‘The Help’ star Viola Davis will likely help herself to a statuette on Sunday. By Amy Wilkinson Viola Davis in “The Help” Photo: DreamWorks The Oscars love nothing more than a role that allows an actress to a) portray a historical figure or b) completely transform herself physically. (And, lest we forget, some combination thereof, i.e. Charlize Theron’s chilling turn as serial killer Aileen Wuornos in 2003’s “Monster”). This year’s Best Actress field is no exception, with four of the five nominees falling squarely into one of these categories. Representing real-life ladies we have Meryl Streep as first female British prime minister Margaret Thatcher in “The Iron Lady” and Michelle Williams as breathy blond bombshell Marilyn Monroe in “My Week With Marilyn.” In the transformation category is Rooney Mara, all pierced and tatted as punk-hacker Lisbeth Salander in “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,” and Glenn Close playing a woman playing a man in the period drama “Albert Nobbs.” And the wildcard nominee? “The Help” star Viola Davis. Yet, despite her non-conformity, Davis may just be the lady going home Sunday night with Oscar. Can anyone top her? Here are our predictions for Best Actress. Who will win : The big-screen adaptation of Kathryn Stockett’s 2009 novel has been riding a wave of accolades this awards season, notching several wins at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, including awards for Davis, co-star Octavia Spencer and the entire ensemble cast. (In fact, we’ve already predicted a win for Spencer in the Best Supporting Actress category too.) Despite Williams and Streep both scoring Golden Globes for their respective roles, we expect Davis triumph thanks to her moving portrayal of Southern maid Aibileen Clark in this racially charged, yet uplifting film. Who should win : Davis is a strong contender to be sure, but going on sheer dedication alone, the trophy should go to relative newcomer Mara. The girl pierced her nipple for goodness’ sake! Mara has so embodied Stieg Larsson’s embattled heroine that we’ve been having a hard time separating her on-screen persona from her off-screen, as she continues to walk carpets sporting Salander’s raven locks and even darker wardrobe. Sure, the film didn’t perform as well as many had hoped, but it had nothing to do with Mara’s gritty performance. As it turns out, we’re a fool for a good transformation role too. Who do you think will take home the Oscar for Best Actress? Leave your comment below! Related Videos 2012 Oscar Nominees
From Bob Hope to Chris Rock, MTV News looks back on the most memorable Academy Awards emcees. By Kevin P. Sullivan Anne Hathaway and James Franco at the 2011 Academy Awards Photo: Getty Images Every year, almost as important as the Best Picture winner is the host of the Academy Awards . Both grab headlines the next day, and both are sure to endure their fair share of criticism. With almost every host having to face the black-and-white judgments of “good host or bad host,” who ranks among the best and the worst? Here’s our take on the Oscar hosts worth awarding and the one’s that should have been snubbed. Best Billy Crystal If someone hosts the show nine times, there’s probably a good reason. Crystal carved out a niche for himself as the host of the big show starting in 1990 by keeping it light and throwing in a good song-and-dance routine for good measure. Johnny Carson The king of late night hosted the Academy Awards five times, the third most of any host. His overwhelming popularity from “The Tonight Show” carried over into his stints as host and made him one of the most consistently successful hosts. His familiarity with celebrities and experience with off-the-cuff comedy led to one of the Oscar’s most memorable lines: “I see a lot of news faces, especially on the old faces.” Bob Hope If repeat jobs as host are a measure of success, Bob Hope takes the top prize after hosting the ceremony a record 19 times. Famously calling attention to his lack of nominations, Hope’s self-deprecating humor made him an Oscar legend and a rightful spot as the show’s most frequent host. Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin As the first paired hosts since Chevy Chase, Goldie Hawn and Paul Hogan in 1987, Martin and Baldwin played off each other well enough to earn them the title of “best in recent years.” Though Martin had solo hosting duties in 2001 and 2003, it wasn’t until he joined forces with Baldwin that he earned his highest praise. Jon Stewart The host of “The Daily Show” faced a good deal of criticism after his first stint as host in 2006. He didn’t shy away from controversy, calling out the liberal politics of Hollywood and Scientology, but a positive audience response brought Stewart back for a second go two years later. Worst David Letterman The late-night host’s name often leads the pack when recalling the worst hosts in the history of the Oscars. His “Oprah, Uma” gag and the negative reaction it got precedes most talk of how Letterman actually did. Letterman never returned to host after his one appearance in 1995. Anne Hathaway and James Franco The most notorious hosts in recent years, Hathaway and Franco were supposed to welcome a younger audience and make the Oscars cool