Post-Oscar analysis

So what did everyone think of the show last night? I was in Million Dollar Baby's corner ever since I saw the movie and I was glad to see it win the big prize.

That's not taking away anything from Aviator, which was also very good -- probably the second best movie of the year -- but M$B packed an emotional wallop that Aviator lacked.

Chris Rock turned out to be a terrific choice to add some edgy humor and his piece interviewing moviegoers at the Magic Johnson Theaters was funny and offbeat.

Next year I predict Paul Giamatti will finally get his first nomination as Russell Crowe's boxing trainer in Ron Howard's Cinderella Man. And then we won't hear anymore how Giamatti is continually passed over.

Tax man

Going to the accountant this morning. After all the property taxes we pay, there better be a nice chunk of change heading back my way!!

Post 8 p.m. dining

Looking for something to eat after normal dinner hours -- at least for me 8 p.m.is WAY past the dinner hour -- and you don't want anything to filling that will weigh you down as the night wears on.

California Chicken Cafe, my friends. The Chinese wrap is the perfect call, with a side of hot potatoes. Sheer bliss!

Local CCC's are on Westwood Boulevard, just south of Santa Monica Blvd., and on Melrose, just west of Highland.

And you may even see a celeb. The last two trips to the Melrose location for lunch we saw ER's Maura Tierney and Josh Charles, formerly of Sports Night and currently of nothing.

48 hours til Oscar

After writing about this for the past 4 months, it's on to the show. Will be it be a Clint or Marty night? I'm pulling for Clint, even though Scorsese was robbed when Raging Bull lost to Ordinary People.

Scorsese's got another Leo movie down the pike and he'll have a few more Oscar caliber flicks in him, so no worries. Plus, the Academy wants to give him an Oscar so bad that if he doesn't win for Aviator, he'll probably be nominated for his home movies.

Dan Rather and me

What do we have in common? We'll both have appeared on CBS Evening News. I'll be on this Saturday night (Feb. 26) at 5:30 to talk about Oscar if you want to see my ever-increasing gray hair....

Gagne hurt

Just read that Eric Gagne heard his knee pop at spring training today. Doesn't look to be anything major but if he's out for an extended period of time, will there be any reason to head to Chavez Ravine this year?

First they get rid of the Cool-a-Coo and now this....

Radio waves

If you're in your car tomorrow morning and the usual morning DJs -- Howard, Kevin and Bean, Mark and Brian -- aren't doing it for you, you can listen to my discussion on the art of Oscar campaigning on NPR --89.3 and/or 89.9 (I'm never sure which) at 6:50 and 8:50 a.m.

Toby, Josh smackdown

Didn't see "West Wing" yet but the commercials made it look like the show was officially about to jump the shark if Toby and Josh started wrestling on the floor.

I'll have to check it out tonight.

Bruce tour news

Here's the latest:


Murky at best, but it looks like the first stage of the tour will
>> begin on 04/26/2005, in New Jersey, venue to be determined. The first
>> stage of the tour will be approximately 52 dates of which approximately
>> 15 will be in Europe (dates in London, Paris, Italy, Spain, Sweden,
>> Germany, to be included). All of the major cities in the U.S. will have
>> shows to include Boston, Philly, D.C., L.A., Chicago, and even
>> Colombus, OH. This first stage of the tour is scheduled to end in
>> 08/2005. The first stage will be Bruce solo. However, one or two
>> members of the ESB may be included in all or some of the shows.
>>
>> The tour will continue through 2006 and will culminate in a total ESB
>> World Tour.
>>

>>
>

NYPD Blue

Watched the second-to-last episode on Tivo and felt melancholy that by next Tuesday, it'll all be over.

Most of you have long since given up on the show but I've seen every one dating back to 1993 and Andy Sipowicz and gang will be missed. I wrote a story about the show for next week's Variety and will post here when it appears in the paper.

What are you watching these days?

The first time

Before you respond to something for the first time, you'll probably have to create a sign in name and password. Do it once -- and use a name and password you can easily remember -- and you'll be done with it.

Welcome to Stu's News

Hi folks!

Welcome to the first post of Stu's News, my entry into the blogging world.

If you're not familiar with blogging, it's just a way to share thoughts on any topic of the day: everything from entertainment news, political debates, which restaurants we like (and dislike), when the rain will stop, whether Barry Bonds is on steroids and so on.

Feel free to chime on as many times as you want. Just click on the post button when you want to add your 2 cents worth and away you go.

This will be fun. Just remember... I'm always right about everything! :)