Shout Out Thursday

1. I would like to start with a lengthy Shout Out to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in regards to this morning's 81st Academy Awards nominations. First off, for including career character actor Richard Jenkins for his amazing (and little seen) performance in The Visitor. If you blinked, you missed this film, so add it to your Netflix NOW.

Next, they get props across the board for the Supporting Actor nominees: for showing a sense of humor with Robert Downey, Jr., a realization that superhero movies can be a vehicle for a tour de force performance with Heath Ledger, and for The Brolin who, in my humble opinion, made Milk (my favorite film of 2008).

Also included on the milk bandwagon, fantastically talented editor Elliot Graham.

And lastly, for the amazing Irish playwright Martin McDonagh whose In Bruges was my fourth favorite film of 2008 (after the aforementioned MILK, FROST/NIXON and THE DARK KNIGHT.)

2. Shout Out to my Cirque Berzerk friends who have a new show up this month in San Francisco and Los Angeles - The Edwardian Ball. Tickets are still available and if you haven't seen these amazing and talented people perform, get your ass in gear! I won't be with them for this show, but I'll be singing with them again this summer when Beneath returns to Los Angeles.

And if you watch the video on their website, you can hear my shiny little opera voice about 2/3 the way through...

3. On a more random note, Shout Out to St. Ives Apricot Scrub which I love with a passion that rivals that of any man as it keeps my itchy, dry skin smooth and succulent (that was more than you needed/wanted to know, right?) all winter.

4. And lastly a Shout Out to rain - not, not Rainn Wilson, Rain Pryor nor even Chocolate Rain (if you don't know what I'm talking about, SERIOUSLY click the link) - but to rain, the condensation of atmospheric water vapor into drops heavy enough to fall to the Earth. It's raining in L.A. today and I love it!