Oscar loves new blood

Is this good news or bad news for those of us who revolted against last year's interminable, lackluster montage-crazy Oscar telecast?

We vote for optimism!

The Academy has just hired a couple of newbies (as in, haven't done a bloated three-hour-plus live TV show before) to handle the Feb. 22 event, and they're well versed in the song and dance. Maybe not so much the montage? Fingers crossed!

Producer Laurence Mark and writer-director Bill Condon have double-Oscar-winning "Dreamgirls" under their belt as a team and a lot of major awards hardware between them.

Condon was the screenwriter on six-time Golden Guy winner "Chicago," and notable indies "Kinsey" and "Gods and Monsters" (the latter snagged Condon a writing Oscar). He's working on a Richard Pryor biopic now. Mark has "Working Girl," multiple Oscar nominee/winner "As Good as it Gets," "The Lookout," and multiple Oscar nominee/winner for Cuba Gooding Jr.,  "Jerry Maguire," to his credit and he's in post-production on "Julie and Julia" based on the best-selling book.

New blood! Guys who know good material and how to bring it to life! Reason to look forward to, rather than dread, the annual kudofest? Could be.

In other Oscar developments: THR will help you navigate the complicated foreign-language race -- new rules! more inclusive! -- here. And brother blogger Steven Zeitchik sizes up some of the contenders and convinces us to see "The Class" at the first available opportunity.