As we fast approach Sunday’s Oscar telecast many are wondering about Hugh Jackman and how he will handle hosting duties. He’s handled the Tony’s with ease and aplomb, even winning an Emmy for doing so, but the Oscars are another kettle of fish entirely. Well, fear not Oscar faithful. Ricky Gervais, who infused the lackluster Emmy ceremony with some much needed laughter, revealed on his blog that Jackman has called him up several times to brainstorm jokes. I for one look forward to this year’s ceremony now.

All too soon the television landscape will be that much barer and bleaker as Battlestar Galactica ends its four year run. But the actors of the show have nothing to fear as their careers seem to continue blooming and blossoming. Mary McDonald (Roslin) has already appeared on Grey’s Anatomy and I don’t think this Oscar nominee has much to fear when it comes to finding roles. Katee Sackhoff (Starbuck) has already made guest appearances on the now defunct Bionic Woman and has a new Dick Wolf show to look forward to. Jamie Bamber (Apollo) also has Mr. Wolf to thank as he will be starring in the British version of Law and Order soon. Tamoh Pennekit (Helo) has hooked up with Joss Whedon and is now in Dollhouse. And just announced, CBS has picked up CTV’s The Bridge which will be starring Aaron Douglas (Tyrol).

On House, our favorite cranky doctor will not only be trying a new pain regime but will be going out on a date with Wilson. On Grey’s Izzie finds out her blood sample was mixed up and she has something more serious than anemia, also Callie will be asking Arizona out on a date. (Lots of dating going on in TV land it seems.) On Bones a series of attacks at the lab will have everyone reacting and yes, there will be a Booth and Bones hook-up. On Numb3rs Don will suffer a life threatening injury and the 100th episode will find the brothers Eppes dealing with a case eerily similar to the first one they worked on together. CSI will go to Comic Con where a sci-fi icon is bumped off. There is still a lot of buzz about the third Winchester brother on Supernatural, all I have to say is look at the episode title (Jump the Shark) and trust in creator Erik Kripke.

Pop star Ashlee Simpson and her rocker hubby Pete Wentz had their baby Thursday night. Bronx Mowgli Simpson-Wentz weighed 7 pounds 11 ounces and measured 20 1/2 inches long. Mom and baby were said to be doing well. Many are now speculating as to why on earth they gave the poor boy the name Bronx Mowgli.

Pushing Daisies fans, break out the tissues, your show has for all intents and purposes been canceled. ABC has not greenlit any additional shows for it and two other shows; Eli Stone and Dirty Sexy Money. Daisies wrapped production on its 13th episode last week, at which point series creator Bryan Fuller said he was holding out hope that high-ranking advocates for his show would work some magic. Didn’t happen. Fuller, though, has said that Ned and Chuck’s story, in such a situation, will continue on in comic-book form. I for one wonder if perhaps Fuller will return to Heroes and help out that show.

Stargate Atlantis star Jason Momoa was attacked on November 15. Dominic Bando, 21, who allegedly argued with the actor and hit him in the face with a pint glass, was charged today with assault with a deadly weapon, the Los Angles District Attorney’s Office confirms to E! News. The intergalactic actor required reconstructive surgery and 140 stitches when his face was shattered. This blogger wishes Momoa a swift recovery.

The Grammys were handed out last night. Out of the over 100 awards that are issued each year, 10 were shown during the 3 hour broadcast. Allison Krause and Robert Plant made out well taking Record and Album of the year. Coldplay took Song of the Year. Jennifer Hudson took home Best R&B Album for which she thanked her family (those here and those not). May I just ask who the heck this Adele is that won Best New Artist. I freely admit to not being totally current on new music because I knew (by name) only two of the people/acts in that category.

Finally, Chuck spoilers abound thanks to reporting from New York Comic Con and the Chuck panel. Views will be going behind the scenes at Fulcrum. We might get to see Chuck’s first kill (!). Creator Josh Schwartz joked that President Obama’s first order as president was to destroy the show (Obama will be making a televised speech this week, pre-empting  the regularly scheduled showing of Chuck). Jill will be coming back and someone may die! Overall it looks like an exciting second half of Chuck.

New releases out this week on DVD include the box office flop Speed Racer (with Matthew Fox and Christina Ricci) and the 25th anniversary edition of Risky Business, the movie that propelled Tom Cruise into the spotlight and inspired millions into dancing to “Old Time Rock and Roll” while wearing their tighty whitey’s and Ray Bans. On the television side of the DVD aisle we have some good picks. There is the first seasons of Pushing Daisies, Dirty Sexy Money and this bloggers favorite Chuck (if you like spies, comedy and eye candy [hello Adam Baldwin and Zachary Levi] then Chuck is for you). Also coming out is the second season of the Doctor Who spinoff, Torchwood. The season finale of this season had your entrepid blogger crying like a baby.

