The Diva Factor
by Karen (Lady FOLC@aol.com)

Award Shows 101

As much as I thought I've shared this personal trait with the entire free world, many of my friends and readers do not know about my obsessive compulsion with Hollywood award shows. I'm talking about your Emmys, your Golden Globes, and the mother of all award shows, the Academy Awards. I watch all award shows. I let them sink in, I watch with rapt attention and delight until I achieve an out of body experience. My reasons for loving them so? Possibly the celebrity fashion show that comes with them. Maybe my own delusions of grandeur about winning an award myself. Or because I have an uncanny ability to memorize award show trivia (especially for the Oscars). Or the deep and spiritual appreciation I have for television and film. Oh, who cares, it's probably all of them.

But this passion of mine is about to become your daily lesson. The reason? Yesterday I was at work when a coworker of mine waddled by on her lunch break and asked about where I went to college and what I wanted to do. I told her Fashion Institute of Technology, degree in fashion design, want to do costume for TV and film, etc. and blah blah. She said, "Wow, costume for movies and stuff? You can win a Grammy for that, can't you?"

For those of you who do not see the error in her statement, this column is for you. When I heard her say that, my face turned hot and I couldn't see straight. My head started spinning like I was possessed, I was possibly foaming at the mouth, and I think I sprouted goat hooves. I almost calmly said, "Actually, that's the Oscars, or Academy Awards you can win for that in movies. You can also win an Emmy for it in television." Dumb cow didn't even blink. So I hope she reads this along with the rest of the awards-uninformed, and takes notes. There will be a test.

Academy Awards - Also known as Oscars, these are awards given out for outstanding work in the motion picture arts. Given out by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (A.M.P.A.S.) This past March 21st awards was the 71st annual show.

Golden Globes - A less formal awards ceremony which celebrates outstanding work in both movies and television. Given out by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

Emmys - The big show for television work. Awarded by the Academy for Television Arts and Sciences (A.T.A.S.).

Those are my big three. While I watch others such as the Grammys, Blockbuster Awards, MTV Movie and Music Video Awards, etc., I don't concentrate much effort into memorizing facts about them. Now I could literally write a book about the trivia I have amassed for the Oscars. They are the highlight of my year. Call me pathetic or psycho, but I dress up for them and spend the entire day before going over the data I have collected to handicap the odds on this year's nominees, watching preshow after preshow, and testing my wits against these so-called "experts" E! Entertainment Network puts on the air. They're amateurs. I'm the real deal. And to prove it and test the waters for my readers out there, I've put in a little test for your awards show knowledge. For the first person to answer the most or all correctly, I will write a column about them telling the world how amazing and spectacular they are. In print, and on my newsletter, and in as many mailboxes as you can forward it to. In addition, thanx to our lovely editor Molly, you will receive an L&C 8x10 photo. Beware - most of these questions are not easy. There's at least one trick question in the mix.

Good luck!
1. Who was the first president of A.M.P.A.S.?
2. Last year at the Oscars, Titanic tied the record for most nominations as well as the record for most wins. Name the films it tied with.
3. Last year at the Golden Globes, Ving Rhames gave his award to Jack Lemmon. Name the category of the award, and the nominated work both actors did.
4. What was the first film to win the Best Picture Oscar? (Bonus to anyone who picks up the catch in this question)
5. What musical was won the most Oscars?
6. What film did Audrey Hepbrun win a Best Actress award for? (Bonus if you can name the other films she was nominated for)
7. Who designed Jennifer Lopez's dress at the Oscars this year?
8. Usually, the Best Director Oscar is awarded to the director of the winner of Best Picture. Not this year, with the Speilberg/Shakespeare In Love split. When's the last time this happened - name the year, and winning director and picture.
9. This year, Fernanda Montenegro was the second South American thespain to receive an Oscar nomination (for Best Actress). Who was the first - name the person, year, and film it was for.
10. Who holds the record for most ACTING Oscar nominations?
11. Who holds the most Oscar nominations of any living person?
12. What foreign-language film holds the record for most Oscar nominations?
13. Before Life is Beautiful, what was the last foreign language film to receive a Best Picture Oscar nomination?
14. Shakespeare in Love is the sixth film ever to earn 13 Oscar nominations. Name the other five.
15. What film did Alfred Hitchcock receive a Best Picture and Director Oscar nomination for?


That's it. Send the responses in the LadyFoLC@aol.com - just answer as many as you can! All answers can be found with a little research. Good luck!