Uggie, the adorable and very talented Jack Russell Terrier who nearly succeeded in stealing The Artist out from under star Jean Dujardin, has won  his category at the First Annual Golden Collar Awards! Uggie's closest competition for Best Dog in a Theatrical Film, Blackie from Hugo, famously championed by the film's director, Martin Scorsese, took his loss in stride. In fact, he sent two stand-ins to the ceremony, both of whom slept through the prize-giving. The awards, created by web-based dog magazine Dog News Daily, honored the best performing pups on the large and small screen. Uggie was one of six talented dogs receiving awards at the festivities held last night, February 15 in Los Angeles.

• The Best Dog in a Foreign Film category was won by Koko from the Australian film Red Dog, which is definitely on my list of must-see dog films. In Australia, Koko is just as famous as Uggie. A tongue-in-cheek video by Koko’s people said Koko wasn’t at the Golden Collars because the people of Australia refuse to let the dog leave the country.

• The Best Dog in a Television Series category went to French bulldog Brigitte from the ever-popular TV series, Modern Family.

• There was a tie in the Best Dog in a Reality Television Series category, with Hercules from Pit Boss and Giggy from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills sharing the award. After the ceremony, Pit Boss star Shorty Rossi said he hoped that his loveable, mellow pit bull’s win would help the public see pit bulls as “the fantastic dogs they are.”

• For Best Dog in a Direct-to-DVD Film category, the yellow Lab pup Rody, from Marley & Me: The Puppy Years.

“He is a great family member as well as a great performer, and he will be enjoying a lot more couch time now,” said Uggie’s owner-trainer, Omar Von Muller, with Uggie trembling lightly in his arms. (Contrary to initial reports that Uggie was retiring to rest and relax, there is a darker reason for the dog’s departure from the spotlight. Uggie has an as-yet-undiagnosed  neurological disorder.) “He has helped pave the way for other dogs and trainers to get the recognition they deserve for their hard work in the future.”

There are also conflicting reports as to whether or not Uggie will be at the Oscars. One report has him expected to take his final bow by opening the show beside host Billy Crystal. Other reports state that he hasn’t been invited and without an express invitation he can’t even accompany the stars of The Artist onto the red carpet.  I guess we’ll see on Sunday February 26.

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We brought you some great pics from last night’s red carpet in front of the 65^th annual BAFTA  Awards and told you about Miss Piggy’s debut as a celebrity interviewer of celebrities, and apparently she was a big hit. We just found some footage and I have to share it with you.  Gary Oldman told her she was “the most sincere person I’ve met on this line so far”

Miss Piggy, who looked lovely in custom-made Louis Vuitton,  lined up a new film with Jessica Chastain (a “buddy comedy”), thought The Help was a remake of a Beatles movie (and told Octavia Spencer she was  a good Ringo) and talked, and shamelessly flirted, with the likes of Michael Fassbender and got flirted with by Jonah Hill, who demanded a kiss, and Adam Deacon who asked her for a date. Tom Hiddleston seemed genuinely, and very sweetly, star-struck.

Of course La Porker, whose real name is Pigathia although she told Daniel Radcliffe to call her “Miss”, saved her affections for Jon Hamm (even if she didn’t get the joke).

Enjoy the video!

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Well, it’s all over but the shouting.  (You think I'm kidding, the crowds were insane!) The winners have been declared for the Orange British Academy Film Awards for 2012 held tonight February 12 at the Royal Opera House in London.  Miss Piggy was a lovely and gracious hostess  and a welcome addition to the regular red-carpet personalities like Edith Bowman and  Fearne Cotton. Jon Hamm showed up just to class up the joint, as did presenter Penelope Cruz.

Sir Tom Jones kicked things off with a musical homage to 50 years of James Bond. It was a little difficult to discern the words, but he's still got the voice. Host Stephen Fry, was, as always witty, charming and erudite.

