Gerard Butler, Rashida Jones (who must have been a last minute addition, for some reason), Sofia Vergara and Woody Harrelson all got up (along with their various assistants, stylists and handlers I'm sure) at some ungodly hour to schlep down to the Beverly Hilton to read off the nominations for the 2012 Golden Globe Awards. I hope they had intravenous Starbucks in the Green Room.

Well, now the full list of nominations is out and, as I’m sure by now you’ve guessed, I’m a little disappointed.  (Apparently I wasn’t the only one, as Woody Harrelson obviously, fully expected to be nominated. And why wouldn’t he? He’s another that’s been practically anointed since TIFF, for his role in Rampart. I absolutely loved his spontaneous plug for his movie though.) I’m disappointed on behalf of a lot of actors and their films, to be honest. At least the egregious wrong perpetrated on Michael Fassbender by the Screen Actors Guild was righted by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association – even if the Golden Globes are far less relevant.  ( On the tv side of things, I am, however, happy that Damian Lewis , Claire Danes and “Homeland”,  Idris Elba for ”Luther”, as well as Dominic West, Romola Garai and “The Hour” were all recognized.)

*And Machine Gun Preacher did get one nomination: Best Original Song- “The Keeper” written by Chris Cornell!! (Hey, I take my victories where I can find them!! If nothing else it means that they can put “Golden Globe Nominee”- possibly winner- on the dvd case.)*

Is this the year that trends are bucked; the year that anyone who’s been called a “lock” or a “frontrunner” doesn’t even get a mention?  For instance, where is Vanessa Redgrave’s name on the list of Best Supporting Actresses (for Ralph Fiennes’ Coriolanus)? After the SAG snub, this does not bode well.

Of course, there are the safe choices that everyone presumed would be made, like Meryl Streep for The Iron Lady and Glen Close for Albert Nobbs. (I suppose it will come down to whose studio &/or distributor shelled out the most ducats to the HFPA.) I was surprised that they recognized Rooney Mara for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (although she apparently acted all by herself and on her own in some sort of vacuum since neither her costar nor director or even the film were mentioned.) In fact, quite a few of the acting nominations are stand alone.

I don’t get how they come up with these things anyway. How can you have sixteen films (total) nominated for Best Picture (Drama, Musical/Comedy or Animated categories) and only five directing nominations? Did the other eleven direct themselves? (eg: Steven Spielberg has two films nominated for Best Picture in their categories – Best Drama War Horse, Best Animated Feature The Adventures of Tintin, but HE was overlooked.)

**On what planet is The Ides of March a freakin’ COMEDY?? Ryan Gosling, who was not nominated for the superior Drive, was nominated for the former in the Best Actor Musical/Comedy category. I need this explained to me.

edit- Ryan Gosling was nominated in the Best Actor Musical/Comedy category for Crazy Stupid Love, and not, as was erroneously reported (by the NY Times, no less-silly me for not fact checking the "Newspaper of Record"-they've since corrected their report as well) for the Ides of March. He was nominated for that film in the Drama category. Gosling still should have been nominated for Drive and not for playing the Clooney doppleganger in Ides of March

It was great to see Brendan Gleeson recognized for The Guard, but then they singled out Owen Wilson for  Midnight in Paris so that cancels that out.

Frankly, all of the nominations were all over the map. All I can take away from this is that once again I have to say that this year is going to be nearly impossible to call.

