Evenly Split Academy Awards

Gladiator, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Traffic split the honors at the 73rd Annual Academy Awards show in Los Angeles' Shrine Auditorium. DreamWorks and Universal's Gladiator took home five of the gold statues including best actor nod for Russell Crowe. Sony Pictures Classics' Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and USA Films' Traffic both nabbed four Oscars each. Best Actress, not surprisingly, went to Julia Roberts for her bravado role as Erin Brockovich.

Marcia Gay Harden's win as best supporting actress for Pollock and Cameron Crowe's award for best screenplay for his autobiographical Almost Famous were the most unexpected wins of the evening. Want to know more? Check out our complete list of Oscar winners.

Oscar Workers Hurt

Five people were injured last week while prepping for Oscar night. Scaffolding standing 40 feet wide, 120 feet long and about 20 feet tall collapsed while workers upon and underneath the structure attempted to construct a sun-shielding drape. The incident resulted in one with a critical head injury, another with a major back injury and three with minor injuries.

According to the city's fire department, the bulk of the structure fell behind bleachers set up for the media. The cause of the accident is being investigated by officials from the Division of Occupational Safety and Health.

Cartoon Legend Passes

90 year old animation legend William Hanna died Thursday at his North Hollywood home. With his partner Joseph Barbera, Hanna created such classic characters as Fred Flintstone, Yogi Bear, Quick Draw McGraw and Tom and Jerry. Hanna and Barbera had collaberated together since the late 1930s, and had received several honors for their work, including seven Oscars for the Tom and Jerry series.

Hanna's cause of death has not been revealed, but sources close to the family say Hanna's health had been declining for several years. He is survived by his wife Violet, two children and seven grandchildren.

Eastwood Seeks Support on Energy Bill

Clint Eastwood visited California Governor Gray Davis to seek his support on a new solar energy bill currently working its way through legislation. The bill would allow schools, non-profits and businesses to receive credit for the wind and solar energy they've resourced out to the state's power grid.

According to Reuters, Eastwood's Tehama Golf and Country Club has 242 photovoltaic panels powering everything from the clubhouse to the golf carts, producing 32 kilowatt hours a day. Sources say Eastwood has been sending thousands of surplus kilowatt hours to Pacific Gas & Electric Co. each year, but has never received anything in return. The State Assembly recently passed the bill with a vote of 75-1. The Senate will vote on similar legislation next month.

March 19, 2001

Steve Martin to host Oscars

Billy Crystal is taking time off this year to work on a new film, so funny man Steve Martin is going to take the reins as host of the 73rd Academy Awards. Gil Cates, producer of the Academy Awards telecast, is ecstatic about the choice, claiming Martin is funny, classy and literate, which makes him the perfect host.

Though this will be Martin's eighth appearance on an Oscar telecast (his first as host), Martin has never been nominated for an Oscar himself.

The Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2000 will be presented on March 25, 2001, at the Los Angeles Shrine Auditorium. Sunday at the Oscars will be televised live by the ABC Television Network beginning at 5 p.m. (PST), with a half-hour arrivals segment preceding the presentation ceremony.

All Pudding in Oahu

Adam Sandler just wrapped up filming his next comic outing, this time on the sandy shores of Oahu. According to Variety, writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson's storyline has been a closely guarded one, but the untitled $25 million film is rumored to be about a failing phone sex entrepeneur who saves pudding box coupons to earn frequent flyer miles.

Filming locations in Oahu included the Waikiki area, the airport and Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hotel, where Sandler stayed during production.

Pay or Play for Giamatti

Paul Giamatti has signed up to star with little Frankie Muniz (My Dog Skip) in Pay or Play, a story about a boy whose essay makes it into the hands of a Hollywood producer who turns it into a hit movie. The Universal Pictures film will be director Shawn Levy's big screen debut. Production will begin near the end of March.

Watch for Giamatti this summer in Tim Burton's remake of The Planet of the Apes.

Potter Mania Hits U.K.

Movie-goers in the U.K. showed just how eager they are to see the new Harry Potter movie. British and Irish Potter fans packed 200 theatres just to watch the trailer this past weekend, despite the fact the preview was only about two minutes in length.

