Moviefone Copyright 2011, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc. Moviefone Good old fashioned elbow grease. Entertainment Weekly just ranked me #2 in their "Best Oscar Hosts of the Past 20 Years" poll. First of all, I'm honored. Secondly, I know what being runner-up means. If at any time Billy Crystal can't perform his official duties, I would need to take over.

Getting to host the Oscars was a dream come true. When I found out I was picked, I was a little nervous, so I looked for hosting advice from anywhere I could get it. I even read Emily Post's book on how to be a good host. That's why the year I hosted, everyone in the audience sat boy, girl, boy, girl.

There are a lot of host responsibilities you may not know about. At big events like the Oscars, sometimes celebrities have what we call "wardrobe malfunctions." Not on my watch. I'll stop at nothing to keep things decent when I'm hosting, which includes bringing extra safety pins and making sure Jennifer Lopez doesn't have to run anywhere. It's also how my hands wound up on Janet Jackson's Rolling Stone cover.

One thing winners get upset about at the Oscars is when they forget to thank someone very special to them. So before the show, I like to find all the nominees' acceptance speeches and add my name.

I've hosted the Oscars, the Emmys, and my dream is to host the Tonys one day. They're the gay couple that lives on our street. They're very particular about what dinner parties they attend.

I can't wait to see Billy Crystal host. I think he's gonna do a fantastic job. If I could tell him anything, it would be to enjoy every second, and if he finds a maroon blazer with elbow patches, I think I left it backstage. I'll be watching on Sunday!
]]> Fri, 24 Feb 2012 08:47:21 EST 1298148 The Iron Lady. Now I know almost as much about the United Kingdom as I do about England.

If I've said it once, I've said it 18 times, Meryl Streep is brilliant as Margaret Thatcher. I said it would earn her an Oscar nomination and it did. I can't believe how unbelievably believable she was.

I don't know how she did it. Not only does she sound and act like Margaret Thatcher, Meryl also plays her across a few decades. I always knew she was good, but after watching this performance, I think she might be a witch.

Whenever someone asks me who should portray me in the movie of my life, I always say the same person -- Taylor Swift. We're practically the same person. But I'd also love to see Meryl Streep play me. She's so good with accents and physicality. Let me tell you, dancing up a flight of stairs isn't as easy as it looks.

She really is the greatest actress of our time, and this may be her best performance yet. I can't wait to see what happens on the big night! ]]> Thu, 23 Feb 2012 08:29:28 EST 1293662 The Artist is going to do very well. It's nominated for 10 awards, and if I hadn't lost all my money on the Super Bowl, I'd be placing my bets.

It's so original, and that's hard to find in Hollywood these days. Now everything's either a sequel, or based on a book or inspired by actual events. And if it's not, it's probably a sexy vampire movie.

Who would've thought that a black and white movie with no dialogue would be so popular? It's simple and entertaining. We should've been doing this years ago.

I didn't think a silent movie could hold my attention, but it really did. I liked it so much, I started watching some of my favorite TV shows on mute.

One cast member who definitely deserved an award was Uggie. It's too bad he's not eligible for an Oscar because he's a dog. I can't believe how smart he is. He seemed to understand exactly what was going on in every scene. My dog thinks his tail is a squirrel.

Don't miss this movie. Yes, it's silent and in black and white, but it's entertaining, innovative and a great opportunity to practice lip reading. I knew everything the dog was saying.]]> Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:40:21 EST 1292060 Bridesmaids (Mes meilleures amies), en nomination dans deux catégories.

J'ai compris que cette comédie aurait du succès dès le moment où je l'ai vue. On peut s'identifier très facilement à ses protagonistes -- que l'on soit homme ou femme, jeune ou vieux, démocrate ou républicain. On s'est tous déjà fait renvoyer de l'école ou d'un avion pour cause de mauvais comportement, si vous voyez ce que je veux dire.

