NBA Finals 2013: Entering Game 6, Heat eager to show growth since 2011 loss to Mavs

Back in the 2011 Finals against the Mavericks, the Heat wrapped up the three-game road portion of the series in Dallas with a loss, putting them down, 3-2, and leaving no further margin for error in the quest for a championship.
When they got back to Miami for Game 6, they took an early lead, but watched Dallas—and guard Jason Terry, who had 27 points—take control of the game and pull away in the third quarter. The Mavs led by as many as 12 in the fourth, and the Heat couldn’t catch up.

The Miami Heat, down 3-2 to the Spurs, want to show they have grown since losing a pivotal Game 6 at home to the Mavericks in 2011. (AP Photo)

NBA championship, Dallas.
MORE: Game 5 recap | Green sets record | Ginobili fuels Game 5 win | NBA Finals in photos
Here we are two years later, and the Heat have put themselves in the exact position they were in during the first Finals of the LeBron James-Dwyane Wade-Chris Bosh era. They’re down after five games, heading home for Game 6.
This is where we find out a little something about this Heat team. They showed very little by the way of guts in the ’11 Finals. Has that changed?
“I mean, we challenge ourselves to see if we’re a better team than we was,” Wade said. “Same position, no matter how we got to it. We’re in the same position going back home with Game 6 on our home floor. So we’re going to see if we’re a better ballclub and if we’re better prepared for this moment.”
It’s not necessarily as simple as that, of course. No matter how the Heat play, they’re facing a Spurs team that is deep and experienced, anchored by a star and coach—Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich—who are 4-0 in the NBA Finals.
In the last eight postseasons, San Antonio has gone 11-2 in close-out games. The numbers are obviously stacked against the Heat, and even with a top-shelf effort from Miami, the Spurs could still deny them the Larry O’Brien trophy.
Just three years ago, the Lakers left Boston down, 3-2, but won the final two home games to win the championship. So the numbers don’t always dictate how these things play out. “You can’t win a game with a statistic,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. “You’ve got to win it on the court.”
It’s almost impossible to compare the ’11 Heat bunch to this team, if only because that team was so incredibly parsed and scrutinized. Throughout the season, the narrative was that the team couldn’t get out of its own way in crunch time, that James either shrank from the difficult shots or simply missed them.
When the Heat showed signs of fourth-quarter struggles against the Mavericks, the narrative kicked into high gear and snowballed. Miami had a hard time in pressure situations, which resulted in questions about pressure situations, which led to more pressure being put on those pressure situations.
The positive for the Heat is that they’ve gotten much better at dealing with these things since the Dallas loss. They backed themselves into a corner in last year’s Eastern Conference finals, falling behind the Celtics, 3-2—and in that situation, Game 6 was in Boston. James logged his epic 45-point outing in that one, and the Heat cruised at home in Game 7 on their way to a championship. They had a Game 7 just 14 days ago, too, against Indiana in the East finals, and won that by 23 points.
And all of this is no picnic for the Spurs, either. Trying to close out a 66-win team like Miami on the road, even with two tries, is difficult.
“It don’t matter if you are up, you need one more win, or if you’re at one more win and you’re out,” James said. “You can’t sleep, especially at this point. It’s a great opportunity for both teams. For them, to close this out for them to win it, and for us, to force a Game 7. So we look forward to the challenge. We’ve been here before. We’ve been on both sides of the fence.”
In their first try, that fence collapsed on them. Two years later, with a championship on the line, the Heat have to prove to themselves that they can get over it.

Kim Kardashian's Baby Girl: Reality Star Welcomes First Child With Kanye West

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West welcome a baby girl.

Congrats go out to Kim Kardashian and Kanye West!
The couple welcomed their first child, a daughter, on Saturday June 15, reports TMZ. Both mother and daughter are reportedly fine, adds X17. "Kim and the baby are healthy. Given the baby's early birth date, however, the littlest Kardashian is in an incubator," adds the site.
After months of anticipation, Kardashian finally revealed the sex of her baby on the season premiere of "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" on June 2.
Kardashian, 32, and West, 36, went public with their relationship in April 2012, just six months after she filed for divorce from former husband Kris Humphries. Kardashian's divorce was just finalized on June 3.
Although West has yet to propose to Kardashian, the duo is delighted to be first-time parents. And we're sure Kardashian, who admitted countless times that pregnancy was "painful," is eager to get back in pre-baby shape.
"Ever since I felt the baby kick, it's such an amazing feeling, and it's really allowed me to embrace it. Once you feel this movement inside, it's just a whole different experience, so I love it now," she told reporters at the E! Upfront in April. "It was tough at the beginning, but I'm past all that and I love it now."
Welcome to the family, baby girl!

Natalie Portman In 'Dare Me': Oscar Winner In Talks For Megan Abbott Adaptation

Natalie Portman could be headed for a sassy lead role in the freshly announced adaptation of Megan Abbott's popular 2012 novel "Dare Me."
Deadline.com reports that Michael Sucsy, who helmed the Emmy-winning HBO movie "Grey Gardens" and the critically reviled romance "The Vow," will direct. "Dare Me" centers on a high school cheerleading squad whose competitive backstabbing is interrupted when a suicide prompts a police investigation into the team and its coach.
There's no word yet on which character Portman will portray. At 32, she seems a bit old to play one of the teenage cheerleaders, although stranger age disparities have taken place in film (namely, a 34-year-old Stockard Channing playing high school senior Betty Rizzo in "Grease").
Abbott's novel was well received upon its release last July, making its mark on best-of-summer lists found in Entertainment Weekly, The Wall Street Journal and more. Deadline.com describes the project as "'Heathers' meets 'Fight Club,' with teenager cheerleaders."

Movie Stars At The Box Office: Who Has The Most Global Hits Over The Last Decade?

What makes a movie star a movie star?
Judging by results so far in 2013, it's no longer just their name; this year, movies led by Melissa McCarthy and Ethan Hawke have performed better than those led by Vince Vaughn and Will Smith. It's no mystery that the landscape for leading men and women in Hollywood is changing -- something Mark Harris detailed in a piece for GQ back in February -- but one thing has remained consistent over the last decade: money is still money, and $200 million is a lot of money.
In an effort to suss out which movie stars are still kings and queens of the hill, HuffPost has compiled global box office data from the decade for a group Hollywood's biggest names. Which star has the most films over $200 million in ticket sales worldwide? Well, not Ethan Hawke.