again. What resulted was an odd and scattered show that was neither very funny nor cool. Many complained the Franco had phoned it in, while others found Hathaway cloying. Chris Rock Rock’s greatest offense as host of the Academy Awards may have just been doing his normal routine, but the audience (and Sean Penn, in particular) didn’t take too kindly to the comedian poking fun at some of the faces in the crowd. Chevy Chase Chase hosted the show a total a two times, but only once by himself. The year after his solo gig, no one hosted, which is all you need to know about that. Jerry Lewis It may be hard to believe with today’s bloated ceremony, but in 1959, the ceremony wrapped up 20 minutes before it was scheduled to. To kill the leftover time, Lewis vamped on stage and forced some of the night’s winners to continue singing and dancing on stage. NBC eventually ended the show early, but the dead, ad-libbed airtime remains an infamous part of the Oscar legacy. Who else should make the lists of best and worst Oscar hosts? Leave your comment below! The MTV Movies team has the 2012 Oscars covered! Stick with us for everything you need to know leading up to the awards show, and on Sunday, February 26, tune into MTV.com at 5 p.m. ET for our two-and-a-half-hour red-carpet live stream and updates on the night’s big winners. To join the live conversation, tweet @MTVNews with the hashtag #Oscars. Related Videos Oscars 2012: And The Nominees Are…
Fans are excited for cult comedy’s return, but reshuffling ‘Parks and Recreation’ could mean trouble for the network’s lineup. By John Mitchell Amy Poehler in “Parks and Recreation” Photo: NBC Fans of cult comedy “Community” are rejoicing at the news that the show is set to return to NBC’s schedule after a three-month hiatus. It will rejoin the Thursday night lineup at 8 p.m. on March 15 to complete its third season, though no decision has been announced as to whether the low-rated, critically acclaimed comedy will get a fourth season. The show’s return will bump “30 Rock,” which has been pulling down series-low numbers in the 8 p.m. time slot since retuning on January 12, to 8:30 and “Parks and Recreation” will go on a five-week hiatus until “Up All Night” completes its season in April. “The Office” will hold on to its 9 p.m. slot. NBC has had a difficult time attracting viewers to what is easily the best comedy block on network TV, but it’s certainly not the first net to have that problem (Fox couldn’t keep “Arrested Development” on the air). This latest decision, however, seems unlikely to help for a few reasons. It was a mistake to pull “Community” in the first place; the show is so full of callbacks and self-referential asides that removing it for any length of time was bound to hemorrhage casual fans who are not as familiar with the storyline as die-hards. And sacrificing the much more welcoming “Parks,” which itself has struggled in the ratings despite widespread acclaim, to bring “Community” back is not going to pull in more eyes. Instead, it’s only going to weaken the already low-rated lineup. Here’s why. “Community” is not a welcoming show for new viewers. I am an avid TV watcher and a big fan of NBC’s smart Thursday comedies, but I’ve never been able to get into “Community” because I missed the boat early on. I’m not questioning its quality — by all accounts it’s a witty and wonderfully weird show — but it is loaded with callbacks and winks to a now three-season-long narrative arc, and if you haven’t been onboard since the beginning, you’re shut out. I’ve tried and failed to get into the show, even though it should be on my must-see list. Consequently, I suspect it is going to perform even worse in its old 8 p.m. time slot than when it left it in December. If it flops at 8, the results will be disastrous for “30 Rock,” which, without a strong lead-in, seems likely to lose even more viewers at 8:30. “Parks and Rec” currently outperforms its “Rock” lead-in; it has its own devout fanbase, many of whom seem to skip “Rock” and tune in specifically for “Parks.” “30 Rock” is arguably past its prime (though last week’s episode was admittedly the best in recent memory) and it is an expensive show to produce. Some expect that NBC may even announce that next season will be its last and that it will be a truncated 13-episode run at that. Matching “Community” with “30 Rock” from 8 to 9 is going to create an hour-long ratings void for NBC that is likely to negatively impact “The Office,” which already has been losing viewers since Steve Carell’s departure, though it remains NBC’s top Thursday comedy. As for “Up All Night,” it’s been managing numbers comparable to “Parks” at 9:30. Though, that means the well-reviewed family comedy is losing 30 percent of it’s lead-in. It’s a foolhardy move to temporarily shelve the only show that is really building on its lead-in (that’d be “Parks”) — I don’t think I’m going out on a limb when I say that “The Office” ratings function pretty independently of “Parks'” — especially when it’s being done for a show that seems unlikely to rope in new viewers. The reason for the shake-up, I suspect, is rooted in the network’s knowledge that the ends of “30 Rock” and “The Office” are near. They really want “Community” to work, and they trust enough