You’ll find the complete list below, but in case you haven’t heard yet, The Artist swept almost every category for which it was nominated. That’s not really all that surprising and it does pretty much seal the deal for the Oscars in two weeks time. If Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and its star Gary Oldman were going to pull any upsets, this would have been the place for that very British film to do it.  TTSS did win Best Adapted Screenplay (which was deserved. I thought it would. The writers are British, of course, but one of the cowriters, Peter Straughan’s wife Bridget O’Connor, died before seeing it produced) as well as Best British Film. 

So, needless to say, Oldman and Michael Fassbender were denied and Jean Dujardin is going home with the golden mask. (Although I would have liked to have seen Fassy get it, I thought surely the British Academy would see fit to reward Oldman. I do think, however, that Dujardin’s win puts the nail in Clooney’s Oscar coffin.)  George did show up of course, just in case. As did Brad Pitt. George was flying solo and Brad was sans Ange. He must have left her in Berlin. Love the pic of George and Colin Firth sharing a bro-hug. And only the beautiful Livia Firth could get away with that manly tux on the red carpet.

Ralph Fiennes (Coriolanus) was denied in favor of another first-time actor turned director Paddy Considine who was awarded the Best Debut by a British Director, Writer or Prducer prize for Tyrannosaur.  Ralph looked fantastic though and we all know that’s more important.

Meryl Streep glammed it up and put on the ritz as if she expected to win. Everyone predicted it was in the bag for her in Blighty and they were right.  (There were ads for The Iron Lady during the BBCAmerica telecast of the BAFTAs that emphasize the fact that it's been 29 years since she won an Oscar. Heavy-handed in my opinion.) Viola Davis lost out, but her costar Octavia Spencer continued her run and won Best Supporting Actress for The Help. (Who were those guys Spencer had with her? They look like bodyguards.) Poor Michelle Williams who seemed a front-runner at one point, has all but been forgotten. She looked good though. 

Kenneth Branagh lost out to Christopher Plummer, but I’m just glad he showed up (Plummer didn't). I can’t get enough of him. He’s still as adorable as he was in Henry V. (And can I just say that I freakin’ LOVE that his wife isn’t some waifish trophy?)  Although, I do have to say Gary Oldman always looks like someone just handed him the keys to the kingdom whenever you see him with his arm around wife no. 4, Alexandra Edenborough.

One category that was a surprise: the Orange Rising Star Award. Last year it was won by Tom Hardy, and in the five years before that it was won by the likes of Kristen Stewart, Noel Clarke, Shia Labeouf, Eva Green and James McAvoy. This year the nominees were Chris Hemsworth (Thor, The Avengers, Snow White and the Huntsman) who showed up with his gorgeous pregnant bride, Elsa Pataky, Eddie Redmayne, (My Week with Marilyn, Pillars of the Earth, Les Miserables), Tom Hiddleston (Thor, The Avengers, Deep Blue Sea, War Horse, Midnight in Paris), Chris O’Dowd (Bridesmaids for which he won an IFTA the night before, The Boat That Rocked, Friends with Kids) and Adam Deacon (Kidulthood, Adulthood). Guess who won? That’s right, the actor you’ve never heard of. I guess the other four don’t need a leg up, at least according to UK cinema-goers, who vote for the award. Deacon couldn't believe it either, calling it "surreal" before saying "Fank you".  Actually Adam Deacon appeared in a movie ten years ago with Gerard Butler. Deacon was in Shooters when he was just 16. I guess that’s a reason to watch it again. *coughlikeIneedonecough*

Martin Scorsese was given the British Academy Fellowship Award,sort of a 'lifetime achievement' award, presented to him by Max von Sydow. It was an oddly introduced tribute with only two taped testimonials, one by Robert De Niro and another by Christopher Lee (who appeared in Hugo this year). I guess  they couldn't given him this one and Best Director, so that went to Michel Hazanavicius for The Artist. (By the way, how does a movie with no dialogue win Best Original Screenplay?)

Some exciting news was leaked on the red carpet as well. Bond girls Naomie Harris and Berenice Marlohe, who both looked stunning, were in attendance and Harris revealed that Skyfall would include “a lot” of Daniel Craig nakedness. You read that right. She said “nakedness”.  Now, while I don’t expect Craig to go all ‘Fassbender’, another slow climb out of the sea, dripping wet in those tight blue trunks would be appreciated. Just sayin’.