Demi Moore's Boyfriend Will Hanigan Reportedly Has A Pearl In His Penis

Demi Moore appears to have a new man in her life, 30-year-old Will Hanigan, and here's what we know so far: They met through yoga, he's ruggedly handsome with scruffy blond looks, and he's a pearl diver and "adventurer" by trade, which sounds awesome. And, oh yeah, he may have a pearl in his penis.
“He had a pearl inserted in his penis when he was in his late teens,” a source told the New York Daily News.
And while that may sound like an act of youthful rebellion, the insider makes sure to inform us that it's actually a family tradition for Hanigan, a third-generation diver: “It is pearl farming tradition and he would always joke about it in Australia. He’d boast it’d give girls extra stimulation in the bedroom.”
To investigate any health concerns associated with the gem's delicate placement, the Daily News consulted a urologist who advised that it could eventually "erode through to the surface rather than into the tissue," but in the meantime would likely improve his sex life.
In any case, Moore and Hanigan seem to be enjoying each other's company. "She's an amazing woman," Hanigan allegedly told Star.
A friend of Hanigan's recently told The Australian that Hanigan is "an interesting character," adding, "He's a great guy to listen to - a bit wild but good fun."

13 Things Taylor Swift And Your Grandma Have In Common

Taylor Swift is a 23-year-old superstar, but she might have more in common with your grandma than with an average college senior.
You'll be hard to find the "I Knew You Were Trouble" singer out partying into the wee hours of the night. Instead, she likes making memes of her cat and watching "Law & Order." Oh, and she probably uses her great-grandmother as fashion inspiration -- not that there's anything wrong with that.
Taylor might be 23 going on 85, but she's still the most lovable, youngest grandma we know.
Here are 13 things Taylor and your grandma probably have in common:
1. They aren't afraid to dance like this -- even when everyone's watching.

2. They like the same board games and domesticated animals.

I shouldn't read into the fact that my family got me a new scrabble board (the one that swivels!) &cat treats for Christmas, right? Am I 85?
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) December 26, 2012

3. They both like telling you about the good ol' days. Grandma talks about 1943, and Taylor talks about when she was 22.

4. They use funny faces to show you how they really feel about your boyfriend.

5. Both enjoy a good sing-a-long every now and then.


6. "Law & Order" is always on their much-watch lists (though grandma doesn't have a People's Choice Award for company).

Sitting here with my new People's Choice award and Chinese food take out, watching Law and Order. Thank you for a beautiful night:)
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) January 10, 2013

7. Same pajamas? Yup.

8. You're pretty sure each had a bad girl phase.

9. Their love for Shirley MacLaine knows no bounds.

We dressed up full-time fancy and went out in celebration of Shirley MacLaine's birthday. @diannaagron @onmydoor
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) April 25, 2012

10. Grandma and Taylor are both pretty easy to surprise.

11. A "thumbs up" is their favorite seal of approval.

12. They take time to enjoy the simple things in life.

13. Grandma is always there for you. We're sure Taylor would be, too.

Demi Moore Bikini: Ashton Kutcher's Ex Flaunts Killer Abs In A Tiny Two-Piece

Did someone say she's brooding over Ashton?!
Looks like Demi Moore is way past her breakup from her much younger ex-husband, as she was seen all smiles last weekend at a friend's home in Malibu, Calif.
Moore, 50, put her famously fit physique on display in a tiny red bikini with black and white piping, slouchy black trousers and the signature celebrity shades.
It looks like the yoga classes the actress has been taking with daughter Rumer have been paying off, since she looked every bit as sexy and as slender as she did decades ago.
And Demi seems to have moved on in more ways than one: She was recently photographed with an Australian hunk by the name of Will Hanigan, 30 (despite some outlets that are quick to report the hot romance has fizzled).
Be that as it may, halfway across the world Kutcher and his lady love Mila Kunis are still going strong. The two were seen holding hands in London over the weekend, and rumor has it that the 35-year-old hunk has already met his 29-year-old girlfriend's parents.
PHOTO:

Ray Manzarek Dead: The Doors Founding Member Dies At 74

Ray Manzarek, keyboardist and founding member of The Doors, is dead at age 74.

Ray Manzarek, most known as a founding member of the '60s rock band The Doors, is dead. According to a message posted on the band's Facebook page, Manzarek died of bile duct cancer while in Rosenheim, Germany, on May 20. He was 74. Wife Dorothy Manzarek and brothers Rick and James were by his side.
An excerpt from the Facebook announcement is below:

"Manzarek is best known for his work with The Doors who formed in 1965 when Manzarek had a chance encounter on Venice Beach with poet Jim Morrison. The Doors went on to become one of the most controversial rock acts of the 1960s, selling more than 100-million albums worldwide … After Morrison's death in 1971, Manzarek went on to become a best-selling author, and a Grammy-nominated recording artist in his own right. In 2002, he revitalized his touring career with Doors' guitarist and long-time collaborator, Robby Krieger."

Doors guitarist Robby Krieger also confirmed the news in the Facebook message, releasing this statement: "I was deeply saddened to hear about the passing of my friend and bandmate Ray Manzarek. I'm just glad to have been able to have played Doors songs with him for the last decade. Ray was a huge part of my life and I will always miss him."
The Chicago-born Manzarek met Morrison while studying film at UCLA. The two went on to create one of the most iconic bands of the '60s, described by Rolling Stone as possessing "eerie, powerful, almost shamanistic invocations." The band's name comes from the drug-trip book by Aldous Huxley, "The Doors of Perception."
After Morrison's death at age 27 in 1971, Manzarek released several more albums, including a collaboration with composer Philip Glass and two solo albums.

Oscar Mystery Revealed

A happy Julio Vera, the Academy's Museum Collections Manager, takes possession of a pair of Ruby Slippers on January 31, 2012. With him can be seen archivist Michelle Fandetti and conservator Jennifer Kim (in goggles). The photo was taken by Joe Maddalena at Profiles in History, Calabasas, California. "The Witch's Shoes" as this pair are known, are the most well-preserved pair of Ruby Slippers known to exist, and are the shoes seen when Dorothy, played by Judy Garland, clicks her heels in the movie THE WIZARD OF OZ

Tina Fey, Oscars Host Next Year? 'No Way'

Tina Fey, Oscars host? "No way," says Fey.

On Sunday night's Oscar telecast, William Shatner -- who appeared on the show "from the future" as Captain James T. Kirk to explain how poorly Seth MacFarlane's hosting gig would be received by the media -- asked, "Why couldn't they get Tina and Amy to host?" The Tina and Amy in question here are Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, who both received rave reviews for their recent efforts hosting the Golden Globes. Fey is currently promoting her new film "Admission" (co-starring Paul Rudd and opening March 22), and we asked her about Shatner's wish and if she had any interest whatsoever in hosting the 2014 Oscars.
[The full interview with Fey will publish closer to the film's March 22nd release date.]
Congratulations on William Shatner mentioning your name during the Oscars.
[Laughs] Thank you. It's an honor to be "Shatnered."
Admittedly, of all the things I thought I'd see during the Oscars, William Shatner mentioning your name was not one of them.
No, you didn't write that on a piece of paper and mail it to yourself.
[...]
Is it a possibility that you and Amy Poehler could wind up hosting the Oscars next year? I don't know how that works with NBC, since the Golden Globes were on the same network as both of your shows. Can you two go host the Oscars on ABC if you wanted to?
No, you can. But I just feel like that gig is so hard. Especially for, like, a woman -- the amount of months that would be spent trying on dresses alone ... no way.
The reaction to Amy and you hosting the Golden Globes was really great.
Oh, thank you. We had fun.
It's disappointing to hear, "No way." I was hoping for at least "a one in a million chance."
I wish I could tell you there was.