Santa is going to be very good to Stephen Colbert this year. Comedy Central announced yesterday that the comedian will be hosting his own Christmas special. The musical special will feature John Legend, Elvis Costello, Toby Keith, Willie Nelson and Feist. Joining Colbert for a duet will be Daily show host Jon Stewart. The one hour special will air on November 23.

Michael Ausiello gives us Supernatural spoilers straight from producer’s Eric Kripke’s mouth. In midseason there will be an episode titled “Afterschool Special” that is going to feature a haunting of one of the high schools Sam and Dean attended. “As they investigate, we’ll see flashbacks to what high school was like for Sam and Dean.” Teen Winchesters! Sounds like it could be fun. Not so says Kripke “It wasn’t pretty.” But first, Dean needs to get out of hell. Tune in Thursday for the Supernatural premiere to see how that’s going to happen.

More news and gossip tomorrow!

Dreamworks Studios is on it’s own. After two and half years of success while attached to Paramount, the studio founded by Stephen Spielburg, Jeffery Katzenburg and David Geffen is independent once more. It will not, however, be staring up it’s own distribution arm. It will look for another major studio to release the six movies that are slated for next year. Rumor is that Universal Studios will be that studio. Talks will now occur between the two as to who takes what titles with them in the split.

Not so long ago, American Idol revealed that it would be adding a fourth judge to the roster in the form of Kara DioGuardi. Much has been made of this decision, but the big question on everyone’s mind has been, what will happen in the event of a tie during the audition rounds? Wonder no more. A spokesperson for the show revealed to TVGuide.com that acerbic judge and executive producer Simon Cowell will have the final say in whether a contestant goes forward or not.

Joshua Allen, winner of So You Think You Can Dance’s fourth season, reveals what he’s been up to since the finale. He thought he was in for some well deserved rest, but mom had other plans. He met friends and family who had all supported and voted for him. But he also got to do some fun things. He was given the key to his hometown and a parade was held in his honor. Next up? The tour. Allen will be reprising “No Air”, “Hometown Glory” and the athletic Russian trepak routine he performed with Twitch in the finale.

Slumdog Millionaire got a boost when it won top prize from the Director’s Guild. It also recently secured honors from the Producers Guild. But will accusations of unfair wages  hurt it’s chances?

Charges were lobbied against the film’s producers that some of the child actors were not paid a decent wage. Previously Citizen Kane was harmed by bad press from  William Randollph Hearst. Bonnie & Clyde and A Clockwork Orange may have been similarly affected.

AMC film historian Tim Dirks says that Slumdog’s independent status may save it. “Since Slumdog Millionaire is a low-budget independent film…it will probably hold its underdog edge and not lose votes from Academy members,” he said.

Wall-E may not have a lock on the Best Animated Picture category. Kung Fu Panda, one of  its competitors, swept the Annie Awards. Panda took 10 trophies in tota.

Finally, if Heath Ledger should win at the Oscars (heh, IF, I so wanted to type WHEN because he’s pretty much a lock), his family will accept it. Dark knight director Christopher Nolan made this announcement at the DG awards. This would probably mean his father, mother and older sister.

Oscar nominee, Joaquin Phoenix has stunned everyone by announcing that he is quitting acting in favor of pursuing a singing career. The actor dropped a bombshell to entertainment news show Extra, announcing that his recently wrapped film Two Lovers, with Gwyneth Paltrow, will be his last. “I want to take this opportunity… also to give you the exclusive and just talk a little bit about the fact that this will be my last performance as an actor,” he said. “I’m not doing films anymore.” And it doesn’t seem like he’s joking either. Phoenix’s rep confirmed the news, stating, “That is what he told me.”

The other not so stunning announcement came from across the pond yesterday. British actor David Tennant, who is best known for playing The Doctor on the wildly popular Doctor Who for the last three years, announced that he is leaving. After filming the four specials that are to air next year in place of a regular season, Tennant will not be playing the Time Lord anymore. Fans of the show knew this day would come sooner or later and rumors have been circulating for quite some time as to who would fill Tennant’s shoes as the eleventh incarnation of The Doctor. Now speculation can truly begin. It wil be an interesting time for the show as the man responsible for the wildly popular reboot of the series, Russel T Davies stepped down after last season and is being replaced by Steven Moffatt, who has written the episodes “The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances” and “Blink”. So with two new faces in front of and behind the camera, what’s next for The Doctor? Time will only tell.

Last night’s season premiere of Saturday Night Live started out by ending the speculation I mentioned yesterday. Former cast member and writer Tina Fey came back to play Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin alongside Amy Poehler’s Hilary Clinton. Palin’s views on foreign policy and global warming were mocked in the opening skit which was a “non-partisan message” skewering the issue of sexism in the election. The show was hosted by Olympian Michael Phelps who joked that the job was “the ninth greatest moment of my life”.