that the brief absence of “Parks” from the schedule is unlikely to alienate viewers enough that they’ll abandon the show. (And they’re right. As upset as I am that “Parks” will be gone for five weeks, there’s no way I won’t be there when Leslie, Anne, Tom and Ron Swanson return on April 19.) A smarter choice would have been to move “Up All Night” to 8 p.m., where its star power (Christina Applegate, Will Arnett, Maya Rudolph) and subject matter — a onetime party couple adjusting to parenthood — might attract viewers who normally may look to CBS for Thursday night entertainment. Keep the often-heartwarming “Parks and Rec” at 8:30. “Parks” is, like “Rock” and “Community,” a little weird, but it’s the most accessible of the three and thus the most likely to keep the “Up All Night” audience and maybe build on it. “Community” is simply going to be an awkward fit anywhere on the schedule and is unlikely to ever be strong enough in the ratings to be a top-of-the-hour lead-in. If the net insists on keeping it — though it might want to consider a deal similar to the one reached to keep “Friday Night Lights,” another little-watched but much-loved show with a fervent fanbase, alive — it should consider moving it to 9:30, where it would benefit at first from “The Office.” NBC would be wise to greenlight a 13-episode season for “The Office” to let it wrap up story lines and depart the airwaves on its own terms before it is forced off by flagging ratings. It’s already had a great eight-season run; let it go out with grace. Conclude “The Office” big at Christmastime (the show has always shined with its holiday specials) and bring “30 Rock” back to conclude its own run with a 13-episode season in the spring of 2013. And for goodness’ sake, stop shifting everything around so often. Shuffling your best shows like this makes it difficult for current fans — and especially people who do not follow the ins and outs of entertainment industry news — to find the shows they already like. Do you agree with NBC’s decision to put “Parks and Rec” on a five-week hiatus for “Community”? Leave your comment below.
Join Josh Horowitz and Christina Garibaldi with your favorite celebs, starting 5 p.m. Sunday on MTV.com. By Kevin P. Sullivan Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images MTV News has been your go-to source for everything Oscars leading up to the big night, and when it comes time to hand out the Academy Awards, we’ll be right in the center of the action to bring you what you need. MTV News’ Josh Horowitz and Christina Garibaldi will come to you live from the red carpet outside the Kodak Theater this Sunday, February 26, talking to the stars, bringing you the fashion and celebrating all things Oscars. The live stream from the red carpet will begin on MTV.com at 5 p.m. ET/ 2 p.m. PT and run right up until the beginning of the ceremony at 7:30 p.m. ET. To join the live conversation, tweet @MTVNews with the hashtag #Oscars to share your thoughts and ask questions of your favorite celebs. During the two and a half hours of coverage, you’ll be sure to hear from not only the nominees, but the rest of Hollywood’s biggest stars. MTV News will be your one-stop shop for the biggest stars on Hollywood’s biggest night. In the weeks leading up to the Academy Awards, MTV News has had everything you need to know heading into Oscar night. Every day, we will be bringing you new predictions and analysis of the awards show and giving you all the inside info to take home the pot in your Oscar pool. It all starts live on MTV.com at 5 p.m. ET/ 2 p.m. PT. The MTV Movies team has the 2012 Oscars covered! Stick with us for everything you need to know leading up to the awards show, and on Sunday, February 26, tune into MTV.com at 5 p.m. ET for our two-and-a-half-hour red-carpet live stream and updates on the night’s big winners. To join the live conversation, tweet @MTVNews with the hashtag #Oscars. Related Videos 2011 Oscars Red Carpet Interviews Related Photos 2011 Academy Awards Red Carpet
Mmmm mmm mmm Dania is looking gooder than a muhfugga! But where did she get this dude from? He’s dressed like a bum, did they go to the same event??? Something tells us that this guy is also Latino. What do you guys think? We’re ready to play her some “Marvin’s Room.” SplashNews More On Bossip! Breezy And His Boo Thang Hit The Beach… Do You Believe She’s Not Threatened By His RihRih Reunion? Happy Birthday, MJ! A Gallery Of Iconic Michael Jordan Images Through The Years From Baller To Hole-y Jeans Lover You’re Fired!: Check Out The Wild Card Stars On This Season’s “Celebrity Apprentice” We Saw The Signs: Couples We Knew Were Doomed To Fail Before Even They Did
Along with Shailene Woodley , VS MAGAZINE most recent issue also featured Julianne Moore …. Helena Christensen …… Elizabeth Olsen and most importantly…these pictures of Rosie Huntington-Whitely’s nipples…I would say the 5 cover issue was Oscar related…but then I remembered Rosie Huntinton-Whitely’s closest encounter with an Oscar was probably when she was fucking her way to the top….moving from model…to actress….if you can call that acting…to masturabtion material for nerds everywhere and I’m into the fact that she still brings out the nipples to party like it was old times cuz she’s hot.
