The First Ever Minnesota Fringey Awards

Some might call it weird, but I like to think of it as...eclectic. Yeah, that's it! The Minnesota Fringe Festival is an annual event that celebrates the performing arts in a big way. It's in its 16th year and is going on right now.

And this year, we've got the added bonus of the First Annual Fringey Awards. Here are the finalists.

The Traveling Musicians

The Harty Boys and in the Case of the Limping Platypus

Sarah, Your Ovaries are Drying Up: The Musical

The Viewers Choice award winner, The Most Massive Woman Wins, has already been selected. The Grand Prize winner will be announce on August 9. Leave a comment and let me know which one you like the best.

Update: The winner has been chosen, and it is Sarah, Your Ovaries are Drying Up: The Musical. Congrats, to you Sarah. And your ovaries. I'm sure they were both an integral part of your success.

Remembering the 'Keeper of the Oscars'

I have always been hesitant about using this forum to post the passing of famous people that have won awards. Because of the wide range of awards and the life/death continuum known as the circle of life, I wanted to avoid having a blog that reminded readers of the In Memorium segments of most awards shows.

While I remain torn, I've decided to take it on a case by case basis. And here is one case where I felt it was more than appropriate to report an important passing in the awards show genre. According to the Associated Press, Steve Meissner died of a heart attack at his home on Wednesday at the very young age of 48.

Known as "the keeper of the Oscars", Meissner gave each statuette the white glove treatment, before handing them off to be manhandled by a celebrity. Each Oscar was carefully catelogued by Meissner, who maintained impeccable records and worked with award winners to ensure their names were properly engraved on their award.

As part of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences staff, Meissner kept track of every

Oscar ever awarded, documenting its whereabouts and refurbishing vintage awards. He also served as an executive assistant to academy president Sid Ganis.

Academy's 'Keeper of the Oscars' Dead at 48 [AP]

What Do MJ, Nuclear Power and Andie MacDowell Have In Common?

The Save the World Awards used their title to tongue-in-cheekily pay tribute to Michael Jackson, in which they have not saved the world by contributing to the incessant focus on his passing. Or have saved the world by producing one of the funniest, strange and weirdly honorable press releases I have read in quite some time. That doesn't make any sense.

For example:

1. The awards were hosted by Andie MacDowell, who I fell in love with all over again while watching St. Elmo's Fire with my teenage daughter a few nights ago. Ahhhh....dreamy Rob Lowe, more appropriately aged Demi Moore, and lycra on Mare Winningham's thighs.

2. A typo has Nobel Peace Prize winner Betty Williams and Olympic sprinter Carl Lewis mubbing together.

3. Who builds a nuclear power plant, never uses it for its intended purpose and instead throws a lavish awards ceremony in it? Answer: Austria.

4. One of the environmentally friendly, eco-conscious, carbon footprint removing efforts employed at the event was composting. Most likely with one of these handy-dandy home future solar power station composters.

Not to throw into question whether Michael Jackson was charitable, but to carefully examine whether he truly 'saved the world', I found this look at his Heal the World charity interesting. Here's your chance to think for yourself.

Jackson Honoured at Awards Held in Austrian Nuclear Plant [AFP]

Is Michael Jackson's Charity a Fake? [uncivilsociety.org]

Photo credit: World Awards Media

VMAs Jump on the Brand Wagon -- Again!

I'm almost positive that with Russell Brand hosting the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards again this year, I will never get to the front of the library loaner line for My Bookie Wook. I am currently number 14; because I find him particularly hilarious and to maintain some sense of relevancy, I'd like to read the book before the VMA's in September. Keep your fingers crossed.

MTV points out that Brand will be hosting for the second year in a row, which is somewhat of an anomaly for VMA hosts. In the same way that his hair is an anomaly to his head. While I do want to take MTV to task for using the words 'VMA' and 'elite' in the same title, and would also like to question whether 'multi-time' is an actual world, I can respect their decision to have Brand host for a second time.

Other notable repeat hosters include: Arsenio Hall (4 consecutive), Dennis Miller (2 consecutive) and Chris Rock (3).

