Showing Out

It seems like every award ceremony this year has broken the record for most-watched award show in recent history, and The Oscars is no exception. Last night, the 82nd Annual Academy Awards was the most-watched television broadcast in five years, pulling in an audience of 41.3 million viewers and becoming the show’s second straight year of audience gains. Meanwhile, the pre-show specials drew in record numbers as well, with ABC’s red carpet pre-show alluring 25.1 million viewers (the show’s largest audience in three years) and the final Barbara Walters special nabbing 15 million viewers (its largest audience since 2002). Of course, the numbers were hurt because Cablevision blocked out more than 3 million viewers from watching the beginning of the broadcast, but can’t hate… These numbers are tough!

In case you didn’t know, Sandra Bullock received the highest and lowest honors in film awards this past weekend. While she took home the Oscar for Best Actress for her performance in The Blind Side, she also made an appearance at the Razzie Awards this weekend where she was chosen as the worst actress of the year for her performance in All About Steve. In the above clip, you can see Bullock gracefully accept the Razzie by challenging everyone in the room to actually watch the film, and stated that if they didn’t in fact like it, she would come back next year and give it back. It takes a lot of guts and class to show up to accept your Worst Actress award - let’s hope this one sits next to good ol’ Oscar on her mantelpiece. Hit the jump to see the rest of the evening’s losers.

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If you happen to be one of the three people in America who didn’t watch the Oscars last night, have no fear: here’s your next-morning recap. During the 82nd Academy Awards, The Hurt Locker, a film about bomb diffusers in the heat of war, won best picture, with its director Kathryn Bigelow besting James Cameron for best director and becoming the first woman to ever win the prize. Jeff Bridges was a shoo-in for best actor for his role in Crazy Heart, while Sandra Bullock unsurprisingly took home the statue for best actress for her role in The Blind Side. On the supporting actor/actress tip, Christoph Waltz won for his Nazi role in Inglourious Basterds, while Mo’Nique won for her monstrous character in the film Precious (you can watch her acceptance speech above) and Geoffrey Fletcher won for best adapted screenplay for the same film. Hit the jump to see the full list of winner from last night’s event.

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In case you haven’t heard the word, Precious is a shoo-in to win at the Oscars tomorrow night. And if the film’s wins last night at the Spirit Awards were any indication, it’s fate is already sealed. During the ceremony last night, the Lee Daniels-directed pic won the best picture prize, best director for Daniels, best actress for Gabourey Sidibe, best supporting actress for Mo’Nique and best screenplay for Geoffrey Fletcher. Other big winners for the evening included Jeff Bridges for best actor in Crazy Heart while Woody Harrelson won for best supporting actor for his role in The Messenger. If this says anything about what we can expect tomorrow night, we may not even have to watch it to know who’s going to take home the statues. Hit the jump to see the full list of winners from last night.

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On Friday night, a horde of influential black celebrities attended the NAACP Image Awards, which saw Precious winning a massive six awards during the evening. But if you were wondering what it was like backstage with all that talent mulling about, then hit that play button above. In this clip, you can see Chris Rock walking with his people before getting sidetracked and heading over to Jamie Foxx, with whom he conferred in the corner. Soon, Tanicha Arnold comes out of nowhere and chats it up with the guys, when Carlos Santana suddenly walks by and congratulates the boys on their accomplishments. This is kind of a surreal moment - hit the play button and witness the star power confer backstage.

As if it came as any surprise, Lee Daniels’ Precious swept the NAACP Image Awards this evening. The film, which stars Gabourey Sidibe as an obese teenage mother stuck in an abusive household, won six of the eight awards for which it was nominated, including the prizes for best motion picture and best independent feature. Additionally, Sidibe won best actress over Sandra Bullock, while Mo’Nique won best supporting actress, writer Geoffrey Fletcher won for outstanding writing and Daniels won for best direction. And as for other film awards, Morgan Freeman won best actor for Invictus while best documentary went to Chris Rock’s Good Hair. Hit the jump to see the full list of tonight’s winners.

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We haven’t heard much from Anika Noni Rose since she lent her voice to The Princess and the Frog as Princess Tiana, but come this Friday, she’s back like she never left. At 8 P.M. on Friday, Rose will join Hill Harper as host of the 2010 NAACP Image Awards, which is set to air on FOX. And, of course, they’re not going to be the only celebs in attendance. Mo’Nique, Gabourey Sidibe, Morgan Freeman, Sandra Bullock, Jamie Foxx, Lenny Kravitz, Regina King, Taraji P. Henson, Myrlie Evers Williams, Adam Rodriguez, Sherri Shepherd, Alfre Woodard, Mariah Carey, Mekhi Phifer and Tatyana Ali are all scheduled to appear, while Tyler Perry will receive the Chairman’s Award and Wyclef Jean will be honored with the Vanguard Award. Hit the jump to see the full list of nominees, and watch those awards this Friday.

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Morgan Freeman is probably flying high right now for his Oscar nod for playing Nelson Mandela in the biopic Invictus, and he’s got even more to be happy about. According to Variety, Freeman will be honored by the American Society of Cinematographers with its Board of Governors Award, which is bestowed on someone for their “significant contributions to advancing the art of filmmaking.” “Morgan Freeman is a consummate actor and producer who devotes his considerable talent and influence to projects that make a difference,” said ASC president Michael Goi. “His avid participation on films with subjects such as slavery, apartheid and the Hollywood blacklist reflect his desire to inform the world through his art.” The award, which has also been given to Gregory Peck, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Jodie Foster, Robert Wise, Francis Ford Coppola, Robert Altman, Warren Beatty, Sally Field, Stanley Donen, Norman Jewison, Irwin Winkler, Sydney Pollack, Ron Howard, Gil Cates and Christopher Nolan, will be given during the 24th Annual ASC Outstanding Achievement Awards on Saturday. Get ready to pop that champagne.

Wanda Sykes is not only one of the most successful black women in comedy and television, but she’s one of the most successful gay women in Hollywood - period. And to honor her for her efforts to eradicate homophobia from society, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) plans on honoring her with the prestigious Stephen F. Kolzak Award at the 21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards, taking place in L.A. on April 17th. The award honors openly gay celebrities for his or her work toward eliminating homophobia. Sykes joins past winners Melissa Etheridge, Bill Condon, Todd Haynes, Ellen DeGeneres in receiving the prestigious award, one of the most honorable awards a gay celeb can receive in Hollywood. Applaud this woman.

We love Gabourey Sidibe and aren’t afraid to admit it. Not only was she wonderful in Precious, but when she’s not playing a character, she becomes so unavoidably lovable that you’d have to have a heart of stone not to go weak in the knees. The above video is an example of her fearless self, with Gabby sitting at a roundtable discussion with her fellow Oscar nominees to discuss how she became an actress. Surprisingly, Gabby talks about how she originally wanted to be a comedian up until she realized she wasn’t funny at the age of 11, when she somehow “became” an actress. And isn’t she just adorable in the way she describes how she doesn’t get nervous ever? Someone get this girl her own talk show.