Sadly, that guest appearance by Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama? Didn’t happen. It was announced early yesterday that Senator Obama was not going to appear because of the growing emergency in the Gulf coast due to Hurricane Ike. “In light of the unfolding crisis in Texas, Sen. Obama has decided it is no longer appropriate to appear on Saturday Night Live,” was the quote from a spokesperson for the Obama campaign as saying. Senator Obama will be rescheduled to appear on the show at a later date.

Finally, last night, as a precursor to next week’s Prime Time Emmy awards, the Creative portion of the awards were given out. The show was hosted by “How I Met Your Mother” star Neil Patrick Harris and “Scrubs” star Sarah Chalke. Guest actor and actress in a drama were; Glynn Turnman for HBO’s “In Treatment” and Cynthia Nixon in NBC’s “Law and Order: Special Victim’s Unit”. Guest actor and actress in a comedy were; Tim Conway for NBC’s “30 Rock” and Kathryn Joosten for ABC’s “Desperate Housewives”. Best Choreography went to “So You Think You Can Dance” Wade Robson for his season three “Chairman’s Waltz”. And winning both Best Original Music and Lyrics and Best Picture Editing for her salty “I’m Fucking Matt Damon”

That’s all for today!

David Duchovny has landed himself a new movie role. The former X-Files star, currently in rehab for sex addiction, has signed onto the dramedy “The Joneses”. The film is about a faux family feigning the picture of a perfect clan as a marketing ploy to introduce luxury products to neighborhoods. Duchovny will play the bogus father, who is currently undergoing a “crisis of confidence” due to the phony life he’s leading, while Demi Moore will portray the career-driven mother who’s struggling with her growing affection for Duchovny’s character. Good luck to David and here’s hoping everything goes well in his future.

Katie Holmes made her Broadway debut but not without some controversy. Two dozen anti-Scientology protesters showed up outside the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater, where Holmes is starring in Arthur Miller’s All My Sons, to demonstrate their distaste for the religion, shouting such chants as “Scientology is a cult,” and the staple since TomKat hooked up in 2005, “Free Katie”. The protesters said they weren’t there to protest Katie, but Scientology which they see as a cult. None of this seemed to affect the actress who held her own on stage and received two standing ovations.

Finally, there has been a lot of talk, but not much action, in regards to a strike by members of the Screen Actors Guild. After last years writer’s strike, many are wondering what’s going on. According to TV Guide’s Matt Roush all members are still working under the expired contract while SAG holds an election for seats on it’s national board. Whatever the outcome of that is, it may have some influence on whether or not a strike happens. But a vote will still have to be decided by the membership at large and it’s still unclear if a strike will be approved so close to the last one. So for the moment, it’s wait and see. This blogger is hoping for the best.

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Thankfully today’s Google Trends brings you Family Guy’s Meg Griffin in the top spot and acknowledges at best medium hotness.  We also have naked Aniston being popular.  While not unattractive, I have a hard time seeing what is so incredibly attractive about Jennifer Aniston, much less a naked Jennifer Aniston.  I wouldn’t turn her out of my bed, and she is certainly much improved over Amy Winehouse topless. I guess some  will do anyone even a medium hotness Meg Griffin.

In our getting old school Hotness Barbara Billingsley turns 93.  Go Mrs Cleaver!  I still think her best role though was in Airplane.  Other birthdays of mention and note Jordin Sparks is 18.  BFD on Jordin because the curvy girl who looked good in a pair of tight jeans on American Idol now looks like she has eaten Randy Jackson with a side of Simon and could use Paula Adbul as a toothpick.  Ralph Fiennes is 46 and inisists that his name is not pronounced like Ralph Wiggam.  Much Cooler than Ralph is Hector Elizondo  who is 72.  Brooke Nevin who is much prettier than Jordan Sparks turns 26 and thinking of her reminds how much I really enjoyed The 4400.  I think I’ll break out the DVD later.  I might have to put in some of my Favorite Dina Meyer movies too.  I wish I had Birds of Prey on DVD.  Moving on from The 4400 we have that other similar show Taken staring Heather Donahue as the adult Mary Crawford.   Heather Donahue turns 34.  The young but still pretty Samantha Bunton of the direct to video movie Sandlot is 17.

Other Celebrity Rumors include Michael Jackson is ill.  Michael Jackson ill?  Well many of us have thought for a long time he was positively sick, but it appears Jacko needs a lung transplant.  A Michael Jackson lung transplant if he gets one will probably mean an end to his singing career, which in my less than humble opinion ended some time in the early to mid eighties. A Michael Jackson lung transplant, probably means h will have to quit chasing young boys too.

That about does it for this edition of Google Trends, now why don’t you surf on over to something important like bowl game results for 2008.  You might need to think about which christmas presents to take back to settle with your bookie.