Anne Hathaway Acceptance Speech: Best Supporting Actress Winner Practiced A Lot

Anne Hathaway reportedly practiced her acceptance speech many times.

At Sunday's 85th annual Academy Awards, Anne Hathaway took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Les Miserables." While accepting the award, Hathaway thanked her husband and fellow "Les Mis" cast members, but not before exclaiming, "It came true!" ("It" being her dream of winning; also a play on the song she sings in "Les Miserables," "I Dreamed A Dream.")
If Hathaway's acceptance speech seemed rehearsed, that's because it reportedly was -- many, many times.
An unnamed source told Us Weekly that Hathaway practiced the speech in an effort to appear more likable. "She was very aware that she had been the butt of everyone's jokes," the source said.
Whether that speciously sourced quote is true or not, Hathaway has been the subject of widespread hate as of late, intensified in part because of her acceptance speech at the Golden Globes.
Unfortunately for Hathaway, the online barbs only continued after the Oscars. Take a spin through a sampling of the shade thrown her way below.

Canceled TV Shows 2013: Guide To The Futures Of 'The Good Wife,' 'Happy Endings' And More

The time has come once again: TV shows are starting to get canceled ... and renewed. As the networks begin looking at their schedules and development slates, the fates of your favorite shows are being decided.
Some shows have already been renewed -- fans will get to sink their teeth into a new season of "The Vampire Diaries" -- and others have already ended -- by choice, like "30 Rock," and others due to poor ratings, like "Partners" -- but all will be decided by May.
In the gallery below, more than 100 shows from NBC, Fox, CBS, ABC and The CW have been rated on their renewal status. Shows have been divided by network, in alphabetical order, and labeled as follows:

• Renewed
• Likely to be renewed
• Likely to be canceled
• Too soon to tell
• On the bubble
• Canceled

Some shows have been so deep in limbo we've given them "?" because honestly, we have no idea what's to come for them (though it doesn't look good).
Take a look at the slideshow below for our predicted futures of the hottest shows on network TV. Be sure to bookmark this page since we'll be updating the gallery as more news breaks.

Lady Gaga Tour Cancellation Will Cost Millions

The first estimates of the financial impact Lady Gaga is likely to feel after canceling all remaining dates on her Born This Way Ball Tour are in, and the numbers are ghastly.
Billboard reports that approximately $25 million in ticket sales alone will have to be refunded. The singer had sold about 200,000 tickets for the remainder of the tour, which was scrapped after Gaga revealed a hip injury which rendered her unable to walk and will require surgery.
That said, the "Bad Romance" singer already stacked a good amount of pennies. From Billboard:

Through Jan. 17, the “BTWB” tour had grossed $168.2 million and moved 1.6 million tickets to 85 shows, according to Billboard Boxscore, with Asia, Europe, and South American legs already completed in 2012. The North American leg, which was to wrap the tour and was almost completely sold out, would have likely put the tour at more than $200 million gross, easily in the top 20 tours of all time and probably in the top 15. As it stands, Gaga finished sixth among all touring artists in 2012, with a gross of $125 million and attendance of more than 1.1 million, according to Boxscore.

Artists cancel tours with some regularity, but it's rare to see a popstar of Gaga's caliber have to walk away from such a massive operation. The Civil Wars abruptly canceled their entire tour, offering "internal discord" as justification. But a stadium tour like Gaga's employs well over 100 crew members, not to mention the impact the development will have on both local support staff and top-level partners like Live Nation.
An expert tells MTV that Live Nation will probably suffer the most, as the event company pays huge upfront costs for development that it hopes to recoup over the course of the tour. Though rumors of soft ticket sales have plagued Gaga for some time now, it is not believed that such concerns figured into the decision to scrap the tour.
Despite canceling the tour, Gaga made good on a promise to visit terminally ill 5-year-old fan Kayleigh Gurbynski in Chicago. Photos from that visit are available in the gallery at the bottom of this post.
"After additional tests this morning to review the severity of the issue, it has been determined that Lady Gaga has a labral tear of the right hip," a statement on Gaga's official website read. "She will need surgery to repair the problem, followed by strict down time to recover. This unfortunately, will force her to cancel the tour, so she can heal."

LeBron James: Rings shouldn't always be best measure of greatness

LeBron James heard the talk that Michael Jordan would pick Kobe Bryant over James because the championship rings scoreboard reads Kobe 5, LeBron 1.
James, during interviews Friday for All-Star Media Day, said championships shouldn’t always be the determining factor in comparing greatness among players.
MORE: Past NBA All-Star game results, MVPs | Slam dunk contest winners
"At the end of the day, rings don't always define someone's career," James said. "If that’s the case, then I'd sit up here and say I would take (Bill) Russell over Jordan. But I wouldn't. I wouldn't take Russell over Jordan. Russell has 11 rings, Jordan has six. ... I wouldn't that On My Door."
James elaborated further, which is an apparent indication of how much Jordan’s comments may stick in James’ craw.

LeBron James, left, said if he judged players based solely on the number of championship rings, he would have to pick Bill Russell over Michael Jordan. But he wouldn't do that. (AP Photo)

"I don't play the game and try to define who I am over what guys say or how they feel about me," James said. "It doesn't matter to me. I play for my family, for my teammates, for my coaching staff and I play for our fans, and that's it. What do I need bulletin board material for? My inspiration is the game I love. I don't need nobody to pick me or not."
PHOTOS: Best of NBA All-Star weekend
Adding fuel to the fire is Magic Johnson’s comments on Twitter on whether he’d take Jordan or LeBron in a game of 1-on-1.
"Easy answer MJ all day, every day!” Johnson said earlier this week. “If MJ and LeBron played 1-on-1 10 times, MJ would win all 10. MJ is the ultimate 1-on-1 player!"
Well, we do know this. James is playing the best basketball of his career, and Sunday’s All-Star Game should be his next showcase. There’s no debating that.

Celebrities Checking Out Other Celebrities

Celebrities know they look good, and they obviously know other stars look good too.
On numerous occasions, photographers have snapped priceless shots of Hollywood's elite checking out their famous friends -- whether they're getting a glimpse at someone's breasts, legs, butt, etc.
But come on, can you really blame Ellen DeGeneres for checking out Katy Perry's cleavage during the 2013 Grammy Awards? Yeah, we didn't think so.

