Here's the Scoop...

I did watch a good chunk of the Oscars last night. I didn't do it for me, I did it for you. Thanks, everyone!

I was happy that Mad Max: Fury Road took home quite a few trophies, and I was also glad to see Brie Larson win for Best Actress. She seemed genuine with her speech, and appreciative for the honor. On the other hand, Leonardo DiCaprio should have given his Best Actor Oscar back after that over-rehearsed, self-congratulatory, disingenuous speech he blabbed. Ray Charles could have seen through that. You were on 'Growing Pains', dude. Just relax!

I think to avoid all of the racial controversy next year, each actor, regardless of age, race, gender, creed, etc., should all get awards. Just make the Oscars like a high school graduation ceremony. Just announce each actor and actress alphabetically and list their credits for that year, and hand them a trophy, and send them on their way. It'll take the same amount of time, and we don't have to celebrity grandstanding. So everybody wins! Everybody gets a trophy! Yay!!!

I'm just glad the Oscars are over. Aren't you?

Be Well,
Steve

Comments? Questions? Nooz? Email Steve

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Leonardo DiCaprio, Alejandro G. Inarritu, 'Spotlight,' 'Mad Max' win big at the Oscars
Director Tom McCarthy's Spotlight was declared the Best Picture of 2015, marking the second year in a row the top award went to a movie starring beloved actor Michael Keaton.

Last year's prize was presented to Birdman, which was helmed by Alejandro G. Inarritu.

Inarritu won the Best Director Oscar for Birdman, then repeated the accomplishment Sunday for The Revenant, the film that also netted Leonardo DiCaprio his first Oscar. The Revenant was recognized for Best Cinematography, as well.

Brie Larson took home the Best Actress Oscar for her performance in Room and Mark Rylance scored the Best Supporting Actor trophy for his work in Bridge of Spies, beating out Sylvester Stallone, who was favored to win the honor for his turn in Creed.

Alicia Vikander picked up the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her work in The Danish Girl.

Another big winner Sunday was Mad Max: Fury Road, which swept the technical categories and garnered the Oscars for Best Costume Design, Best Production Design, Best Sound Mixing, Best Film Editing, Best Sound Editing, and Best Hair and Makeup.

The award for Best Adapted Screenplay went to The Big Short, while Spotlight received the Best Original Screenplay title.

The prize for Best Visual Effects was given to Ex Machina, another film that co-starred Vikander.

Inside Out was deemed Best Animated Feature Film, Amy Best Documentary and Son of Saul Best Foreign-Language Film. Ennio Morricone won the Oscar for Best Score for The Hateful Eight.

Chris Rock hosted the ceremony, which aired on ABC.


LOOSE LIPS:
"I'm only here cause Ellen said no."
--Chris Rock, on how he got his Oscars hosting gig, to The Hollywood Reporter


??? Guess Who ???
Which 'Big Love' star will headline the new TV drama based on 'Training Day'?


Justice For Flint: Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay organize fundraiser on Oscar night
Directors Ryan Coogler and Ava DuVernay organized a fundraiser Oscar Sunday, to help raise money for those affected by the devastating water contamination crisis in Flint, Mich.

Dubbed #JusticeForFlint, the charity event looking to raise $100,000 was presented by Coogler's activist group, Blackout for Human Rights, and was hosted by comedian Hannibal Buress.

"With the #JusticeForFlint benefit event we will give a voice to the members of the community who were the victims of the choices of people in power who are paid to protect them, as well as provide them with a night of entertainment, unity, and emotional healing," Coogler said to BuzzFeed ahead of the event.

The director missed attending the Oscars for the event in which his film Creed was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for star Sylvester Stallone.

DuVernay was quick to deny however that #JusticeForFlint took place on Oscar Sunday on purpose in light of the recent ongoing #OscarsSoWhite conversation surrounding Hollywood. "A lot of these people care nothing about these Oscars and it's not their world," she said to The Hollywood Reporter about the event's organizers.

"It happens to be me and Ryan's world. When it came up that this was a possible date it felt wrong to say, 'No, guys. Let's not do this date because there's something happening in L.A.'"

The event featured musical performances from Stevie Wonder, Janelle Monae, Estelle, Vic Mensa, Jazmine Sullivan and Musiq Soulchild.

"The reality is we all need water. That's a human right," Wonder said onstage during his surprise performance.

"And it should be clean water! One requires accountability. If it goes down bad, someone's gotta go," he continued, calling for the resignation of Michigan Governor Rick Snyder.

As the show ended, the performers and organizers gathered onstage together to chant "Clean our pipes!" and 'Flint Lives matter!"


??? Guess Who ???
Which 'Big Love' star will headline the new TV drama based on 'Training Day'?

Bill Paxton is set to star in a small-screen sequel to Training Day, playing a new spin on the role that won Denzel Washington an Oscar.

The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the casting news Friday.

The CBS sequel series is to pick up 15 years after the 2001 film left off. Paxton will play Frank Rourke, a veteran, morally ambiguous detective for the Los Angeles Police Department. The re-boot will focus on the as-yet-uncast Kyle Craig, an idealistic, young African-American police officer who becomes Frank's partner.

Ethan Hawke played the rookie to Washington's mentor in the film version.

Paxton and Washington co-starred in the 2013 action-drama 2 Guns.