The day that Hollywood has been dreaming about all year is finally here. Tonight the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will hand out its highest honors to a select few (oftentimes) deserving actors in its 79th annual awards show:


The Academy Awards show is the culmination of the film-making awards season ... this is the big enchilada, y'all. [Source]

But ... before the awards can be handed out there is a whole lotta preparation still going on at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, CA:


Photo credit: Splash News
It's already afternoon here in Barcelona, Spain but the day is just beginning back home in LA. All the last minute touches are being taken care of before the insane-o circus that is Oscar night gets underway. David and I will, unfortunately, not be able to watch the awards as they air live because we have to wake up early tomorrow for our long flight back to New York (but BritBoy in LA will be liveblogging the show, in case you were interested). But, I am confident that I will wake up to the news that at least a few of my Oscar faves (chief among them is Jennifer Hudson who is nominated for Best Supporting Actress) went home with Oscars after the awards were all said and done. [Source]

Last night in Santa Monica, CA, the Independent Spirit Awards were held which annually makes a nice "indie" precursor to the big show that is the Academy Awards ... here are a few pictures from the arrivals red carpet:


Photo credit: Splash News
Rachel Bilson and Maggie Gyllenhaal looked great ... as did the be speckled Josh Hartnett and John Waters. I think that Michelle Williams and her Mia Farrow-esque pixie haircut was the cutest of them all. She looked simply amazing. Additionally, the new blonde color really works well on Amber Tamblyn as well ... I hardly recognized her at first. [Source]

But the big winner at the Independent Spirit Awards was the came-from-nowhere-to-blow-everyone-out-of-the-water-little-movie-that-could Little Miss Sunshine which walked home with 4 awards ... the movie Half Nelson (and more specifically its principal actors Ryan Gosling and Shareeka Epps) took home the top acting awards. Here are a few pictures of last night's winners:


Photo credit: Splash News
The road comedy "Little Miss Sunshine" won best picture and three other prizes for independent films at the Spirit Awards on Saturday, one day before competing for Hollywood's top honors at the Academy Awards ... Arkin won for his role as an obscenity-spewing, heroin-snorting grandfather training his granddaughter (Abigail Breslin) for a saucy dance performance at a children's beauty pageant ... The lead-acting Spirit Awards went to the stars of another Oscar contender, the classroom drama "Half Nelson." Ryan Gosling played an inspiring teacher battling a severe drug habit, and Shareeka Epps won for her role as a bright student who becomes both his protege and counselor ... Other Spirit Award winners were: Best foreign film, "The Lives of Others," Germany, directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, Best documentary, "The Road to Guantanamo," directed by Michael Winterbottom and Mat Whitecross, Best first feature, "Sweet Land," directed by Ali Selim, Best cinematography, Guillermo Navarro, "Pan's Labyrinth." Even if Little Miss Sunshine doesn't take home the award for Best Picture at the Oscars tonight they've already had an amazing year hauling in a whole lotta awards. My money says it won't win the award but it'd be cool as hell if it did. [Source]

While all of this awards stuff was going on in LA yesterday, Victoria Beckham had house-hunting on her mind. She dolled herself up in her best lacey frock and spent the afternoon checking out places that she and her family might live when they move to LA later on this year:


Photo credit: Splash News
I'm actually surprised she hasn't settled on a mansion yet ... time is running out. I'd hate for the family to have to crash at the TomKat mansion upon arriving in the US because they couldn't find a suitable estate to live in. [Source]

Well now ... it turns out that Madonna and hubby Guy Ritchie do have Oscar parties on their mind as the pair cleaned themselves up for a pre-Oscar party last night. Er ... while I wasn't too crazy for Madge's new haircut (which we got to see yesterday) I can honestly say that I'm really not diggin' what she did to it last night:


Photo credit: Splash News
Madonna -- put down the curling iron and step away. You're not doing yourself any favors. And Guy -- you should wear suits more often ;) [Source]

What is going on with all the suspicious smoking that is going on these days? First we caught Paris Hilton puffing on a hand-rolled "cigarette" and then we caught Mischa Barton doing the same thing ... and now we have pics of Drew Barrymore passing one of those hand-rolled "cigs" to Cameron Diaz while the pair sunned their buns on the beach?


Photo credit: Splash News
Damn ... it's been some high times in Hollywood this week. [Source]

Veruca Salt are featured in a very cool photo spread in New York Magazine wherein the ladies and gents of the band get gussied up in ridiculously expensive threads from the spring collections from designers like Marc Jacobs, Prada, Chanel, Dior and more:


I love this photospread! *I* know how classy the folks of Veruca Salt are and now so does the rest of the world. I sincerely hope Louise and the gang got to keep the clothes that they modeled because they are outfitted in some hot shizz. I love it!! [Source]

Here is the full set of Jedi Knight pics of Fall Out Boy from the new issue of Rolling Stone magazine (which also features the lads on the cover):


Yeah, yeah they look cute ... but personally I'd love to see the boys dressed up as Trekkies ... now that would be really indie/geeky/cool. [Source]

And finally ... it's time for the Hot Dude of the Week ... but this week, we get two hot dudes in one ... say hello to the very playful Mike and Myles:


You gotta love guys who are unafraid to publicly show their affection for one another. It isn't too hard to picture these two guys playing around in the locker room doing stuff like snapping one another on the ass with towels. Yep ... just good old, harmless boys being boys. Enjoy! [Source]

Les News:

• Basic Instinct 2 was the big "winner" at this year's Razzie Awards.
• James Blunt runs over a fan ... with his car.
• Pamela Anderson gives UGGs the boot.
• John Mayer is planning to tour for a bit longer.
• The state of Virginia officially extends its "profound regret" over the practice of slavery.
• Sean Astin is 36, Carrot Top is 40 and Alexis Denisof (Angel, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) is 41 years old today. Click HERE to see who else is celebrating a birthday today.
• Amanda Peet has a baby girl, named Frances Pen.

As our time here in Barcelona slips away, David and I are trying to do as much as we can while we still can. We spent much of yesterday afternoon at the Picasso Museum (after getting waylaid at an amazing masquerade shop ... we did our fair share of spending at that store but it was well worth it, the masks we purchased were handmade by the very charming, extremely talented shop owner) and we spent last night on the town. We stopped for drinks at Club 13 and then made our way to a place called Sweet (where I got to meet Pink reader Jose) before settling on clubbing at the Metro. We had a great Saturday night in Barcelona last night.

Today we're going to try to do a couple more things before we have to pack up our bags and leave this beautiful city. Because our flight is very early tomorrow, I won't be able to write a full post for tomorrow. Instead, I'll post a few pictures from our trip just like I did on the last day of our Parisian trip last September.

That is all ... we're off to say farewell to Barcelona. I'm out.

[Permalink]