Prince Harry's Vegas Weekend Gone Wild: His Lady 'Lover' Now Writing A Tell-All Book; Other Stars Included

Prince Harry can't catch a break: After nude photos of him surfaced last summer with nothing but his hands on the crown jewels, and after he apologized for letting his family down, one of the ladies present that fateful night is now writing a tell-all book about it, reports Daily Mail.
Carrie Reichert, 40, a beautician and massage expert, spent a "wasted" night "partying and kissing" with the royal heir, 28, back in August. The pictures that came out afterward shocked the world and rocked Buckingham Palace, but the stories Reichert has to tell may be even more explosive.

Reichert has written over 500 pages about her nights out with the rich and famous, reports Daily Mail, many of whom are some of the biggest names in show business. Other times were simply "drunken nights out with Hollywood It girls Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Kim Kardashian and Britney Spears." At this stage, she is "shopping the manuscript to major Hollywood agents in a bid to land a book deal and get TV rights for a novel," per Daily Mail.
The book, likely to shame the prince and the royal family, won't just be a 500-page detailing of one debaucherous weekend. It so happens that there's plenty more where that nude "drunken fumbling" story with Prince Harry came from.
"Carrie has an extraordinary story to tell from her time with celebrities," a spokesman for Bad Girls PR, who are representing Reichert, told Daily Mail. "We are keeping the stories under wraps until the book's release. But during early meetings, we have been shocked and surprised by what she had to say. There may be some stars quaking in their boots when this is published."

Dominic Pio Gundrum, Baby Born With Encephalocele And Tessier Facial Cleft, Recovering From Craniofacial Surgery

Dominic Pio Gundrum entered the world with a double diagnosis his doctor calls "exquisitely rare."
The 7-month-old boy, whose family is the subject of a recent profile in The Boston Globe, was born with an encephalocele, or brain protrusion, and a Tessier facial cleft. Both conditions were detected via sonogram before he was born.
The combination is one "most craniofacial surgeons will go their entire careers without ever seeing ... outside of medical textbooks," according to a post on the Boston Children's Hospital's pediatric health blog.

In a video about a similar surgery he performed several years ago -- which itself was instrumental in helping the Gundrums find their way to Boston Children's Hospital -- Dr. John Meara, who oversaw Dominic's care as the hospital's chief plastic surgeon, explains an encephalocele as "a defect in the bone of the calvarium, [which] is the bone that protects your brain." He adds: "During development what ends up happening is that part of the brain and part of the covering of the brain actually protrudes through that defect."
Boston Children's Hospital's website describes Dominic's Tessier facial cleft as a "large, triangle-shaped gap running from his upper lip through the middle of his nose and forehead."
Doctors at the hospital advised Dominic's parents, Mary and Mark Gundrum, before he was born; five months after his birth, at the beginning of December, they "perform[ed] a seven-hour operation to remove the encephalocele, close the skull, repair the Tessier cleft, and bring the baby’s facial features together," the Globe reports.
The Gundrums and their eight children moved out to Boston for the intensive surgery, staying in a house another family had generously donated for their use. After the procedure and three weeks in the ICU, during which he suffered conditions including fungal meningitis, Dominic is now recovering at home in Wisconsin.
Although he is no longer on the East Coast, the baby is still under Dr. Meara's care; since he can't provide that care in person, Dr. Meara watches over his patient using a VGo robot.
In an interview, Mary Gundrum told HuffPost the family has only set the robot up once so far, but plans to use it more going forward. "The doctor's able to control it from where he is in Boston," she said, explaining that Dr. Meara can move it around the Gundrums' house in order to "circle around Dominic."

Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem Expecting Second Child: Report

Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem may be set to double down on parenthood.

The actors, who have a 2-year-old son, Leonardo, are expecting their second child together, the New York Post's Page Six reports.

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"Nature is very wise and gives you nine months to prepare, but in that moment – when you see that face, you are transformed forever," Cruz, 38, has said of parenthood.

Reps for the couple did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's requests for comment.

Cruz and Bardem, 43, both Oscar winners, were married in July 2010 at a friend's home in the Bahamas.

If true, this won't be the only new addition to the family this year – Cruz's sister Mónica is expecting a bundle of joy of her own.

Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban's Adorable Reunion: Couple Shares A Sweet Kiss

Now this is a warm welcome.
Nicole Kidman and her adorable daughters, Sunday Rose, 4, and Faith Margaret, 2, were greeted by Keith Urban as they arrived back in Sydney, Australia, following Kidman's appearance at the SAG Awards in California on Jan. 27.
The girls, who arrived Down Under with fellow Aussie Russell Crowe, clung to their daddy as he pulled Kidman in close for a sweet smooch. We're not going to lie, this is one of the cutest moments caught by paparazzi cameras.
Urban, who is a new judge on "American Idol," spoke about missing the opportunity to accompany his wife to the SAGs, gushing to the Herald Sun, "'I was telling Nic before that when we finally got into Sydney, I got to the house, flicked on the TV and I got to see my wife, I got to see what she was wearing. I hit pause on one shot and stood there staring at her... and started crying," he continued. "I hated the fact she was there without me, on her own. Ridiculous, right?"
Yeah Keith, ridiculously romantic.

Obama welcomes 'little up-and-coming team': Champion Heat visit White House

The First Fan is accustomed to taking heat, but when President Barack Obama welcomed the NBA champion Miami Heat to the White House on Monday, it was, well, pretty cool.
“I’d like to welcome a little up-and-coming basketball team to the White House,” Obama said, with the team behind him and coach Erik Spoelstra standing alongside him.

The Miami Heat visited President Barack Obama at the White House to commemorate their 2012 NBA Championships. (AP Photo)

Mixing jokes and good-natured ribbing with messages about teamwork and commitment to fatherhood, Obama talked with and about the 2012 NBA champions, even at one point jokingly taking some credit for the team’s NBA Finals victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“Some of you recall a little pickup game we had here a few years ago,” Obama said, turning toward Dwyane Wade and LeBron James, “and it’s clear that going up against me prepared them for going up against Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.”
The president, a longtime Chicago Bulls fan, admitted that he was disappointed that his favorite team hadn’t won the title but acknowledged the Heat’s standout individual efforts in a larger team context.
The Heat came to the White House after a visit to Wounded Warriors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, an experience that Spoelstra described as “truly, truly humbling.”
Before giving way to Heat players, Obama added that he appreciated that Miami’s “Big Three” of Wade, James and Chris Bosh “take the role of being fathers very seriously.” Heat family members were among those assembled in the White House.
James presented Obama with a basketball autographed by the team, but seemed in awe despite his long career in the limelight: “Thank you for letting us be in the White House,” James said. “Man, we’re in the White House! … It’s like, ‘Mom, I made it!’”
Wade then gave the nation’s 44th president a Heat jersey with the No. 44.
“We’ve got a 10-day contract left,” Wade said, turning to members of the Heat front office behind him. “Why don’t we hook my man up?”

