Posts Tagged: Oscars

Celebs.com Breaking Oscars Update: Brian Grazer In. Brett Ratner Out. Eddie Murphy Out.

9, 2011 3:20pm

At a Q&A at which Brett Ratner was asked whether he believes in rehearsals on his film projects, the director made the off-the-cuff remark that rehearsals are “for fags.”

Though an apology was issued quickly, and there does not seem to have been any malicious intent behind his use of the word, he was clearly insensitive, reckless and thoughtless with regard to its use. For the record, Ratner has pledged to work with GLAAD (the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) to address the use of gay jokes and slurs commonly used in television and film.

As a result of his words, however, it has just been confirmed that Ratner will step aside from producing this year’s Academy Awards. Whether Eddy Murphy, the host Ratner hired, will remain on board with the production, is undetermined at this stage.

Ratner’s latest movie, “Tower Heist,” finished runner-up to “Puss in Boots” over the weekend, with a three-day haul of $24m on a reported budget of $75m.

WEDNESDAY UPDATE 3:15 p.m.: Brian Grazer, Ron Howard’s producing partner at Imagine Entertainment, is now confirmed as the producer of the 2012 Academy Awards.

WEDNESDAY UPDATE 11:00 a.m.:In the wake of Brett Ratner’s resignation from producing the Oscars, Eddie Murphy’s exit as out as host of the 2012 Academy Awards is now also confirmed.

Robin Williams Gives Eddie Murphy Oscar Hosting Advice

8, 2011 4:00pm

Eddie Murphy and Robin Williams

Robin Williams recently gave Eddie Murphy some sound Oscar advice to help the “Norbit” funnyman prepare for his hosting gig at the upcoming 84th Academy Awards: play as many characters as possible.

Marc Malkin of E! interviewed Williams during the press events for “Happy Feet Two,” and the comedian had this advice to share:

“I say, ‘Eddie, be as many characters as you can be,’” said Williams. “Anytime he does somebody else, he kills it. If he does anything as funny as the ‘Nutty Professor’ in one of those opening videos and if they let him become other people, he will destroy. He’s so good, man. He’s brilliant… It’s getting that first laugh. Billy [Crystal] said it, ‘Once you get the first laugh, you smell blood and it’s off and running.’”

Robin Williams knows what it’s like to cohost the Oscars: he did so in 1986 alongside Jane Fonda and Alan Alda. That year, “Out of Africa” won the Best Picture award.

Oprah Winfrey Awarded With Honorary Oscar

8, 2011 10:00am

oprah winfrey

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will award media mogul Oprah Winfrey with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at its third-annual Governors Awards ceremony. Traditionally, the award goes to those in the motion picture industry — Paul Newman, Elizabeth Taylor and Jerry Lewis are among its previous recipients — which has caused a bit of controversy since Winfrey has spent most of her career on television.

“I understand people thinking, ‘What’s her list of credentials for films,’” said Winfrey, “but I don’t think there’s room for criticism in the do-good department.” To her credit, Winfrey has donated over $500 million to charity.

Do you agree with Oprah Winfrey’s critics, or is her honorary Oscar well-deserved?

Celebs Junk Drawer: The Murphcademy Awards

6, 2011 2:07pm

  • Lindsay Lohan has completed 45 of her 360 required hours of community service. (Celebitchy)
  • Rachel Uchitel is suing the NY Post over some misquoted 9/11 musings. (The Hollywood Gossip)
  • Check out Emma Watson‘s new perfume commercial for Lancome. (The Blemish)
  • Anderson Cooper gets a sit-down with Amy Winehouse‘s  family. (PopCrunch)
  • Angelina Jolie took Shiloh, Zahara, and Viv to see The Smurfs. (S?O!W?)
  • Eddie Murphy will (probably) host the next Oscars. (Pink is the New Blog)
  • Tennis hotties? Yes. Tennis hotties. (Cityrag)

Celebs Junk Drawer: The Return of the Governator

12, 2011 1:45pm

  • Did Beyonce‘s dad steal from her? (Celebitchy)
  • Pull out your cowboy hats and your shoulder pads! It’s a trailer for the new Dallas! (OMG Blog)
  • Mila Kunis will attend a ball with a lucky Marine. Sir, I salute you! (Yeeeah!)
  • Armani says goodbye to Megan Fox and hello to Rihanna. (Daily Stab)
  • Cindy Crawford‘s daughter is a total mini-me. (Bricks and Stones)
  • Jessica Simpson‘s fiance bought her the world’s biggest, orangest handbag for her birthday. (Evil Beet)
  • James Franco suspected his Oscar-hosting duties would fail from the get-go. (S?O!W?)
  • Ah-nold returns to the big screen. (PopCrunch)