No chemistry? Oh, so it wasn't just me who noticed? Academy president Tom Sherak tells TheWrap: Franco and Hathaway Had 'No Connection'

Oh, so it wasn't just me who noticed how contrived the relationship between James Franco and Anne Hathaway seemed during Sunday's 83rd Annual Academy Awards?

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TheWrap
Academy Chief Sherak: Franco and Hathaway Had 'No Connection'
By Daniel Frankel
Published: March 03, 2011 @ 5:22 pm

Pelted by critics of the 83rd Annual Academy Awards telecast over the last three days, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences president Tom Sherak quipped to TheWrap Thursday that he remains in a "bunker."

"I'll climb out as soon as I hear Winston Churchill say it's OK," he added, conceding that the host pairing of James Franco and Anne Hathaway wasn't as dynamic as hoped, but defending the overall ratings performance of the ABC telecast, which drew an average of 38 million viewers.

Read the rest of the post at:
http://www.thewrap.com/awards/article/sherak-his-bunker-there-was-no-connection-between-oscar-hosts-25235

*All screenshots above and below from the 83rd Annual Academy Awards of February 27, 2011 by South Beach Hoosier.


Oh, I get it.
Anne Hathaway in tails and James Franco in drag, all so he can make a Charlie Sheen joke. But really, do you think that people watching the Academy Awards show LIVE in Germany or Eastern Europe when it was 4:15 a.m. or so found it so damn hysterical?
Me, I've got to think they just groaned.
Like I did here in Anytown U.S.A., Hallandale Beach, Florida
For whom it was intended...

Well, at least someone didn't needlessly mention Sarah Palin just to make her a liberal punchline and show how "edgy" they are!

Gothamist: James Franco Says "F*** The Yale Daily News"
http://gothamist.com/2011/03/04/james_franco_says_f_the_yale_daily.php

The whole show reminded me of the very awkward relationships created when people are thrown together like a salad during long car rides from IU to Fort Lauderdale or Daytona Beach during Spring Break, tales related to me by friends once we were all back in cold Bloomington.

I once even personally experienced that clash of personalities on such a drive down here.
I was ready to jump out of the car somewhere between Chatanooga and Atlanta, probably near Franklin, home of Paramore, home of some very steep mountains on I-65, and those runaway truck pits on the side of the road are no laughing matter when it's raining hard.

And the drama didn't end once the four of us actually got here, either, when we were staying at the Sheraton Yankee Trader -and that fabulous swimming pool of theirs that was such a great people-watching magnet.

One of the girls on the trip down just "vanished" in Fort Lauderdale, so we had to call her parents up in Fort Wayne and then get the Fort Lauderdale police involved once her folks said they hadn't heard anything from her.

Shocker -she met some guy from some other school who was also visiting, and and she just decided to spend all her time with him and his friends -without telling us.

In comparison, at least nobody had to call the LAPD for either Anne and James once James seemed to check-out mentally and just sleepwalked his way thru much of the show.

So much for the great idea of having one of the hosts be someone who was nominated for an Academy Award!



Great Cate! Every inch a movie star: Cate Blanchett.
She is transcendent in every film she does.

Her dress was from Givenchy Couture, and was NOT so keenly received by the fashionistas:
http://www.vogue.fr/mode/look-du-jour/articles/cate-blanchett-en-givenchy-couture/6999


Bosom pals from Down Under with talent-to-spare: Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman. Nicole is wearing Dior Couture.

Mr. Sherak, the answer to who should be hosting the Academy Awards show if they are not nominated for an award themselves is obvious.
It's right in front of you: Jackman & Kidman.

The two of them have more natural (and honed) singing and dancing talent than almost any two other actors you could've found in the Kodak Theater, and everyone knows it, too.
And everyone also knows what great friends they are, too, and that enthusiasm and synergy will surely show up in their performance as well.
Case closed.

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See also:

Official website of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: http://www.oscars.org/

Transcript of Live Chat: After the Oscars, with David Denby
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/ask/2011/02/david-denby-oscars.html

TheWrap online: http://www.thewrap.com/

TheWrap's YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/thewrapnews

And then I go and spoil it all, by saying something stupid like "I love you" -Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman - Something Stupid; Rabbit Hole trailer

Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman - Something Stupid (with lyrics)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_x128zrYzcE

Completely out of nowhere, I actually thought of this song -and this charming version- after walking out of the Broward IG selection meeting this afternoon in downtown Fort Lauderdale, and by the time I was driving past the airport, I was "in the zone."

And no matter how bad the traffic was, I just kept smiling and singing.
Such is the unrelenting magnetic power of Nicole Kidman...