Andrew Bogut injury update: Warriors big man aims to return from ankle injury Monday at Toronto

Golden State Warriors 7-footer Andrew Bogut, limited to only four games this season because of a nagging left ankle, is aiming to be in the lineup Monday (7 p.m. ET) against the Toronto Raptors, barring any pregame setbacks, the San Jose Mercury News reported.
The newspaper reported that Bogut was wearing his reversible practice jersey with the blue side out—reserved for the team’s starters—during the morning’s shootaround at Air Canada Centre.

Andrew Bogut, sidelined by a nagging left ankle injury, has played in only four games for the Golden State Warriors this season. (AP Photo)

Multiple unidentified sources cited by the Mercury News said Bogut is planning to give it ago.
However, Warriors coach Mark Jackson maintained his stance that Bogut would come back when he is ready.
Bogut and the team haven’t discussed his recovery since the news in late November that April surgery on his left ankle included a microfracture procedure.
Acquired in March in the blockbuster trade that sent Monta Ellis to the Milwaukee Bucks, Bogut has played only 73 minutes this season, totaling 24 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks.
He hasn’t played since Nov. 8, missing 38 games in the process.
According to the Mercury News, the 7-1 Bogut's return would be timely. Golden State has given up 57 second-chance points in its past two games as teams with big frontcourts have exploited the Warriors' smallish lineup.
Jackson is expected to be conservative with Bogut’s minutes when he returns.

SAG Awards 2013 Red Carpet Photos: See The Fashion & Glittering Gowns!

The Golden Globes are over and the Oscars are still a few weeks away, which can mean just one thing...
SAG Awards!
OK, fine. Maybe the Screen Actors Guild Awards aren't the sexiest, most exciting of the awards shows. But the A-list actors still dutifully don their designer gowns, spikey heels and million-dollar jewels and walk the red carpet, providing us all with a pre-Oscars fashion parade. And for that we are eternally grateful.
Below, check out our continuously-updated slideshow of all the best red carpet looks from the 2013 SAG Awards! Who had your favorite dress?

Kristen Bell Sues Hollywood Restaurant For Alleged Breach Of Contract

Kristen Bell is suing Hollywood restaurant and bar L'Scorpion for breach of contract.
The 32-year-old mom-to-be and a few others are reportedly taking legal action amid claims that the owners failed to pay them their portion of its profits. According to court documents obtained by E! News, Bell and the four other plaintiffs in the case filed the lawsuit against Meridian Restaurant group on Jan. 25.
They each invested $20,000 in the tequila bar in July 2005 and were supposed to receive five percent of its profits in return. But according to the lawsuit, the bar generated monthly earnings up to $30,000 since its opening in 2006 and the "House of Lies" star and the other investors didn't receive their fair share of those profits.
Bell is allegedly claiming breach of contract and breach of fiduciary duty.
She is currently expecting her first child --rumored to be a baby boy -- with fiance Dax Shepard this spring.

Katie Holmes, Suri Cruise Brave The Cold In New York

Oh, it's just Katie Holmes and Suri Cruise, braving the bitter cold Sunday in New York as they stepped out for a walk and a cool refreshment. While 34-year-old mom Katie kept warm in a leather jacket and scarf, Suri opted for something more incognito (and adorable): a giant black-and-white fur hat in the form of a panda.
The pair have become regular New York fixtures since moving to the city last year, whether attending gymnastics classes, picking up cupcakes or walking to Suri's new school, Avenues.

Kristen Stewart Cheating Scandal Update: Liberty Ross and Rupert Sanders to Divorce - REPORT

Model/actress Liberty Ross has filed for divorce from her director husband Rupert Sanders, TMZ reports.

Hollywood.com had not heard back from the couple's reps at press time.

The pair's marital issues came to light after Sanders was photographed having an affair with his Snow White and the Hunstman star Kristen Stewart, so it was only a matter of time until Ross officially severed ties with her husband. Though Ross and Sanders stated they were trying to work through the scandal, it clearly didn't take.

Ross filed her paperwork in L.A. County Superior Court, TMZ reports. She asked for joint custody of the couple's two kids, spousal support, and attorney’s fees. Sanders reportedly filed his response to the divorce petition, also requesting joint custody.

Stewart and her boyfriend Robert Pattinson seem to have gotten past her indiscretion, however, and are still together.

Whitney Houston's Mother, Cissy Houston, On Singer's Drug Use, Lesbian Rumors

Whitney Houston died nearly one year ago and her mother, Cissy, continues to ask herself: "Could I have saved her somehow?"
In a her new tell-all memoir, "Remembering Whitney," Cissy reveals intimate details about her daughter's highs and lows.
"I'm angry she died alone, in those conditions," writes Cissy, according to an excerpt obtained by People magazine. Whitney drowned in a bathtub at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Feb. 11, 2011, at 48 years old. Drugs were found in her system, a habit Cissy knew about. "She started partying and she didn't really know how to stop. I used to wonder what she was doing at night, where she was."
Cissy also delves into Whitney's relationships and rumors that she had a lesbian romance with her former assistant and creative director, Robyn Crawford.
Rumors had circulated since the 1980s that the two, who met when they were teenagers in New Jersey, were more than just friends. When Whitney died, Crawford penned a touching tribute to the "I Will Always Love You" singer for Esquire.
Cissy's feelings on Crawford, however, seem strained. She writes: "I just didn’t want her with my daughter. I know nothing about a romantic relationship. That's what everybody said but they didn't know either."
Since her daughter's death, the 79-year-old, whose book hits shelves on Jan. 29, has had to deal with keeping her granddaughter, Bobbi Kristina, grounded.
Some thought Bobbi could be headed down the same path as Whitney after dealing with the death. Cissy attempted to keep a $20 million inheritance from the teenager, because she thought it was "too much, too soon," according to TMZ. The two reportedly settled and are ready to move forward.
Cissy will sit down with Oprah Winfrey on Jan. 28 for her first in-depth interview since Whitney's death for "Oprah's Next Chapter."

'Inherent Vice': Joaquin Phoenix To Replace Robert Downey Jr. In Paul Thomas Anderson's Next Film

"Inherent Vice": Joaquin Phoenix may replace Robert Downey in lead role.

