whatyoulookingat

78th Academy Awards nominations are out!

Nominations for the Academy Awards, or as it is more popularly known, the Oscars are out! Televised at a beary-eyed 5.30am in Los Angeles, so as to catch the morning primetime belt of 8.30am on the East Coast, the announcement was done matter-of-factly in a quiet enclosed room so unlike the glitz that Hollywood is famous for, and almost over in less than 10 mins.

TV viewers in Singapore could catch the nomination announcements via BBC News and CNN International cable stations on SCV. Interestingly, both stations created "Special" half hour programs just for the announcements. Breaking away from dull news anchors reporting on the Afghanistan summit and the latest Iran nuclear stasis were beaming guest commentators giving their two cents on whether gay cowboys would hold more sway over Hollywood than the multi-racial tableau of a cinematic Los Angeles.

On BBC, which had the more elaborate "special" segment with their entertainment anchor and guest film critic seating in a brightly lit studio specially arranged for the announcement. The critic added much credibility to his take by declaring that the critically lauded but box office flop - A History of Violence, in addition to Crash, is one of his favorite films of 2005. Nevertheless, the commentary revolves pretty much around British nominees such as Rachel Weisz and the Bristol duo behind the Wallace and Gromit feature.

Over at CNN, the break away into the entertainment news was more subdued with the same news anchor discussing the nominees right after giving the latest dirt on what Condi had said to Annan. (This only affirms my suspicion of CNN International trying too hard to stray away from its American-centric roots and being more globally-oriented and newsy). Unfortunately, the calibre of the invited studio guest, a mumbling editor from trashy Us Weekly made the "special" boring and uninsightful.

posted by JT @ 10:29 PM