Based on the popular children's book by J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone will feature Daniel Radcliffe as the young apprentice, and is set for release in November. The British release will keep the name of the original book title, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

We won't make you wait, you can catch the Harry Potter trailer right here!

March 12, 2001

Celebs Threaten Congress

The Creative Coalition has told members of Congress that unless they support campaign finance reform they will hold back their political donations, which in the past has exceeded $10,000.

The Coalition is a group of politically active celebrities such as William Baldwin, Ben Stiller, Rick Schroder, Marlo Thomas, Phil Donahue and more than a dozen others. The group made their intentions known in a letter to Congress claiming that its members will not endorse or raise money for those who oppose a major campaign finance reform bill before the Senate.

Oscar Night Looks Good For Roberts

It might just be Julia Roberts' night at the Oscars this year, after her big win on Sunday at the Screen Actor's Guild Awards. SAG bestowed the Best Actress on Roberts for her critically-acclaimed performance in Erin Brockovich. With the SAG and Golden Globe under her belt, Roberts appears to be a shoe-in for the Oscar.

Other SAG winners include Traffic for Best Ensemble (cast), Best Actor nod went to Benicio Del Toro of Traffic, Judi Dench from Chocolat won Best Supporting Actress, and Albert Finney won Best Supporting Actor for Erin Brockovich. .

Men of Honor Honored

The Veterans Foundation named Men of Honor Best Patriotic Picture at the American Veteran Awards this past weekend. The film, which stars Robert DeNiro and Cuba Gooding Jr., is a true story about the first black Navy diver, Carl Brashear, who retired at the highest rank possible for an enlisted man.

Other films nominated for the patriotic award were The Patriot, Tigerland, Rules of Engagement, and U-571.

March 5, 2001

Fonda Buys An Education

Actress Jane Fonda made history last Friday when she handed over a check to Harvard University's School of Education to the tune of $12.5 million, the largest sum ever donated to the institution. The money will be used to establish a Center on Gender and Education, for the sole purpose of studying gender influences on child development.

Fonda has often talked publically about her childhood problems with bulimia, and claims that learning about the disorder has sparked her interest in gender issues. The actress best known for her work in films such as Klute, The Electric Horseman, and On Golden Pond  has also been a long time activist for women's rights.

Cruise Most Powerful Celebrity

Spending yet another year in the Hollywood limelight, actor Tom Cruise was named this week by Forbes to be the most powerful celebrity in the world. The business magazine ranks celebrity as a combination of earning power and star magnitude, taking into consideration all their various press clippings, television and radio appearances, magazine cover stories and Web hits. According to Forbes, Cruise earned $43.2 million last year, and enjoyed a record-breaking 11 magazine covers, though many were a result of his divorce from actress Nicole Kidman.

The March 19th issue of Forbes ranked golfer Tiger Woods second in the Celebrity 100, after earning $53 million last year, and five magazine covers. The Beatles greatest hits release 1 topped pop charts in 24 countries, earning them third place in the celebrity 100 lineup. Rounding out the Top 10 on the list were Britney Spears, Bruce Willis, Michael Jordan, Backstreet Boys, 'N Sync, Oprah Winfrey and Mel Gibson.

Rowling Receives Royal Order

Royal magic was surely abounding as Prince Charles presented J.K. Rowling with an Order of the British Empire this past weekend. The author (whose first name is Joanne) was honored by the royal family for her valuable contribution to children's literature.

Expect full-throttle Pottermania to hit when Harry, the bespectacled schoolboy wizard, comes to the big screen just in time for Thanksgiving.

Tim Burton Goes Ape

Sci-Fi fans will be pleased to hear that Tim Burton's eagerly awaited remake of the classic Planet of the Apes will hit theatres this summer. Mark Wahlberg and Helena Bonham Carter will be joining Burton this month to kick off production on the Big Island of Hawaii.

According to Reuters, this is the first major motion picture to be filmed on the island since Kevin Costner's Waterworld in 1995.