"Inherent Vice," Paul Thomas Anderson's adaptation of the Thomas Pynchon novel of the same name, was set to give Robert Downey Jr. his first non-franchise role since "Due Date" in 2010. Now, however, it appears Downey has dropped out of the project; Joaquin Phoenix, who starred in "The Master" for Anderson and earned an Oscar nomination for his troubles, is reportedly in talks for the leading role.
Downey has been attached to "Inherent Vice" for some time, though not in any official capacity. In a 2011 interview with MTV, the "Iron Man" star sounded excited about working with Anderson.
"Anything that has to do with Paul Thomas Anderson and I doing a movie is probably true," Downey said. "We tend to talk about a variety of potential projects, and Thomas Pynchon's 'Inherent Vice' could be great. We'll see."
As recently as Jan. 8, Downey was reportedly still attached to the film. No word yet on why he dropped out, but it could be because of scheduling.
"I feel like I'm booked, but I'm not," Downey told MTV in 2011. "I make space for what I want to do. I just think he's one of our great American directors. I just like hanging out with the guy."
Marvel has kept Downey busy in recent years. He'll reprise the role of Tony Stark in "Iron Man 3" and "Marvel's The Avengers 2."
As for Phoenix, playing the lead in "Inherent Vice" would reunite him with Anderson. The actor received some of the best reviews of his career for "The Master," and was nominated for Best Actor despite speaking out against the Academy Awards.
"Inherent Vice" is a noir comedy-thriller set in Los Angeles during 1969 and 1970. The lead role, Doc Sportello, is a detective embroiled in the middle of a kidnapping case.

Jeremy Renner's Baby: Actor Expecting First Child With Ex-Girlfriend

There's a baby on the way for Jeremy Renner!
The actor, 42, reportedly shared his big news with Eva Longoria while taking a cigarette break during the Golden Globes on Jan. 13, sources tell Us Weekly. Witnesses told the magazine that the "Bourne Legacy" star was overheard saying, "I'm going to fly in when her water breaks." They added, "Then Eva said, 'I'm so blown away.'"
Although it's surprising, multiple sources confirmed the pregnancy, revealing that an ex-girlfriend of the actor is due to give birth next month. "They used to date but it wasn't serious," one insider said, explaining that the mom-to-be is currently living in Renner's home in Los Angeles, Calif.
Sources tell Us that Renner is "being ultra-secretive about it, but [his baby mama] has been going on about her life and not hiding it." Still, the actor has always said he likes to keep his personal life private.
Last April, Renner shot down longstanding false rumors that he was gay, telling The Hollywood Reporter, "I want my personal life to be personal, and it's not f**king true." He added, "And I don't care if you're talking about things that are true, you're still talking about my personal life."

Nigella Lawson: No Photoshop On My Tummy For 'The Taste' Ads

While many female celebrities get the Photoshop treatment, only some protest. Nigella Lawson recently took a stand when she insisted on not being airbrushed in new campaign images for "The Taste," a competitive cooking show coming to ABC January 22 on which Lawson serves as a judge and mentor.
In a blogpost on Friday, the British chef/TV personality dished (ha!) about making "The Taste," including what it was like to see her own body up on billboards:

Although it was very thrilling to think of being up on a billboard in LA and around the States, I was very strict and English and told them they weren't allowed to airbrush my tummy out. Wise? Hmmm. But that tum is the truth and is come by honestly, as my granny would have said.

When you put it like that, it really does sound so simple: "that tum is the truth." Wouldn't it be nice if every fashion magazine, cosmetics ad and lingerie catalog applied such straightforward logic?
Alas. Check out a few promo images from Nigella's "Taste" campaign. How gorgeous is that red dress?!

Vogue's Hurricane Sandy Spread: Crossing The Line?

In one corner of the striking image, ConEd employees who worked feverishly in the wake of Hurricane Sandy to restore power to a disaster-slammed New York. In the other: leggy supermodel Karlie Kloss posing in a glamorous Oscar de la Renta couture gown.
Wait, what? It's a real photo spread called "Storm Troupers" gracing the posh pages of February's Vogue and lensed by none other than Annie Leibovitz.
The shoot, of course, was intended as tribute to Sandy's first responders -- as Vogue's website explains: "When Hurricane Sandy hit, the city’s bravest and brightest punched back. With the area now on the mend, we paid these stalwart souls a visit, dressed up in the best of the New York collections. Call them New York’s other finest." That's surely a noble effort.
But that hasn't quelled outrage from commenters saying that Vogue's spread crosses the line in nestling $3,000 gowns amidst some of Sandy's most hard-hit neighborhoods, giving them the effect of bizarre ornaments.
In one image, Joan Smalls, Arizona Muse and Liu Wen do their best Blue Steel amidst members of the National Guard’s 69th Infantry, who are seen in fatigues delivering food to the Lexington Armory. (Clothing by Rag & Bone and Alexander Wang.) In another, Kloss and Chanel Iman strut through the Rockaways with some of the FDNY's finest. (Dresses by Narciso Rodriguez and Diane von Furstenberg.)
Backlash has already arrived: Slate ponders wryly, "Is this what happens when Anna Wintour feels emotion?" Kottke.org levels,"I guess they were going for inappropriate & provocative but hit inappropriate & idiotic instead?"
The spread surely feels incongruous. If a fashion magazine wanted to honor Sandy's heroes in an editorial, then we'd prefer to see, say, Smalls and Muse wearing military fatigues and pitching in with food delivery. Or, what if Vogue had given some of the first responders -- like the nurses who transported babies from a powerless NYU hospital -- the glam treatment and let THEM wear the Rodarte? Instead, a photo shoot intended to celebrate Sandy's heroes ends up paying tribute to the same pouty models -- and high-fashion ideals -- that does every other issue of Vogue.

Kim Kardashian And Nicki Minaj Top Our Worst-Dressed List In Bright Colors And Distracting Patterns

Kim Kardashian is at the helm of our worst-dressed list ... again. Pregnant or not, her distracting shoes merit a spot here. Elsewhere in the world of material better-suited for a bedspread or tablecloth, we saw Kirsten Dunst and Jennifer Lawrence in questionable red-carpet choices.
Then there were stars who could have used a consultation with a tailor. Celebrities like Elle Fanning and Christina Hendricks experimented with tea-length hemlines (hems that hit mid-shin), and the results were less-than-flattering. Check out those over-the-top looks, as well as more celebrities who made our week's worst-dressed list. Let us know if you agree or disagree with us, then head over to our best-dressed gallery to rest your eyes on this week's style winners.