Russell Brand Joins Elite League of Multi-Time VMA Hosts [MTV Newsroom]

Highlights from the BET Awards

Not only did the BET Awards turn into a heartfelt tribute to the late Michael Jackson, it also created a lot of stir in the headlines for other reasons. Here's a recap:

Despite the climate of loss and remembrance brought on by MJ's recent death, BET producers made no plans to alter or remove Drake's womanizing performance of "Every Girl", which spiraled out of control when Lil' Wayne allowed his young daughter and her friends out onto the stage. I had planned on quoting a few lyrics, so you to get a feel for the inappropriateness of the situation. However, a mere glance caused me to be temporarily blinded. Not for the faint of heart that Lil' Wayne.

Access Hollywood had reported that Chris Brown would be taking part in the BET Awards tribute to Jackson, but the mysterious performance never materialized. What happened to Brown has been hotly debated, and his no show is likely linked to the infamous smack down he gave Rihanna following the Clive Davis 2009 Grammy pre-party. It's about time one or more hip-hop mogul stood up and indicated by their actions, that if you beget violence either on the street or in your home, we will not support you.

Drake Regrets Controversial BET Awards Set... [SOHH.com]

Chris Brown Tribute to Michael Jackson - LIVE BET Awards [industryfinest.com]

'Dark Knight' Never a Best Picture Contender

I intended this blog post to be about how the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences decision to open the list of Best Picture nominees from a reasonable five to an unmaneageable 10 seems like an attempt to please everyone all of the time.


However, after reading quite a few articles on the change, and giggling at some of the comments posted in response to these articles, I've determined that there are quite a few bitter, bitter folks out there that feel like the Dark Knight was bamboozled out of its Oscar nomination.


And I happen to disagree.


The Dark Knight was good superhero movie. It had hear-stopping action and blinding explosions. It was dark and beautiful. It had one incredible, stand-out performance that brought attention to the picture and created the kind of buzz that turns a good film into a box office blockbuster. But it was never a contender for Best Picture. Even if there had been 10 slots in the Best Picture category, they would have been filled by:

Wall-E, or

The Wrestler, or

Rachel Getting Married, or

Tropic Thunder,

and a toss-up between Doubt and Vicky Cristina Barcelona. But never the Dark Knight. Sorry fanboys. Heath Ledger was incredible. He did things with the character that made a tired housewife, soccer mom, wine-drinker watch a superhero movie. But he did not turn a good action pic into a Best Picture nominee. Not even close.



Best Picture Change Triggers a Backlash [New York Times]


Oscars to Include 10 Best Picture Nominees [zap2it.com]

'Jon & Kate' Emmy Chances Sputtering

Someone has finally put their foot down and said "no" to the sparing 'Jon & Kate'. And that someone is the television academy responsible for selecting nominees for the Primetime Emmy Awards. Jon and Kate wanted their show to be nominated in the nonfiction series category usually reserved for outstanding documentary style shows like Deadliest Catch.

Instead, they have submitted two of their Season 4 episodes for consideration in the more appropriate reality show category. Will TV academy voters tsk, tsk the pairs' behavior by again denying them a nomination? All I can say is go Kathy Griffin.

'Jon & Kate divorce hurts Emmy Awards hopes [The Envelope]

Oscar Predictions Minus the Movies

With some heavy hitting directors up at bat, TheWrap takes its chances and announces potential contenders for this years' Oscar race. I suppose it's fun to take a stab at it, even if you find yourself flailing wildly with a rusted pocket knife, trying not to cut yourself shaving. Fine, fine. For not having seen the movies they seem to have a pretty good grasp on things.


I must admit, I am looking forward to quite a few of these films, and while I agree that having a director like Peter Jackson, Clint Eastwood or dare I say, James Cameron, at the helm pretty much guarantees you nominations at all the major awards shows. Let's just say, we remember Hook, Steven Spielberg. Yes, we do.

Here's my favorites:

SHUTTER ISLAND (Paramount, Oct. 2) I've been a fan of Dennis Lehane as a writer for quite some time, and I recently read his novel of the same name in anticipation of this release. After viewing the trailer, I'm not so sure this rendering is subtle enough for Oscar contention.