Certains observateurs affirmaient qu'une comédie dont les rôles principaux sont tous féminins ne parviendrait pas à se démarquer. Ils avaient tort, car Bridesmaids vient juste de battre le record du film à la carte le plus téléchargé de tous les temps. La demande n'est plus tributaire du nombre de cassettes disponibles au club vidéo, et reflète désormais l'engouement réel du public. Mon petit doigt me l'avait dit !

Ce dimanche, Kristen Wiig et Annie Mumolo convoiteront le prix du meilleur scénario original, tandis que Melissa McCarthy courra la chance d'être reconnue meilleure actrice dans un second rôle. Ces deux nominations sont un exploit, car l'Académie fait peu de place aux comédies en temps normal.

D'ailleurs, la raison pour laquelle les comédies sont ainsi ignorées m'échappe complètement. Il y a un tas d'acteurs qui ont livré des performances remarquables, mais n'ont jamais été mis en nomination. Je pense immédiatement à Steve Martin, Steve Carell et Steve Guttenberg. Ceux qui ne portent pas le prénom Steve ne me viennent pas à l'esprit en ce moment, mais ils sont nombreux, croyez-moi.

Bref, je lève mon chapeau à Bridesmaids, et lui souhaite la meilleure des chances à l'occasion de cette 84e cérémonie des Oscars !
]]> Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:42:23 EST 1292002 Bridesmaids, win an Oscar!

The moment I saw Bridesmaids I knew it would be a hit. It's so relatable. I don't care who you are -- male or female, young or old, Democrat or Republican -- we've all gotten kicked off a plane for being drunk.

They said a comedy with an all-female lead cast couldn't be successful, but they were wrong. The movie just broke the record as the most downloaded movie-on-demand ever. See? People aren't just renting it -- they're demanding it.

It's nominated for two Academy Awards this year. Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo are nominated for Best Screenplay, and Melissa McCarthy is nominated for Best Supporting Actress. It's amazing, considering the Academy rarely recognizes comedies at all.

I don't know why comedies don't get more attention at the Oscars. There are so many great actors who have given amazing performances and have never been nominated... like Steve Martin, or Steve Carell, or Steve Guttenberg. I can't think of anyone whose name isn't Steve right now, but I'm sure there are some.

Anyway, congratulations Bridesmaids, and good luck at the Oscars!]]> Tue, 21 Feb 2012 08:10:48 EST 1289414
Raise your hand if you looked at the Oscar nominations and there was a movie you never heard of. Never mind, I'm sorry. You can put your hand down. I forgot I was typing.

One of my favorite movies of the year was Beginners, starring Ewan McGregor and Christopher Plummer. The truth is I almost didn't see it. By the time someone recommended it, it was already on DVD. Thankfully, I'm a huge celebrity, so I was able to have them perform it live in my living room.

If you haven't seen it, I hope you will. Ewan McGregor gives a beautiful and heartfelt performance you don't want to miss, even if he did knock over one of my floor lamps.

Christopher Plummer was amazing, too. He plays a 75-year-old man who decides to come out of the closet after his wife dies. It's so touching and so well done. He won a Golden Globe, a SAG Award, and I was thrilled he was nominated for an Oscar, especially since the movie didn't seem to get the same attention some of the bigger blockbusters did.

I think everyone should see at least one independent film a year. It's a great way to experience something different, and you get to wear a beret. Who knows? Maybe you'll wind up seeing your favorite film of the year.]]> Mon, 20 Feb 2012 09:40:48 EST 1287740
Late last year, Congress did away with a 34 year old regulation banning the government from selling any of the 37,000 wild horses running free across America's western plains. Since the new rule was adopted, the Bureau of Land Management has sold over a thousand horses to private parties. At least 41 of them have been slaughtered and turned into dog food.

Look here to learn more about this horrible state of affairs. And here if you want to become a part of the fight to repeal this odious law.

Galloping into the winner's circle on this issue: Ford Motor Company, which recently stepped in at the last minute and saved 52 horses from being killed.

Now that's a better idea.]]> Fri, 13 May 2005 13:26:47 EDT 384