Nominations for the 68^th Annual Golden Globe Awards:

FILM Categories:

Best Drama
The Descendants
The Help
Hugo
The Ides of March
Moneyball
War Horse

Best Comedy/Musical
50/50
The Artist
Bridesmaids
Midnight in Paris
My Week with Marilyn

Best Actress in a Drama
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin

Best Actor in a Drama

George Clooney, The Descendants

Leonardo Dicaprio, J. Edgar

Michael Fassbender , Shame

Ryan Gosling, The Ides of March

Brad Pitt, Moneyball

Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical

Jean Dujardin, The Artist

Brendan Gleeson, The Guard

Joseph Gordon-Levitt, 50/50

Ryan Gosling , Crazy Stupid Love

Owen Wilson, Midnight in Paris

Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy
Jodie Foster, Carnage
Charlize Theron, Young Adult
Kristen Wiig, Bridesmaids
Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn
Kate Winslet, Carnage

Best Supporting Actor
Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
Albert Brooks, Drive
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Viggo Mortensen, A Dangerous Method

Best Supporting Actress

Berenice Bejo, The Artist

Jessica Chastain, The Help

Janet McTeer , Albert Nobbs

Octavia Spencer , The Help

Shailene Woodley, The Descendants

Best Animated Film
Arthur Christmas
Cars 2
Rango
Puss in Boots
The Adventures of Tintin

Best Foreign Language Film

A Separation (Iran)

The Flowers Of War (China)

The Kid With the Bike (Belgium)

In The Land Of Blood and Honey (USA)

The Skin I Live In (Spain)

Best Screenplay

Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris

Michael Hazanavicius, The Artist

George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon, The Ides of March

Steve Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin , Moneyball

Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash , The Descendants

Best Director
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
George Clooney, The Ides of March
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Alexander Payne, The Descendants
Martin Scorsese, Hugo

Television Categories:

BEST TV SERIES, DRAMA
American Horror Story, FX
Boardwalk Empire, HBO
Boss, Starz
Game of Thrones, HBO
Homeland, Showtime

BEST TV SERIES, COMEDY
Enlightened, HBO
Episodes, Showtime
Glee, Fox
Modern Family, ABC
New Girl, Fox

BEST ACTOR, DRAMA
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire
Brian Crantson, Breaking Bad
Kelsey Grammer, Boss
Jeremy Irons, The Borgias
Damian Lewis, Homeland

BEST ACTRESS, DRAMA
Claire Danes, Homeland
Mireille Enos, The Killing
Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Madeleine Stowe, Revenge
Callie Thorne, Necessary Roughness

BEST ACTOR, COMEDY
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock
David Duchovny, Californication
Johnny Galecki, The Big Bang Theory
Thomas Jane, Hung
Matt LeBlanc, Episodes

BEST ACTRESS, COMEDY
Laura Dern, Enlightenment
Zooey Deschanel, New Girl
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Laura Linney, The Big C
Amy Poehler, Parks and Recreation

BEST MINI-SERIES OR TV MOVIE
Cinema Verite, HBO
Downton Abbey, Masterpiece PBS
The Hour, BBC America
Mildred Pierce, HBO
Too Big To Fail, HBO

BEST ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR TV MOVIE
Hugh Bonneville, Downton Abbey, Masterpiece
Idris Elba, Luther
WIlliam Hurt, Too Big To Fail
Bill Nighy, Page Eight
Dominic West, The Hour

BEST ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR TV MOVIE
Romola Garai, The Hour
Diane Lane, Cinema Lane
Elizabeth McGovern, Downton Abbey
Emily Watson, Appropriate Adult
Kate Winslet, Mildred Pierce

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR TV MOVIE
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Paul Giamatti, Too Big to Fail
Guy Pearce, Mildred Pierce
Tim Robbins, Cinema Verite
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR TV MOVIE
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story
Kelly Macdonald, Boardwalk Empire
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
Evan Rachel Wood, Mildred Pierce

The 2012 Golden Globes will air Sunday, January 15th on NBC. Of course I'll be watching. I love a good train wreck…(especially in black tie!)

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has announced that Gerard Butler, Sophia Vergera, Woody Harrelson and Hollywood Foreign Press Association president Aida Takla-O’ Reilly will be revealing the nominations for the 2012 Golden Globes tomorrow December 15, live from the  ballroom at the Beverly Hilton hotel. There are 25 categories in film and television, so the presentation should go a little longer than that for the SAGs. (Judy Greer’s mike was still live when she said, “That’s it? Why’d we have to get up so early?” She’ll probably get a boatload of flack for it, but it was hilarious and spot on.)