THE LOVELY BONES (Paramount/Dreamworks, Dec. 11) Its release date comes late in the season, but The Lovely Bones is my must-see movie of 2009. While it may seem a little too commercial for the Oscars, I look forward to enjoying the magnetism of Saoirse Ronan --both naive and diabolical as Briony Tallis in Atonement. Through his work on Heavenly Creatures, Peter Jackson has proven he has the dramatic chops, and restraint to compete at the Academy Awards.

UP (Disney/Pixar, May 29) Yes, I realize this movie does not fit into the yet-to-be-released-so-they-haven't-seen-it category, but it is a movie that I plan on seeing. That is, I haven't seen it yet. Don't judge. Since Beauty and the Beast in 1971, there hasn't been another animated film nominated. Not sure yet if UP can hold its own in the best picture category anyway.


Ahh. But it's all worth the wait!


TheWrap Predicts the Oscars -- and No, We Haven't seen the Movies [TheWrap]

Opposite-Sex Marriage and the Dove Awards

The Christian right love her, the Miss USA judges hate her. And the rest of us took a full 26 minutes to figure out exactly what she was talking about. Miss California Carrie Prejean received a standing ovation as she was announced as a presenter at the 40th annual Gospel Music Association Dove Awards.

When asked to express her views on marriage during the interview portion of the Miss USA pageant, she responded:

“I think its great Americans are able to choose one way or another. We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. And you know what, I think in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that’s how I was raised, and that’s how I think it should be — between a man and a woman.”

Oookay. I'm not up on all the judging rules of the Miss USA pageant, but should she really be judged according to the content of her response vs. the eloquence of her response? I mean we, the general public can judge her all day long. I don't want my government monitoring the sex of my soulmate. But should the judges mark her down because they had a difference of opinion. What if a judge thinks all the world's children should starve to death and a Miss USA contestant expresses her desire to feed the children? What about that?

In related news, those in the audience that support Miss Prejean may also support torture.

Miss Calif. Gets Standing Ovation at Dove Awards [Christian Examiner]

'Shrek' Receives 12 Drama Desk Noms

I was trying to think of another green character whose life story could potentially be turned into a musical, and all I could come up with is the Great Gazoo. And because he came along after The Flinstones jumped the shark, I'm not sure he will make the cut.

Remarkably, Shrek the Musical is a Broadway hit and has received the second highest number of nominations (12) for this years' Drama Desk Awards, including recognition in the Best Musical category. This despite all the burping and farting. This must be similar to my five year old burping the alphabet. Or twinkle, twinkle little star. While keeping company with a donkey? A national tour is planned for 2010.

Although silence has been heard for the past seven months; no better way to breath new life into a thing then to start right here at home. In Minnesota. With the one thing I have kept a constant while movies and music have fallen to the wayside. This, despite the fact that Entertainment Weekly has taken their magazine book section and reduced it to barely a review. So relish in the revival. Sandie. The only one reading, I'm sure.

The 2009 Minnesota Book Awards, hosted by MPR's Tom Cann, was held in St. Paul a few nights ago while the world was oblivious. As was the majority of Minnesotans -- only 2,000 voters selected the nights reader's choice award, which went to The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir by Kao Kalia Yang. This work of non-fiction that chronicles her family's story as they traveled from a Hmong refugee camp in Thailand to St. Paul, Minnesota, also won in the memoir/creative non-fiction story.

Another notable winner includes, The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson in the Children's Literature category. The tale progresses with a soothing, simple cadence and is enhanced by the unique look of the scratch board artwork illustrations. The Kay Sexton Award was given to Minnesota Historical Society's librarian, Patrick Coleman in recognition of 30 years of contributions to the literary community here in Minnesota.

While the book awards are all well and good, interestingly enough, the Minnesota Historical Society has just announced that due to lack of funding, they will cut book production and fire four staff members. Hopefully, winning the Kay Sexton Award will keep Patrick Coleman off the chopping block.

Hmong family memoir 'Latehomecomer' wins two Minnesota Book Awards; Erdrichs also honored [Pioneer Press]

'Dark Knight' Rerelease Could Result in Box Office and Oscar Gold

With the Dark Knight, you can envision the Joker shooting golden statuettes from the depths of his sunken eyeballs directly at Batman's heart. And now, Warner Bros. will take its box office money maker straight to the Academy Awards Bank & Trust. Or more specifically, generate even more Batman fever, turning already stricken movie goers into Oscar induced zombies. What?

