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September 26, 2008

Taylor, Toby and Dark Knight save Oscar?

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Taylor Swift and Toby Keith to save the day?

That was tossed out in jest -- maybe -- by THR's Steve Zeitchik today in his story about the cellar dweller ratings that the Emmys and Oscars have earned this year.

Why not look to a healthy kudofest, like the Academy of Country Music Awards or the MTV VMAs, for inspiration? Is Rihanna available?

Just a note on all those pop-crossover pseudo-country stars: We're obviously not the right people to ask here, having always been partial to the big-haired first ladies of country music -- Tammy Wynette and Dolly -- and the bedazzled likes of Porter Wagoner and Bakersfield's favorite son, Buck Owens. But the current crop of stars sure do sell a lot of records and, well, they're alive, which makes them infinitely more viable as on-air talent than the latter two guys.

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With the Oscars about five months away, and new showrunners on board, we're all wondering what can be done to save the telecast without sullying its core mission of celebrating great (and sometimes obscure) filmmaking.

So far, the most often heard refrain is this one: Nominate "The Dark Knight!" In other words, toss movies that people care about and actually paid to see into the mix.

Speaking of the beloved superhero flick, Warner Bros. is giving the year's top-grosser another leg up by offering Blu-ray screeners to Academy voters. That, plus the planned re-release of the intense drama to theaters in January, could make the Christopher Nolan flick top-of-mind in the midst of balloting. Bif bang pow, indeed.

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Oscar Contenders

  • So "The Dark Knight" didn't make it into the final five after all, never mind that critical and popular support. Let's just call the comic-inspired mega-hit "The Biggest Snubee."

    Here are the best picture contenders in a race that, two weeks away from the Oscars, seems to be a foregone conclusion ("Slumdog") unless there's a come-from-behind possibility ("The Reader" anyone?)

    "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," with Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett; the politically timely "Milk;" rags-to-riches fairy tale, "Slumdog Millionaire," Holocaust best-seller-based drama "The Reader," and Watergate-era biopic "Frost/Nixon."

    Could "Button" and "Slumdog" split the vote, allowing another film to take the prize? Doesn't seem likely. After having clung to "Button" for months as what we thought would be the Academy voters' top vhoice, our money's now on "Slumdog." Momentum can't be ignored.

    Watch this blog for updates, ephemera and all manner of postulating.

Picture this

  • Mmmmm, chocolate Oscar. Not every star will walk away from the 81st annual Academy Awards with a trophy, but if they hit the high-profile Governor's Ball they can have pastry chef Sherry Yard's gold-dusted candy version. Also on the menu from celeb chef Wolfgang Puck is tuna tartare in sesame miso cones, chopped Chino Farms vegetable salad with ginger soy vinaigrette, Maine lobster and caviar. Serve it up! (Getty Images)

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