The Golden Globe Awards will be presented on January 15 at a liquor soaked ceremony hosted once again by Ricky Gervais.  

I’m taking the fact that Gerard Butler was asked to read the announcements as a sign that he will indeed score a nomination for Machine Gun Preacher. *fingers crossed* (Just as I expect Woody Harrelson to get one for Rampart and Sophia Vergara to make the cut for “Modern Family”.)    

This calls for pics!

Yet another kids’ movie had its big premiere this weekend, this one again in LA. George Miller’s Happy Feet 2 got a gala blue carpet (icy=blue. Get it?) shindig Sunday November 13 at the Grauman’s (or Mann's) Chinese Theater with stars Elijah Wood (who will look like a Hobbit until the day he dies), Robin Williams, Sophia Vergara, Common, Alecia Moore (otherwise known as Pink) , Camryn Manheim, Hank Azaria and Benjamin “Lil -Pnut” Flores, Jr. Carlos Alazraqui, who voices Nestor, was carrying around a baby in a penguin suit.

Some other Hollywood types with nothing better to do on a Sunday afternoon (no, seriously most of them brought their kids) like Billy Bob Thornton (looking cadaverous), Holly Robinson Peete, Marcia Gay Harden and Kate Flannery also showed up.  Pink brought along hubby Carey Hart and their adorable new baby Willow. I’m including a pic of composer John Powell, who did the music for the film, simply because I ADORED the score (hey that rhymed) for How to Train Your Dragon. (This is not news to some of you.)

Happy Feet 2 opens Friday in the US and Canada and 2 December in the UK. Enjoy the pics!

"Ignore that guy in the background," as Modern Family star, Sofia Vergara, 39, strikes a pose tall and centre while attending the Monika Chiang LA Store Opening on Robertson Boulevard in Los Angeles, CA on October 10, 2011.  Sofia is the toast of the event in this simple, yet elegant, black body hugging dress with black and gold clutch and gold band bracelet.  (Try saying that five times.)   And to think that when Sofia was first starting out in Hollywood, she was told to lose weight.  Hah! Look who's smiling now!

Accompanied by his gorgeous wife, Catherine Zeta-Jones, 42, it's nice to see actor Michael Douglas, 67, looking the picture of perfect health when they attended the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) last night where he was presented with the Kirk Douglas Award for Excellence in Film by none other than his Dad, Kirk Douglas.  Catherine sparkled in a beaded chiffon purple shift with gold strappy shoes with jewel-encrusted clutch.  Michael is equally dazzling in his black single-breasted evening suit.  And the only accessory he needs, is lovely Catherine.

Showing off her post-baby figure, and rightfully so, is Jessica Alba, when she attended the Giorgio Armani/Vanity Fair private dinner in Los Angeles, California on October 11, 2011.  Jessica, 30, kept it simple but elegant in black trousers and black shirt topped with white blazer, accessorized with snake skin clutch and shoes.  And the just right amount of gold jewelry completes the look.  No matter the occasion, Jessica knows how to nail it.   Hey ladies, to get her look, visit ehow.com.

Meanwhile, across the pond Aussies invade Buckingham Palace.   The Queen held the A-list bash prior to her leaving next week for an 11-day tour of Australia to open a meeting of Commonwealth leaders.  However, out of the 300+ plus who attended, two undeniably stood out the most.  Elle MacPherson, 47, (aka – and understandably – "The Body") was sleek and sexy in this blush-coloured Donna Karan number with matching handbag and pumps.  (Hmm … I'm not sure who should be the one to curtsey.  Elle or the Queen?)   In any event, Elle looks like she could be on her Majesty's Secret Service.   So I only have one question to ask … when are they going to make this woman a Bond Girl???  But ladies, also looking very 007-ish was Hugh Jackman, 43, who was quite dashing in his dark blue suit and striped tie, whom I'm sure even had the Queen feeling weak in the knees.  (Come on, Liz.  Admit it.  You know he's a keeper.)   Come to think of it, if they made Hugh Jackman the next Bond, wouldn't Elle MacPherson make a great Bond Girl?  Just sayin'.