Let me explain: The Dark Knight will be re-released in January 2009. Which happens to be prime voting season for Academy Award voters, who will be feeling sentimental because January also happens to be a year to the month of the untimely demise of Heath Ledger, who happens to deliver a performance as the Joker, unmatched by any previous actor fulfilling the same role. If Warner Bros. is right (and they are), the buzz of Oscar season, combined with typically slow ticket sales in January may insure an unmatched box office and a posthumous Academy Award for Ledger.

"To date, Dark Knight has rung up about $512 million domestically and $440 million internationally," reports the Hollywood Reporter. This leaves the Dark Knight second only to the once unsinkable box office record of Titanic ($600.8 mil. domestic/$1.24 bil. international). While the Hollywood Reporter appears skeptical that the Dark Knight can surpass Titanic in worldwide ticket sales, I believe the re release will make for one close race. James Cameron better not hold his breath.

Dark Knight plan re release [The Hollywood Reporter]

Vote for Your Favorite Emmy Nominated Commercial

Take a moment to watch these Emmy nominated commercials and tell me which is your favorite! If it were up to me, it would be any Geico commercial, unfortunately no nomination this time around.

Delivery - Travelers • •
MJZ, Production Company
Fallon, Ad Agency

Brother Of The Bride - Hallmark • •
PYTKA, Production Company
Leo Burnett, Ad Agency

Carrier Pigeons - FedEx • •
MJZ, Production Company
BBDO New York, Ad Agency

It’s Mine - Coca Cola • •
MJZ, Production Company
Wieden + Kennedy, Ad Agency

Swear Jar - Bud Light • •
Hungry Man, Production Company
DDB Chicago, Ad Agency

Oscar Potential No Joke For Ledger's Work

Recognition by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences once you're dead is a rare occurrence. Ever since critics have gotten a glimpse of Heath Ledger's work as the Joker in The Dark Knight, the latest re imagining of the Batman saga, Oscar buzz has been in the air.

The last Oscar given posthumously was awarded to Peter Finch for his 1976 performance in Network. Finch also received an Academy Award nomination for one of the first films with a unabashedly gay theme, Sunday Bloody Sunday in 1971. The similarities between Finch and Ledger stop there.

One of the first critic's to champion the Heath Ledger Oscar cause was Rolling Stone magazine critic Peter Travers. As reported by US Magazine, Travers writes, "I can only speak superlatives of Ledger, who is mad-crazy-blazing-brilliant as the Joker."

I have to admit, I'm not a fan of the superhero genre of action film. And while I love to watch Jack Nicholson in most things, I had little interest in seeing him smeared with clown makeup playing opposite Batman.

As the trailers have graced my television, I have to admit I'm intrigued with this new caricature of the Joker. While I doubt I'll be racing out to the midnight screening on July 19, I plan on catching Ledger's eerily memorable performance. In time for the 81st Academy Awards!

Critic: Heath Ledger should win Oscar [USMagazine.com]

Winehouse Arrested Following Novello Nom

When we last left Amy Winehouse, she was crawling under fences and being shot across the universe to appear via satellite at the 2008 Grammy Awards. Despite her struggles with addiction and her drug-induced performance at the MTV Europe Music Awards, Winehouse has shown moments of clarity as a songwriter. She'll be a triple threat at the 53rd Ivor Novello Awards with Love is a Losing Game, You Know I'm No Good and Rehab.

This years' Novello Awards nominations are not the first for Winehouse, as she has won twice before; in 2004 and 2007 Best Contemporary Song category for Stronger Than Me and Rehab respectively. Her success in the awards show arena, while bolstering her songwriting credibility, has done little to boost confidence in Winehouse's public persona and ability to kick her drug habit (not to mention incarcerated husband escape plan hatching)....

This just in....Pink is the New Blog is reporting (that People is reporting) that Amy Winehouse was arrested today. Weeeee! This is better than the rumored James Bond/Winehouse connection.