As I've stated before, there are parts of true genius Baz Luhrmann's La Moulin Rouge that are among the most imaginative and brilliantly conceived things I've seen on film in the past forty years. And they all have the fair Nicole in them!

(He's slated to re-do The Great Gatsby with Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan.)

It's weird to say aloud, or put down on paper, but as famous and respected as Nicole Kidman is, I still fervently believe that most film-goers still take her immense talent for granted.
I fully expect her to win the Oscar for Best Actress on the 27th for Rabbit Hole.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9iJH2P96dM

http://www.rabbitholefilm.com

Old School version of Something Stupid
I recall hearing this record playing over-and-over at the nursery school I attended in Memphis when I was six.
The owner really loved Sinatra, which is why most of his songs were in my head by osmosis before I was seven!

I even remember which songs had scratches and skipped a bit because she'd pick up the needle and plop it down to play the same song over!




Frank & Nancy Sinatra, - Something Stupid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6bOCUOPN0w


http://www.youtube.com/user/redcarpetdiary

Amusing video of Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban serenading (roasting) pal Simon Baker of CBS-TV's The Mentalist at G’Day USA 2010 Black Tie Gala in LA

Expressen TV's video: Se Kidmans galna duett med maken
Nicole Kidman & Keith Urban serenading (roasting) pal Simon Baker of CBS-TV's The Mentalist at G’Day USA 2010 Black Tie Gala in LA in January.
http://tv.expressen.se/noje/1.1849391/se-kidmans-galna-duett-med-maken
This video has a Swedish V.O. but the excerpts of the gala are in English.

Also appearing in video above: actress Cameron Diaz, golfer Greg Norman, actress Toni Colette. Simon Baker and Toni Collette received the Excellence in Television and Film Award. A longer clip of this event -in English- from Access Hollywood is located at the bottom of this post.

I first became a big fan of Simon Baker in The Guardian on CBS-TV in 2001, recording every episode on my VCR when I lived up in Arlington (VA) and watching them over-and-over because of the consistently high-quality of the acting and creator David Hollander's writing.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0048932/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Guardian_%28TV_series%29

It was always powerful stuff and in my opinion, the story-lines were definitely the most-realistic on TV, esp. the episodes that depicted people you (Baker) help eventually turning on you and resenting you, despite what you've done.
Wow! Been there!

Sometimes, quite frankly, the dialogue between Baker and Dabney Coleman, who masterfully played his emotionally-distant father, sounded eerily similar to awkward conversations I had had with my own father when he tried to verbally or emotionally undermine some career events I was involved with.

One episode in particular, Heart, Season 1, Episode 8 -with guest star JoBeth Williams as Coleman's girlfriend- gave me some added insight into someone I knew because of how well a particular personal relationship was depicted in the show, which exactly mirrored an awkward relationship I'd previously dealt with. Except now, it all made sense to me!

The Guardian - Heart - Nick & Lesley

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3p0lfGSUw0

The Guardian - Heart - Court & End Scenes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNPTHlunZ3M

Simon Baker on The Late Show with David Letterman, 9/23/2009, CBS-TV

"That'll learn ya!"

LOL!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCFSI2Xhz2A


Expressen TV homepage http://tv.expressen.se/

Expressen News homepage http://tv.expressen.se/nyheter

http://www.youtube.com/user/GDay2011

http://www.accesshollywood.com/

Access Hollywood video: It’s A ‘G’Day’ For Simon Baker & Toni Collette

Three Lions make their best pitch for World Cup 2018 as English bid team flies to Zurich led by Prince William, David Cameron & David Beckham

Channel 4 News
November 30, 2010 World Cup 2018 bid heads to Zurich
Reporter Keme Nzerem in Zurich reports on England's bid to secure the FIFA World Cup competition in 2018. The omens are not looking good.
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid601325122001?bctid=693409974001

FIFA'S DIRTY SECRETS

The BBC Panorama program that's at the center of the FIFA World Cup bid controversy, Fifa's Dirty Secrets, is here, http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/default.stm where you can read about some of the accusations leveled against FIFA officials, but for copyright reasons, the program can't officially be seen in the U.S..
http://www.epltalk.com/how-you-can-watch-bbc-panorama-fifas-dirty-secrets-in-the-u-s-26989

Long story short: The alleged bribes to three officials are included in a confidential document listing 175 payments totalling about £64m.

Here are two videos on YouTube that comprise the FIFA'S DIRTY SECRETS program, so watch it while you can before the BBC makes them take the videos down.