Jennifer Lawrence Responds To 'I Beat Meryl' Golden Globes Criticism On 'Late Show'

'Late Show With David Letterman': Jennifer Lawrence Responds To 'I Beat Meryl' Golden Globes Backlash

Jennifer Lawrence got some grief for her Golden Globes speech, but she had no idea about it at first. Nor was any of it deserved. All it proved was that Lawrence knew more pop culture and film trivia than Lindsay Lohan, and all the other people who came out against her. She spoke about the response on "Late Show."
When she accepted her Golden Globe, Lawrence said, "What does it say? 'I beat Meryl!'" It was a reference to Meryl Streep, but Lohan and many others took it as a dig at Streep, who technically did lose to Lawrence in that moment as she was also nominated. Certainly, Streep has won plenty of awards, but Lawrence wasn't digging on her at all. She was quoting "First Wives Club."
Nevertheless, Lohan went to Twitter and wrote that no one should ever mess with a legend like Meryl Streep, but that was just Lohan not getting the reference in Lawrence's speech.
When Lawrence found out what was happening online, she was stunned. "I was like, is that what this turned into? I don’t like Meryl Streep?" she said. "As if I’ve had my eyes on getting that girl forever and I was like, 'Finally! I knew it would happen one day!'" Lawrence added that Streep is her favorite actress.
Lawrence just apparently enjoys making movie references in her acceptance speeches. She even threw a reference to Lindsay Lohan's "Mean Girls" when accepting an award at the People's Choice Awards earlier this month.

'Hot Tub Time Machine' Sequel Could Happen Because Life Is Sometimes The Best

"Hot Tub Time Machine" sequel in the works.

"Hot Tub Time Machine," the cult 2010 comedy that starred John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Clark Duke, Craig Robinson, Chevy Chase, Lizzy Caplan and a very topless Jessica Pare (a.k.a. Megan Draper), might be getting a sequel.
According to THR, MGM is in "exploratory talks" with Corddry, Duke and Robinson to reprise their roles for a sequel. Cusack, Chase, Caplan and Pare are not presently involved. Still! This is great news. Here's why:
1. The only movie title better than "Hot Tub Time Machine" is "Hot Tub Time Machine 2."
2. The first "Hot Tub Time Machine" had some surprisingly poignant things to say about what happens when a group of friends grows up and grows apart.
3. It also included a runner about Crispin Glover almost losing his arm. "If that guy doesn't lose his arm soon, I'm gonna f--king take it from him myself," noted Corddry's character, Lou.
4. "We said we weren't gonna talk about Cincinnatti ever, okay?"

Jennifer Lawrence 'SNL' Promos: Award Winner Flirts With Jason Sudeikis

Things couldn't get much better for Jennifer Lawrence right now: She was in two of the most successful and acclaimed movies of the year, just won a Golden Globe and is about to host "Saturday Night Live."
Her new promos alongside Jason Sudeikis certainly give us reason to believe that she has the comedy chops to pull off "SNL." Even if she cracked a joke that flew over the heads of most of America at the Golden Globes last weekend, we'd rather her take a risk than play it safe.
And Olivia Wilde, don't worry: She's only "Opposite Day" flirting with your fiance.

Anne Hathaway, Best Supporting Actress Winner At Golden Globes 2013

Anne Hathaway took home the Golden Globe award for Best Supporting Actress.

The 70th annual Golden Globe Awards have taken place Anne Hathaway won the award for Best Supporting Actress.
The nominees for the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress were Anne Hathaway for "Les Miserables," Helen Hunt for "The Sessions," Sally Field for "Lincoln," Amy Adams for "The Master," and Nicole Kidman for "The Paperboy."
In the decade since her breakout performance in "The Princess Diaries," Hathaway has nabbed roles in films such as "The Devil Wears Prada," "The Dark Knight Rises," and "Love and Other Drugs." She has been nominated for two Golden Globe awards in the past -- Best Actress - Drama for her role in 2008's "Rachel Getting Married," and Best Actress - Musical or Comedy for 2010's "Love and Other Drugs."
The film adaptation of "Les Miserables," which stars Hathaway, was nominated for a total of four Golden Globes this year -- Best Supporting Actress, Best Original Song, Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical, and Best Actor - Comedy or Musical.
The 70th annual Golden Globes Awards took place on Jan. 13, 2013. "SNL" alums Tina Fey and Amy Poehler hosted the ceremony at Beverly Hills' Beverly Hilton Hotel.

Lena Dunham Wins At The Golden Globes For Best Actress In A Comedy Series

Lena Dunham has won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a TV Comedy.
The actress/writer/director beat out Tina Fey ("30 Rock"), Amy Poehler ("Parks and Recreation"), Julia Louis-Dreyfus ("Veep") and Zooey Deschanel ("New Girl") for the coveted gong. Fey and Poehler were also pulling double-duty by hosting the awards. Last year's winner was "Enlightened" star Laura Dern, who wasn't nominated this time around.
"This award is for every woman who felt like there wasn't a space for her," Dunham said, visibly shaking as she accepted the award. "This show has made a space for me." Dunham later won Best TV Comedy or Musical for "Girls."
NBC broadcast the 2013 Golden Globes live from the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, California.

Golden Globes Monologue: Tina Fey And Amy Poehler Talk Ricky Gervais, Lena Dunham And More

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler stole the show at the 2013 Golden Globes with their opening monologue.
After noting that last year's host Ricky Gervais "could not be here tonight because he's no longer in show business," Fey double checked with "Girls" actress Lena Dunham to make sure she was willingly appearing nude on TV.
Fey also joked about "Zero Dark Thirty" director Katheryn Bigelow. "When it comes to torture, I trust the lady who spent three years married to James Cameron," she said. Meanwhile, Poehler joked, "Meryl Streep is not here tonight. She has the flu, I hear she's amazing in it."
Poehler attempted a "Les Miserables" tune and she asked "Homeland" star -- and infamous on-set singer -- Mandy Patinkin if he liked it and then, Fey turned her attention to "Les Miserables" actress Anne Hathaway.
"I have not seen someone so totally alone and abandoned like that since you were alone with James Franco at the Oscars," she said of Hathaway's performance. Cue Hathaway face palm.
Tina Fey and Amy Poehler are hosting the 2013 Golden Globes held in Beverly Hills.