Also looking fabulous in London, UK are model Kimora Lee, 36, and her husband, actor and model, Djimon Hounsou, 47, who attended the PUMA Creative Catalyst Awards at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Hyde Park, London, on October 11, 2011.  The 36-year-old supermodel and mother of three is stunning in this little black number.  Kimora likes wearing LBDs to events.  However, this is the cutest little black dress I've seen her in.  And don't you just love the scalloped embellishment?  Not sure who the designer is, but I'm pretty sure it's not from the Baby Phat collection.  (No offence.)   And let's not forget her dapper hubby, Djimon who is equally stunning in black with black tie.   Don't they make a fabulous couple!

Definitely the most glamorous wedding guest on the list, Kate Moss, 37, attended Paul McCartney's wedding to Nancy Shevell on Sunday, October 9.  Kate wore a shimmering Lanvin metallic sheath and black stilettos with black leather clutch and kept the look classic with minimal make-up and hair pulled back.  It reminds me of how Kate looked when she first started modelling.  She appears quite content in this photo.  And it wasn't too long ago that she was also a bride.  Hmm … looks like married life is agreeing with her.  I hope so.

The most famous mother-in-law on the planet, Carole Middleton, 56, along with her husband attended a dance event in London on October 11, in aid of the British Red Cross.   The Duchess of Cambridge's mother was elegant as always dressed in a black dress and white jacket by Catherine Walker.  However, regardless of any event she attends, perhaps her most famous accessories are her toned legs.  It's easy to see where Catherine and Pippa get their good looks from.   Carole has even mastered the art of exiting a car in the most dignified and graceful manner possible.   (Perhaps that's because she knows the paparazzi are lurking about!)  

And last, but definitely not least, model and actress, Andie MacDowell, 53, attends a photocall to celebrate McDonalds-Germany's up-and-coming 40th Birthday and to support their 'Helping Hand' charity in Berlin, Germany, on October 14, 2011.  Andie is sizzling in this red hot dress and red is definitely her color.  I love how it contrasts with her hair.  While in her teens, Andie worked at McDonalds.  But something tells me she's now far removed from snacking on burgers and fries.

That's it for another week, readers.   Hope you enjoyed this week's picks.  What are your picks?  (My pick for this week:  Kimora Lee.)   Drop us a line and see you next week!

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Back in the day when Sofia Vergara was first starting out in show business she couldn’t fit into any of the size 0 dresses that designers would send her. In fact she couldn’t get the dresses past her hips so she was advised by some delicate genius in Hollywood to lose weight.

Sofia Vergara Is Smoking Hot For New ‘Skinny Can’ Diet Pepsi Ad

They informed her that other girls would look better on the red carpet than her if she didn’t, to which she told the ladies of The Talk she replied: “They might look better in pictures, but I look better naked!”

I’m so glad that Sofia did not listen to the idiot with the bad advice. She’s perfect just the way she is.

Source

In 1996, Sofia Vergara was in a pretty funny/hot Pepsi commercial (below) that she stripped down to nothing but her skimpy bikini in. In her quest for a cold one.  Well, she’s back in 2011 for the new Diet Pepsi Skinny Can ad campaign.

Sofia Vergara’s Got Milk? Ad Makes You Crave A Glass

I am sure we will be seeing a lot more than that single poster (above) and it’s going to be even hotter.  But what a great tease for the Modern Family star, right?

Enjoy the blast from the past:

Source: PopEater