Well, they announced the Oscar nominations this morning...

No surprises except perhaps for the actor who plays the lead singer in Dream Girls. First movie role, first Oscar nomination. Not bad for an American Idol winner and this news will fuel up the Idol fans to say, "Hey, real talent gets recognized on this show." But it's fair to say that a little cream must rise once in a while even in the show that's become the opiate of the masses. Little Miss Sunshine received a best nomination, as well it should. It's a picture I'm looking forward to seeing -- sweet, funny, and lovely. Also, The Departed--an old-fashioned gangster film. It played for weeks here but somehow I was always busy and never got to a matinee. Perhaps I'll get lucky if it gets another release on the strength of its nomination.