased with the Republican camp using his song, "Who Says You Can't Go Home." Jon recently told TMZ.com, "We wrote this song as a thank you to those who have supported us over the past 25 years. Although we were not asked, we do not approve of their use of 'Home.'" Heart and Jackson Browne have also objected to the GOP's use of their songs.(Of course, I'm just using this as an excuse to post a hot photo of Jon, enjoy!)

Love ya Jon!

In more serious news: A huge get well soon to Gale Harold, who was involved in a serious motorcycle crash in Los Angeles earlier this week. Best known for his portrayal of Brian on Showtime's Queer As Folk, the handsome Harold is currently playing Susan's (Teri Hatcher's) love interest on Desparate Housewives. As of Wednesday, he was still listed in critical condition with a fractured shoulder, but expected to make a full recovery.

Get Well Gale

And apparently there's a backlash brewing over those DirecTV commercials featuring classic movie scenes, using one of the original stars to promote the TV service.You've seen them, Sigourney Weaver in Aliens and Robert Patrick as the T1000 from the Terminator 2 helicopter scene ...

Well, folks aren't taking too well to the latest one, featuring the famous "They're here" clip from Poltergeist (which by the way is on my Top 5 All-Time Horror Movies List).
Craig T. Nelson is the one who promotes the service from his bed, but it's the appearance of tiny Heather O'Rourke who utters the famous line that's getting everyone all bent out of shape.
O'Rourke died in 1988 at age 12 of septic shock while undergoing an operation to remove a bowel obstruction ... thus adding to the folklore of the Poltergeist Curse.
In 1982 Dominique Dunne, who played older sister Dana, was murdered by her boyfriend shortly after the film's release.
In 1985, Julian Beck, who portrayed the "bad spirit" in Poltergeist II, died of stomach cancer. It wasn't unexpected, since he had been diagnosed in 1984.
In 1987 Will Sampson, who played the "good spirit" Indian helping Nelson in Poltergeist II, died after receiving a heart-lung transplant.
However, Poltergeist's creepy psychic Tangina (Zelda Rubenstein), long-rumored dead is alive and well and still working ...

And here's a bonus -- how many of you had nightmares over this uncredited star of Poltergeist?

CREEPY CLOWN DOLL!!!