Amy Winehouse Up for Three Novello Awards [Telegraph]
Amy Winehouse Nominated for Three Ivor Novello Awards [Times Online]

Cricket Family Should Be Parent's Choice

As a parent and literacy advocate, it's nice to see the Cricket Family of Magazines earn an incredible thirteen 2008 Parent's Choice Awards this year. No matter your child's age, you can rest assured that Cricket has the magazine that is specifically tailored to their age group and taste. Jason Patenaude, President of Cricket expresses these sentiments, "The scope of the awards also prove that Cricket magazines offer children more choices as they grow from toddler to young adults."

Not all children grow to become avid readers; finding material that will keep them reading and immersed in language throughout their childhood can often be a struggle for parents. If your child isn't necessarily interested in sitting down with a full-length book, a magazine might be the answer.

Along with Spider and Cricket, other 2008 Parent's Choice Gold Award winners include: Chirp published by Bayard Canada, National Geographic Little Kids published by National Geographic Society, Zoobooks published by Wildlife Education, Ltd., Ranger Rick published by the National Wildlife Federation, New Moon: The Magazine for Girls and Their Dreams published by New Moon Girl Media, Kiki published by B-books, Ltd., and Imagine published by John Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth.

Cricket Family of Magazines Wins Prestigious Parents' Choice Awards [PR Web]

Christmas Giveth, BAFTA Taketh Away

The 2008 BAFTA Games Awards have been cancelled and this time, the writer's strike is not to blame. In fact, if you're looking for someone to blame -- and you always are -- blame Christmas.

Yes, my news saavy following, there was no writer's strike in the U.K., but there was and is Christmas. That blessed holiday of giving is now in the spirit of taking away, and it seems video gaming elves are too busy coding for the masses than for an awards nomination.

Susan Arendt with the Wired Blog Network clarifies, "Rather than wind up with a group of nominees that didn't truly represent the year's best in gaming, BAFTA decided the wise choice would be to simply cancel this year's awards, and try to schedule the 2009 awards at a more developer-friendly time of year."

If you're a gamer and find yourself at a loss as to what to do with the 2008 holiday season, now that the BAFTA Games Awards have been postponed, you might find yourself donating to charity. Put the give back in Christmas.

BAFTA Cancels 2008 Videogame Awards [Wired Blog Network]

'Once' Duo Make the Most of Oscar Performance

Poor TV viewership (a measily 32 mil. pair of eyes) has permeated the headlines following the Feb. 24 telecast of the 80th Academy Awards, but apparently someone was watching as Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova performed the melodic "Falling Slowly" from the indie film Once.

Music publisher, Warner/Chappell Music (part of Warner Music Group Corp.), has scooped up the duo's catalog of work, including Hansard's songwriting efforts with the Frames, and music recorded for the pairs debut album, "The Swell Season"; the deal also includes all future recordings.

Tickets for The Swell Season: Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova, from the film Once at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, Minnesota and The Chicago Theatre in Chicago, Illinois go on sale today.

Warner label signs 'Once' duo [Variety]

'Juno' Wins Best Picture at Spirit Awards

There once was a quirky little film, swaddled in orange stripes, that put an unexpected spin on teenage pregnancy. Somewhere in there, Juno had a message, but thanks to its screenwriter, Diablo Cody, the viewer felt neither tired by rhetoric nor battered about the head.

At the Independent Spirit Awards last night, Juno was a triple threat, earning top honors in the Best Picture category, recognition for Ellen Page as Best Female Lead and deserved Best First Screenplay win.

In addition to its critical acclaim, and despite a modest budget ($7 mil.), Juno has delivered at the box-office, bringing in over $160 mil. in ticket sales world-wide. The last time an indie film performed this well was back in 2002 when My Big Fat Greek Wedding generated $241.1 mil. in sales.

As much as I love the film, and admire Cody for doing what few novice writers are able these days (let alone female screenwriters), I'm not sure Juno will fair as well at the Academy Awards tonight. I do hope that hamburger phone makes an appearance, or maybe even announces an award or two.

'Juno' Scores at Spirit Awards [The Envelope]

What Could Be Better Than an Oscar Widget?

I've noticed quite a bit of recent traffic on a previous post on Academy Award trivia, so in light of new widget-ry technology, I've added this post for all to enjoy. Now slide your gaze to the right a smidge and vote for the most likely Best Picture winner.