The biggest surprise of the night, Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe showed up to hand out the BAFTA for Best Picture…The Artist. (Since it was a suprise they didn't walk the red carpet. It would have exploded from the hotness.)

So here’s your complete list of winners as well as a lot of pretty pics of the pretty people.  Meet you back here in two weeks for the Oscars!

Outstanding British Contribution To Film

John Hurt

Best Original Screenplay

Michel Hazanavicius – The Artist
Kristin Wiig, Annie Mumolo – Bridesmaids
John Michael McDonagh – The Guard
Abi Morgan – The Iron Lady
Woody Allen – Midnight In Paris

Best Supporting Actress

Carey Mulligan – Drive
Jessica Chastain – The Help
Judi Dench – My Week With Marilyn
Melissa McCarthy – Bridesmaids
Octavia Spencer – The Help

Outstanding British Film

My Week With Marilyn
Senna
Shame
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
We Need To Talk About Kevin

Best Supporting Actor

Kenneth Branagh – My Week With Marilyn
Jim Broadbent – The Iron Lady
Jonah Hill – Moneyball
Philip Seymour Hoffman – The Ides of March
Christopher Plummer – Beginners

Best Production Design

The Artist
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Hugo
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
War Horse

Best Debut by a British Director, Writer or Producer

Richard Ayoade – Submarine
Paddy Considine, Diarmid Scrimshaw – Tyrannosaur
Joe Cornish – Attack the Block
Ralph Fiennes – Coriolanus
Will Sharpe, Tom Kingsley, Sarah Brocklehurst – Black Pond

Best Film Not in the English Language

Incendies
Pina
Potiche
A Separation
The Skin I Live In

Best Costume Design

The Artist
Hugo
Jane Eyre
My Week With Marilyn
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Best Makeup & Hair

The Artist
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Hugo
The Iron Lady
My Week With Marilyn

Best Cinematography

The Artist
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Hugo
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
War Horse

Best Film Editing

The Artist
Drive
Senna
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Best Sound

The Artist
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Hugo
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
War Horse

Best Original Music

Ludovic Bource – The Artist
Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross – The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Howard Shore – Hugo
Alberto Iglesias – Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
John Williams – War Horse

Best Visual Effects

The Adventures of Tintin
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2
Hugo
Rise of the Planet of the Apes
War Horse

Best Animated Short

Abuelas
Bobby Yeah
A Morning Stroll

Best Short Film

Chalk
Mwansa The Great
Only Sound Remains
Pitch Black Heist
Two And Two

Best Film

The Artist
The Descendants
Drive
The Help
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Best Director

Michel Hazanavicius – The Artist
Nicolas Winding Refn – Drive
Martin Scorsese – Hugo
Tomas Alfredson – Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Lynne Ramsay – We Need To Talk About Kevin

Best Actor

George Clooney – The Descendants
Jean Dujardin – The Artist
Michael Fassbender – Shame
Brad Pitt – Moneyball
Gary Oldman – Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Best Actress

Berenice Bejo – The Artist
Viola Davis – The Help
Meryl Streep – The Iron Lady
Tilda Swinton – We Need To Talk About Kevin
Michelle Williams – My Week With Marilyn

Best Adapted Screenplay

Jim Rash, Nat Faxon, Alexander Payne – The Descendants
Tate Taylor – The Help
George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon – The Ides of March
Steve Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin - Moneyball
Bridget O'Connor, Peter Straughan – Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

Best Animated Film

The Adventures of Tintin
Arthur Christmas
Rango

Best Documentary

George Harrison: Living In A Material World
Project Nim
Senna

Rising Star Award

Adam Deacon
Chris Hemsworth
Tom Hiddleston
Chris O'Dowd
Eddie Redmayne

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For your daily Fassbender, we have pics from the Irish Film and Television Awards, held tonight in Dublin where Fassy won yet another award for Best Actor in a Film for his performance in Shame, (giving the Academy yet another punch in the schnoz in my humble opinion). Michael (probably) won’t be celebrating this win til the wee hours since he’s up for yet another round tomorrow night. He’ll hop a flight or take the ferry across to London for the Orange British Academy Film and Television Awards, better known as the BAFTAs (even though they do television separately) where he’s again nominated for Best Actor. He does have serious competition from Gary Oldman though. (Anyone but Clooney. Love ya George, but I can name at least two other films you were better in.)