BBC Panorama: FIFA'S DIRTY SECRETS - Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjlZw9NGSlU

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BBC Panorama: FIFA'S DIRTY SECRETS - Part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wQy4eT4M9I


The Channel 4 website article that accompanies this video at the top is here:

Tuesday 30 November 2010

Prince William, David Cameron and David Beckham fly to Zurich to try and boost England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup - but hopes have been dampened by the latest publication of bribery allegations. As delegates gathered to press the flesh at the headquarters of FIFA - football's governing body - ahead of Thursday's announcement of the winner, the English bid team have been frustrated by the timing of the BBC Panorama programme which accused three FIFA officials of taking bribes in the past.

Read the rest of it at:
http://www.channel4.com/news/world-cup-2018-bid-team-fly-to-zurich

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I wrote about the bid process on my blog on Monday and just loved Australia's bid videos, esp. the one hosted by Nicole Kidman, which emphasized the sorts of things that real fans care about: fun, safety and ease-of-access and no hassles.
http://hallandalebeachblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/even-before-2018-2022-fifa-world-cup.html

As you know by now, the announcements about who'll be hosting the 2018 and 2022 FIFA spectacles are to be made on Thursday, or Friday Australian time.

Nicky Campbell talked on his BBC Radio 5 live show Tuesday morning with some very knowledgeable guests and well-informed listeners about Monday night's Panorama program and whether there'd be a backlash among the FIFA officials against England's bid to host in 2018, or whether the truth is more important than commerce.

The podcast for the informative program is here and well worth listening to:
http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/fivelive/5lnpi/5lnpi_20101130-1045a.mp3


Tony Livesey’s show on BBC Radio 5 live on Thursday December 2nd will originate from the City of Manchester Stadium and "will gauge reaction to the FIFA World Cup vote which will have decided the host country for the 2018 World Cup."

"Win or lose, a panel of football pundits will discuss the result including former Hull Boss Phil Brown and 5 live football commentator Connor McNamara, and an audience of 5 live listeners."

It airs 10:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m. U.K. time, or 5:30 p.m. Eastern/2:30 p.m. Pacific in the U.S. and Canada.

Catch it here at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/bbc_radio_five_live

Even before 2018 & 2022 FIFA World Cup host cities are announced in Zurich, there's scheming & recriminations aplenty. Like Super Bowl host bids!

Looking Ahead to 2022 World Cup

Squawk Box Europe Airtime: Thurs. Oct. 28 2010 | 3:20 AM ET

Countries keen to host the 2022 World Cup flew into Zurich to meet with FIFA members Thursday. Ben Buckley, CEO of Football Federation Australia, spoke to CNBC about the tournament
http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=1627049219&play=1

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Australia's FIFA World Cup Bid Video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zd8lTHdj0k

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Come Play! Australia 2018 - 2022 - Australia's FIFA World Cup Bid

Nicole Kidman explains why Australia is the best choice to host the World Cup.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwWs3HxeKJs

http://www.australiabid.com.au/

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Danielle Isdale of Ten News reports on Sunday night from Zurich on Australia's World Cup bid for 2018 or 2022



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd5X8iqDk0w


officialengland2018


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn5RaeOhIyg

Official site of England's bid for the 2018 FIFA World Cup:
http://www.england2018bid.com/

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A satirical look at why England should host the 2018 World Cup and not Russia.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fl2RulISxNY

The official England football channel from The FA
http://www.youtube.com/user/england

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Channel 4 News: School sports spending cut row
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid601325122001?bctid=682831172001
Article at http://www.channel4.com/news/school-sport-funding-cut-row

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Slate
sports nut: The stadium scene.
Who Will Host the 2018 World Cup?
The most secretive bidding process in sports.
By Simon Kuper
Updated Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010, at 8:14 AM ET

Three years ago, when the bidding to host the World Cups of 2018 and 2022 was just getting going, a lobbyist explained to me how the decisions would be made. Over lunch at the International Football Arena in Zurich—a cozy annual gathering of the game's power brokers—he led me on to the terrace for a quiet word. There, he emphasised that what "the world" thought about the various bidding countries wouldn't matter much. Instead, the only voters were "24 old men." He meant the members of Fifa's executive committee (Exco), who will choose the hosts for 2018 and 2022 in Zurich this Thursday. The lobbyist and his partner, he added, "know those 24 men better than anyone. We know their strengths, we know their weaknesses."

Read the rest of the story at: http://www.slate.com/id/2276128/

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Ten News YouTube Channel -videos of the most recent news stories broadcast
http://www.youtube.com/user/ten

Ten News homepage: http://ten.com.au/

http://www.gousabid.com/city/local/MIAMI-FL

http://www.gousabid.com/