MTV News thinks ‘Rango’ is the likely winner at this year’s Academy Awards, but who should win? By Josh Wigler “Rango” Photo: Paramount Pictures The Academy Awards are fast approaching, and it’s bound to be an animated show this year — if not a particularly “Adventure”-ous one. For the first time in years, animation powerhouse Pixar has been shut out of the Oscar race for Best Animated Feature Film, leaving the field wide open for an unexpected newcomer to take the top prize. Two foreign flicks — “A Cat in Paris” and “Chico & Rita” — are in the mix, battling it out against popular favorites and proven franchise hits “Kung Fu Panda 2” and “Puss in Boots.” But we expect that the Academy will skew toward the surreal this year, honoring the beautifully bizarre “Rango” with a shiny new golden statue. Read on for our picks and wishes for Best Animated Feature Film. Who Will Win : “Rango” takes it home. “A Cat in Paris” and “Chico & Rita” cancel each other out, as do DreamWorks Animation’s two offerings. That leaves the door open for the little chameleon that could, played to quirky perfection by seasoned veteran Johnny Depp. Reteaming with his former “Pirates of the Caribbean” captain Gore Verbinski, “Rango” stands out as one of the most original animated movies to hit theaters stateside in quite some time. It’s fully deserving of its impending victory. Having said that… Who Should Win : “The Adventures of Tintin.” Clearly, it’s not going to win — it’s not even nominated! A travesty, I say. Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of the adventure tales from Belgian cartoonist Georges Remi stands out as one of the greatest comic book films of 2011, and in my opinion, the best animated movie of the year. It deserves not just a nomination, but a win, for its fantastic score from John Williams, wonderfully inventive opening credits, astoundingly assembled action pieces and yet another all-star motion-capture grand slam from the incredible Andy Serkis. “Tintin” didn’t win its Golden Globe award for nothing, folks. This movie should already be polishing its Oscar by now — there are no excuses for its exclusion from the race. The MTV Movies team has the 2012 Oscars covered! Stick with us for everything you need to know leading up to the awards show, and on Sunday, February 25, we’ll put you on the red carpet and bring you all the winners. Related Photos 2012 Oscar Nominees
It’s a brand new day for Viola Davis. The Oscar-nominated actress gives good face on the cover of this week’s L.A. Times Magazine–with a fierce ‘fro! In the interview Davis discusses her long climb to fame and success: “That really is our plight, especially as women of color,” she says. “You can have all the training in the world, come from a respectable background and yet never get that big opportunity that breaks you out—never.” You can read the interview in entirety HERE What say you readers–should Davis consider rocking her natural hair going forward? Or is it back to the wigs and the weaves? Sound off in the comments section below. RELATED POSTS: “The Help” Wins Big at SAG Awards [VIDEO] “The Help” Scores Four Oscar Nominations
Yes, I just wrote the words ” Transformers Oscar campaign.” Sigh. It’s time we come to terms with the fact that each installment in Michael Bay ‘s robot action series has technically been nominated for one or more Academy Awards — deservedly so, really, given the technical achievements these CG metal-on-metal bashfests have under their belt, even if everything else in these films are aggressively, brain-numbingly mediocre. But Paramount aims to take home one of them statuettes this year, by god, and so they’ve created an awards campaign to break through to Oscar voters in the most effective way possible: Through their TV sets. Bay’s billion-dollar summer hit Transformers: Dark of the Moon is nominated in three technical categories: Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, and Visual Effects. No matter how much you may loathe this series, one thing is irrefutable: Transformers 3 boasts some of the best vfx of the year. That churning building-chomping giant bot thing cutting down a skyscraper in glorious, shiny detail? Mesmerizing, really. Bay slowing down his previously indistinguishable CG robot action for the third film actually helped highlight the amazing visual work he and his team pieced together out of bits and data, and though the first Transformers lost the Visual Effects Oscar to The Golden Compass (the second lost Best Sound Mixing to The Hurt Locker ), 2012 seems like the year for a Transformers win for vfx. ( Dark of the Moon is up against Hugo , Deathly Hallows Pt. 2 , Rise of the Planet of the Apes , and Real Steel in the category.) Which brings us to the two sound categories. Does anyone out there who’s not a sound engineer actually understand the difference between Sound Editing and Sound Mixing? Fine, I’m sure there are a handful of expert McKnowitalls out there. (Essentially, editing is the selection/assemblage of sounds and mixing is the blending of all sounds/dialogue/audio for the final film.) But you know who doesn’t understand the difference between the two? Normal people, and a whole lot of Oscar voters. That’s probably why Paramount’s Transformers Oscar spot doesn’t even bother distinguishing between the two sound categories. “Just vote for us across the board!” the campaign practically screams, and why not? The goal of these spots is basically to put Transformers in the minds of the voters — the ones who can be swayed by a TV commercial telling them that these are the best effects of the year. Take a look at the ad below and chime in below: Do you think this campaign will finally earn the franchise their Oscar? [via Deadline ]
