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.

Who Will Win at The 81 Academy Awards?

Live blogging nominations. Who will make the cut?

Best Actor

Sean Penn, Milk

Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Richard Jenkins

Mikey Roarke, The Wrestler

Best Actress

Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married

Angelina Jolie. The Changeling

Melissa Leo, Frozen River (I had to look her and the movie up. A nomination out of left field.)

Meryl Streep, Doubt

Kate Winslet, The Reader (Will she have momentum from the Globes?)

Best Supporting Actor

Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight (I had his name typed even before the nominations were read!)

Josh Brolin, Milk

Robert Downey Junior, Tropic Thunder (the gasp/murmur in the crowd suggested this is a big surprise and it is. many didn’t see this coming because Downey was in blackface.)

Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt

Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road

Best Supporting Actress

Amy Adams, Doubt

Viola Davis, Doubt

Penelope Cruz, Vicki Cristina Barcelona

Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler

Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Director

Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon

Gus Van Sant, Milk

Stephen Daldry, The Reader

David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Best Animated Picture

Bolt

Kung Fu Panda

Wall-E

Best Picture

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Frost/Nixon

Milk

The Reader

Slumdog Millionaire

So, some interesting surprises. Despite lots of talk, no Best Picture nom for either The Dark Knight or Wall-E. The Dark Knight is represented in the technical categories. Slumdog Millionaire continues it’s remarkable journey. I was kind of surprised that Bruce Springsteen was not nominated in the Best Original Song category. So, the speculation begins and we’ll see who wins when the Oscars air on February 22nd.

Right to the awards. Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture:Kate Winslet, The Reader. How will this affect her chances at Best Actress? Her dress is quite lovely.  She looks really good.

OMG Sting needs to shave!!!

Best Orginal Song, Motion Picture: Bruce Springstein, The Wrestler.  He’s been here before. with The Streets of Philadelphia.

Supporting Actor Series, Miniseries, TV Movie: Tom Wilikinson, John Adams.

Supporting Actress, Miniseries, TV Movie, Series: Laura Dern, Recount.

Can I just say how much I love Eva Longeria’s dress? It’s so red.

OMG What is Eva Mendes wearing? What the hell is with that dress????

Best Actor, Tv Series, Drama: Gabriel Byrne, In Treatment.

Oh, yes, Zachary Qunito cleans up so very well. Why did you make me love Sylar so, ZQ?

Best Actress, TV Series, Drama: Anna Paquin, True Blood. Brad has a thing for Anna. She’s looking really good.

OMG 1111!!!!! THE JONAS BROTHERS!!!! not. What the hell is the appeal of these guys?

Best Animated Picture: Wall-E

Best Actress, Picture, Musical or Comedy: Sally Hawkins, Happy-Go-Lucky. Who the heck is this? I’ve never heard of her. But good for her. Apparently she was born the same day I was, exactly the same day, so I have an award winning birthday buddy!

T. R. Knight has asked to be let out of his contract with Grey’s Anatomy and it looks like he may get his wish. The star who has been with the show since its debut has asked producers to write him out of the show and while details have yet to be discussed, it will more than likely happen. Why is is T. R. wanting to leave? Some speculate that is has to do with the Isaiah Washington broohaha, but others say no. So why? He’s not receiving much screen time this season and feels that it’s time to move on.

The awards season has begun and already garnered its first surprise. The Los Angeles Critics association named Wall-E best picture, the first time it’s ever named an animated picture for that honor. The Pixar endeavor has landed on many critics top ten lists and there is much buzz surrounding it as Hollywood gears up for the biggest awards of all, the Oscars. Only one animated feature, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, has ever been nominated for Best Picture before the Academy instituted the Best Animated Picture category. Will Wall-E defy the odds? It’s a wait and see game.

On Psych, Cybil Sheppard and Rachel Leigh Cook will both be making return appearances as will a iconic brat packer. On House, set January 19 on your calendars as a not miss day, Hugh Laurie will be partial naked in the titular role. And on Bones, good news if you hate the rotating interns, that particular storyline is going to end soon. And Jack/Angela lovers, fret not, Hart Hanson assures us that their storyline is not over.