Irish cutie Chris O’Dowd won the award for Best Supporting Actor in a Film for Bridesmaids.

Over on the continuent, the Jolie-Pitts were at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele for the Berlinale premiere of Angelina’s directorial effort, In the Land of Blood and Honey. Is it me or is Ange softening her look lately? Probably an off-night.

Below are some pics of Hollywood’s ‘Golden Couple’ as well as the ‘World’s Sexiest Ginger’ (I just made that up.) Enjoy.

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Remember last week when we told you that Martin Scorsese had decided he wasn’t going to take the omission of Blackie, one of the stars of his Oscar nominated film Hugo, from the list of nominees for the first ever Golden Collar awards, lying down?

Scorsese composed a letter to the LA Times urging Dog News Daily, the awards sponsoring organization, to reconsider the slight. In the letter he wrote, “I’m proud of Blackie, who laid it on the line and dared to risk the sympathy of her audience. Let’s just say that on the set, she had a fitting nickname: Citizen Canine. The bath scene alone is a masterpiece of underplaying, with Blackie’s wonderfully aquiline face accentuated by the 3-D.”

Dog News Daily stepped up by offering Blackie a nomination if they  got 500 “likes”on their Facebook page, after which Blackie would be considered a “write-in” nominee. Not only did they get the asked for 500, but they far exceeded the goal. So Blackie is in! (Why didn’t anyone think of this for Fassbender? We should have set Scorsese on the case. I don't think very many people say no to Marty.)

Now of course, the inclusion of Blackie to the list of nominees for “Best Dog in a Theatrical Film” gives real competition to The Artist’s Uggie, who is competing against himself, as he’s been nominated for his work in Water for Elephants as well. Both dogs are up against Cosmo the scene-stealing pooch from Mike Mills’ Beginners. 

The Golden Collar awards will be held on February 13 when they will also present an honorary award to Charlize Theron for her work on behalf of animals. I’m a huge Uggie fan, but Blackie is very deserving of the nod. Good luck to all of the nominees!

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The 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards were held tonight at the Shrine Auditorium in LA. One of the best things about this awards show is that it's short. Two hours and it's all over but the shouting. Considering that this year I was less interested in the outcome of most of the categories than I've ever been, that was a blessing. We have some pics of the pretty people on the red carpet after the list. Without further ado, the nominees and the winners:

MOTION PICTURES

Outstanding Performance By A Cast In A Motion Picture

Bridesmaids
The Artist
The Descendants
*The Help
Midnight in Paris

The cast of Hugo wasn’t nominated, they went with Bridesmaids instead. I don’t quite understand what “actors” see or don’t see in each other’s performances that is so different from the rest of us.

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Leading Role

George Clooney, The Descendants
Demian Bichir, A Better Life
Leonardo DiCaprio, J. Edgar
*Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Brad Pitt, Moneyball

It wasn’t Clooney, so I’ll take it. (It wasn’t Fassbender or even Oldman either since Bichir and DiCaprio got their spots. MIND BOGGLING!)

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Leading Role

Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
*Viola Davis, The Help
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin

I wasn’t crazy about the movie but I love Viola Davis and she never gives anything but a stellar performance. It’s kind of fitting that Davis beat out one of her idols, Meryl Streep. It was Streep who praised Davis from the same podium when she won a SAG for Doubt (for which Davis was also nominated) with the words “someone find her a movie”.

