Panda, 'People's Choice' and popcorn

Don't count out the Panda!

Good advice, that, even though we've practically crowned "Wall-E" as the best animated picture Oscar winner or, at the very least, the contender to beat. Our friend in the business with every reason to tout DreamWorks' "Kung Fu Panda" nevertheless has a point. It's not a one-film race.

It's a 14 film field, which will be narrowed to a three-film race (which really doesn't seem inclusive enough, but please don't make us go scour through the Oscar bylaws for the reason).

Here's the list alphabetically: "Bolt," "Delgo," "Dragon Hunters," "Fly Me to the Moon," "Igor," "Kung Fu Panda," "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa," "$9.99," "The Sky Crawlers," "Sword of the Stranger," "The Tale of Despereaux," "Waltz With Bashir" "Wall-E" and "Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!"

By this time next year, most if not all the contenders will be shot in 3D. In other words, enjoy this while you can.

In other bits this morning...

We like her best when she's evil (Cruella de Vil, bunny boiler Alex Forrest, Patty Hewes), though it's her range over an extraordinary career that landed Glenn Close the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award. The five-time Oscar nominee, Emmy, Golden Globe and Tony winner will pick up her latest trophy, doled out by THR, on Dec. 5 at the annual Women in Entertainment event. More here.

For the flip side of the Oscars, check out the 35th annual "People's Choice Awards," where everything and the kitchen sink gets a nomination (nine acting categories!). To wit: "27 Dresses," "Get Smart," "21," "Eagle Eye" and "The Duchess" have nods in various film categories, alongside the year's biggest hit, "The Dark Knight," fellow superhero flick "Iron Man" and the "South Park"-bespoiled "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." And yeah, there's TV stuff too. More here.

We might be to blame for the Raisinet Recession. Didn't realize those smuggled in Goobers were having such a profound effect on the multiplex economy. Oops.