Topic One: Dancing with the Stars. One long grin, that show is. I’d forgotten what a fun lark it can be, after the last few months of watching American Idol take itself way too seriously. Nothing’s really at stake on the Dancing show, except minor issues like dignity and rescuing B-list reputations from the celebrity coal bin. Early front-runners: Joey Fatone (especially if he keeps shedding the pounds as he dances) and Apolo Anton Ohno, the closest thing the show has to a hottie. (Possible miscalculation of keeping up his skating schedule when he should be perfecting his dance moves. He wasn’t nearly as electrifying as he needs to be.) And because a female is overdue a win on this show, let’s not count out Laila Ali, an interesting mix of athleticism, aggression and (when it matters) unexpected grace and charm.Charm really is the selling point of this ABC phenom. Even a klutz like Billy Ray Cyrus probably earned a few pity points for being a good sport. And I...
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Question: It seems that many critics are not happy with the Academy for failing to recognize Brokeback Mountain as the right film at the right time. What are some other famous snubs that the Academy is still embarrassed about? Thanks.
Answer: I personally think the Academy is shameless, and I've never ever heard — nor do I think I ever will — an official spokesperson concede that its membership made a big fat mistake giving the best-picture Oscar to one film rather than another. But I think there's a pretty overwhelming consensus among everyone else who cares that calling Ordinary People — a genuinely good movie, I hasten to add — the best motion picture of 1980 when it was up against Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull, which is widely con
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