Outstanding Performance By A Male Actor In A Supporting Role

Nick Nolte, Warrior
Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
Armie Hammer, J. Edgar
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
*Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Armie Hammer over Albert Brooks makes about as much sense as anything else SAG did this year. I really really would have loved it if Nick Nolte had upset, but I was not surprised nor really disappointed in Plummer’s win.

Outstanding Performance By A Female Actor In A Supporting Role

*Octavia Spencer, The Help
Berenice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs

Janet McTeer got Shailene Woodley’s spot so Spencer's win was expected. Deserved and expected.

Outstanding Performance By A Stunt Ensemble In A Motion Picture

The Adjustment Bureau
Cowboys & Aliens
*Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II
Transformers: Dark of the Moon
X-Men: First Class

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

*Boardwalk Empire (HBO)

Breaking Bad(AMC) 

Dexter (Showtime) 

Game of Thrones (HBO)

The Good Wife (CBS)

I love Boardwalk Empire. I have not missed an episode, but Game of Thrones deserved this award. I think with all of the attention paid to the production values and the writing, the acting on that show is not shown the respect it has earned. That was evident in Sean Bean’s omission from the Emmy nominations and it has continued.

But having said that, Boardwalk Empire, won last year for its first season and most would agree it improved during its second.

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

30 Rock (NBC)

The Big Bang Theory (CBS) 

Glee (FOX)

*Modern Family(ABC) 

The Office (NBC)

Based on its enduring popularity, wins at the most recent Emmys and Golden Globes, and highly diverse cast, this was expected and earned.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

Patrick J. Adams (Suits)

*Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire)

Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights)

Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)

Michael C. Hall (Dexter)

SAG chose to nominate Patrick J. Adams instead of Damian Lewis for Homeland or even Sean Bean, both exceptionally deserving. Another head scratcher. September’s surprise Emmy-winner Chandler (for his show’s last season) notwithstanding, I expected Buscemi, who is a true character actor, to repeat this year.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

Kathy Bates (Harry's Law)

Glenn Close (Damages)

*Jessica Lange (American Horror Story)

Julianna Margulies (The Good Wife)

Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)

Most probably thought Margulies would take it away from Golden Globe winner Lange (who won in a supporting category). SAG did not nominate Globe winner Claire Danes so I would have liked to have seen Kyra Sedgwick take it. Oh well.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series

*Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)

Ty Burrell (Modern Family)

Steve Carell (The Office)

Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men)

Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family)

The smart money was on Baldwin, an Emmy and Golden Globe nominee this year who has won this SAG prize each of the past five years, despite the fact that Carell had never won it for The Office and this was his last year.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series

Julie Bowen (Modern Family)

Edie Falco (Nurse Falco)

Tina Fey (30 Rock)

Sofia Vergara (Modern Family)

*Betty White (Hot in Cleveland)

I don’t get this, but then I don’t watch the show. I do know how truly good Fey, Bowen and Vergara are. Betty White has a lot of awards. She really doesn’t need to continue to receive them just because she’s still working. She’s 90. We’re impressed.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries
Laurence Fishburne (Thurgood)

*Paul Giamatti (Too Big to Fail)

Greg Kinnear (The Kennedys)

Guy Pearce (Mildred Pierce)

James Woods (Too Big to Fail)

I love Paul Giamatti, and his win was deserved, but I was surprised by this. I expected SAG to go with Laurence Fishburne.

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries

Diane Lane (Cinema Verite)

Maggie Smith (Downton Abbey)

Emily Watson (Appropriate Adult)

Betty White (The Lost Valentine)

*Kate Winslet (Mildred Pierce)

I had no doubt about this one, but I wish she’d been there to accept. I love her acceptance speeches.

So what does all this mean? Viola Davis is all but a lock for a Best Actress Oscar, as is Christopher Plummer for Best Supporting Actor and Octavia Spencer for Best Supporting Actress. The Oscar for Best Actor may still be up in the air, and I'm sincerely hoping that since they chose to nominate him, the Academy has gone with Gary Oldman, but with Dujardin's SAG win, it does sort of put a capper on the race for Best Picture. (I'm still holding out hope for a Hugo upset.)

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