Golden Globes 2013: Amy Poehler And Tina Fey's Best Zingers From Their Monologue

Take that, Ricky Gervais! This year's Golden Globes were a bit more anticipated than usual, mainly due to hosting duties by none other than present-day comedy titans Amy Poehler and Tina Fey. Thankfully, the two nailed the opening monologue.
No surprise that the duo ended up skewering those in attendance -- and the entire room of celebrities at the Beverly Hilton ate it up. This opposed to the last two year's of Gervais' cruel jabbing at Hollywood's finest. However, that's not to say they held back. As Moviefone editor Chris Jancelewicz admitted, the jokes were tasteful yet biting.
Below, check out all the wit and wisdom of the ex-SNL'ers, with the best jokes from Poehler and Fey's monologue. And head here to follow along with all the live updates and winners from tonight's ceremony.
RELATED: Stars Dazzle on the Golden Globes Red Carpet
"You can smell the pills from here" - Amy on the atmosphere of the room
"Only at the Golden Globes do the beautiful people of film rub shoulders with the rat-faced people in television" -- Amy
"Ricky Gervais is not here tonight, because he is no longer in show business" -- Tina
"When it comes to torture, I trust the woman who spent three years married to James Cameron" -- Tina
“As we learned from Ricky Gervais, when you run afoul with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, they ask you to host the Golden Globes two more times” -- Amy
"I used to win prizes for that too" -- Tina on Julianne Moore's Globe-nominated performance as Sarah Palin for "Game Change"
"You're not better than me" -- Amy to Ben Affleck
"I have not seen someone so alone and abandoned like that since you were on stage with James Franco at the Oscars" -- Tina to Anne Hathaway
"Quentin Tarantino is here, the star of all my sexual nightmares" -- Tina
"Meryl Streep is not here tonight. She has the flu, and I hear she's AMAZING in it." -- Amy

Golden Globes 2013: List Of Winners From This Year's Ceremony

It's award season again and Moviefone is here to provide you with live updates from the 2013 Golden Globes!
The show, recognizing the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's picks for the best in film and television, aired live on Sunday, January 13 across the country on NBC. Taking a break from Ricky Gervais' biting commentary as host, this year's telecast will be MC'ed by the very funny Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.
Follow along with our exclusive Moviefone blog below to find out who won, what people were wearing... and who gave the drunkest acceptance speech!
WINNERS:
Best Motion Picture, Drama: "Argo"
Best Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: "Les Miserables"
Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama: Daniel Day-Lewis for "Lincoln"
Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama: Jessica Chastain for "Zero Dark Thirty"
Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: Hugh Jackman for "Les Miserables"
Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: Jennifer Lawrence for "Silver Linings Playbook"
Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture: Anne Hathaway for "Les Miserables"
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: Christoph Waltz for "Django Unchained"
Best Screenplay - Motion Picture: Quentin Tarantino for "Django Unchained"
Best Director - Motion Picture: Ben Affleck for "Argo"
Best Animated Feature Film: "Brave"
Best Foreign Language Film: "Amour"
Best Original Score - Motion Picture:Mychael Danna for "Life of Pi"
Best Original Song - Motion Picture: Adele for "Skyfall"
Best Television Series, Drama: "Homeland"
Best Actor in a Television Series, Drama:Damien Lewis for "Homeland"
Best Actress in a Television Series, Drama: Claire Danes for "Homeland"
Best Actor in a Television Series, Comedy or Musical: Don Cheadle for "House of Lies"
Best Actress in a Television Series, Comedy or Musical: Lena Dunham for "Girls"
Best Television Series, Comedy or Musical: "Girls"
Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: "Game Change"
Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: Kevin Costner for "Hatfields and McCoys"
Best Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: Maggie Smith for "Downton Abby"
Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: Julianne Moore for "Game Change"
Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: Ed Harris for "Game Change"

'ParaNorman' Oscar Nomination: Chris Butler, Co-Director, Was 'Crapping' Himself

"ParaNorman's" Oscar nomination was great news for co-director Chris Butler

"ParaNorman" began its production in 2009 -- which should give you a rough idea of just how long it takes to produce a stop-motion animation film. Three years later, the film -- a mild box-office success about a young boy who can communicate with the dead, a trait that helps him save his hometown -- was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards alongside blockbusters like "Brave" and "Wreck-It Ralph." So, yes, when we spoke to "ParaNorman" co-director and screenwriter Chris Butler on Thursday, the change in his voice was audible when he stated that, today, he felt "vindication" with the film's nomination.
Congratulations.
Thank you.
Personally, I felt pretty sure "ParaNorman" would get a nomination. But were you nervous?
Yes. I was. I was crapping myself. You just never know. We know that, critically, we got some really good buzz. But, in a year that 21, I think, were put up for nomination ... I don't know, you just can never tell. So, I was definitely nervous.
And it did fine at the box office, but it wasn't a huge domestic blockbuster. People who saw it, liked it -- but not everyone saw it. Was that a concern?
When it comes to the Oscars, that's less of a concern. And, actually, I think that's born out with the nominations today. "Frakenweenie, "ParaNorman," "Pirates! Band of Misfits" -- none of them did big bucks at the box office. But, they were all critically regarded. And today is all about critical recognition, I think. It never really nods to the finance stuff.
Did you always feel that "ParaNorman" would have longer legs than its initial box office release?
I hope so. I just think that when we were making it, we knew we were making something special. And by that I mean I knew we weren't just making some kind of gimmicky, flash-in-the-pan kind of thing. We weren't making a movie that was about bright colors -- we were making something that had something to say. And I think it was a brave movie. And we made exactly the movie we wanted to make, and we were encouraged to do so. So, that's what makes it really special today: to have that acknowledged.
"Rango," a similar movie in tone, won Best Animated Feature last year. Does a movie like that give you hope that the Pixar machine isn't unbeatable? Does that give you hope for "ParaNorman"?
You know, fingers crossed. It would be great if we did. "Rango" is a really good example, I think, of proving that animation in itself is not a genre, it's a medium. More and more, recently, I think animated movies are being acknowledged for being movies -- not for being animated. "Rango" is one of them. "Fantastic Mr. Fox" is another. And if you look at the five nominations today, in tone and aesthetic, they are all very, very different. So that is definitely encouraging to me. We went into this wanting to make a movie. We didn't go into into this wanting to make a cartoon.
To that point: Maybe "polarizing" is the wrong word, but people had a lot of different reactions to the third act. It was very dark.
Yes. And the third act was always integral to it. In fact, the whole story ... it's often the case in animation that it's written as it goes along and you are constantly reworking. Often I've worked on movies where I don't know what the third act is until we started shooting. I didn't want to do it that way -- the big revelation stuff in our third act was the first thing I started writing. It was always the heart of the movie. There isn't another "ParaNorman." I think a lot of people, when they saw the trailers, or when they first heard about it, thought it would be a spoofy, zombie thing ...
I think they definitely did.
Yeah. So, we actually set out to surprise people. We wanted people to sit up and take notice. And I think that worked. I hope it worked.
"ParaNorman" was such a long process. Then it comes out and it does OK at the box office. But does today feel like it achieved what it was supposed to achieve?
Yes ... there is definitely an element of vindication for your efforts. I think that maybe part of the reason that three stop-motion movies are nominated is that people understand and love the process. [Ed. note: "Frankenweenie" and "Pirates! Band of Misfits" were both stop-motion movies as well.] I think people realize how much effort goes into making one of these things. How much practical effort. Scores and scores of people and artists and technicians working on this. I think people actually acknowledge that and I think that's part of the reason that it's been afforded such love today. Equally for me, it's having people acknowledge the story. Like we were just talking about: having people see something that is slightly out of the ordinary that takes some chances and applaud it for that? That's what today is for me. The applause for telling the story that we did.