atkinreport.com

The recently settled WGA strike has still put a huge damper on Hollywood’s biggest party week.  A lot of events have cancelled, including many of the swag suites that normally set up shop at various hotels and houses in the hills. But one sector is working nonstop: stylists and designers looking to get their schmattas on the stars. Here’s one crazy story: a female nominee in one of the marqee categories–although not on screen–was told by a designer that she wasn’t A-list enough to be loaned a gown. You’re kidding me, right? That’s got to come back to bite her in the ass at some point. Hint: this person made her name in bridal and it’s not Vera Wang.

On the men’s side, the only huge shock will be if Daniel Day-Lewis and Javier Bardem don’t carry home Oscars Sunday night. It wasn’t only his powerful performance in shades of John Huston, but DDL’s SAG acceptance speech that nailed it with voters.  I’ll drink his milkshake anytime.  And I’d love to see Jon Stewart come out in an Anton Chigurgh wig.

Let’s hear it for old rock ‘n rollers and underdog teams, with the NY Giants thrilling win over the Patriots! Tom Petty–looking dapper and not much the worse for wear since Hearbreakers broke out…can it be 30 years ago?–rocked the crowd with a four-song set of American Girl, I Won’t Back Down, Free Fallin’ and Runnin’ Down a Dream. It’s all about the hair. See, just as a few examples: Jackson Browne, Mick Jagger. Don’t see: James Taylor, Paul Simon. (Nothing against their music, after all these years. Rock on.) Not a nipple in sight, or any phallic symbols, a la Prince’s guitar shadow last year. Wait, what about those arrows moving toward the heart of the Heartbreakers?

Massive, huge ratings. A record 97.5 million people watched the Fox broadcast, a number that ranked second only to the MASH finale in 1983. That show drew 106 million viewers back in the three-network television day. Previous Super Bowl record audience: 94.08 million, set when Dallas beat Pittsburgh in ’96.

And about those dancing lizards: not gonna make me want to drink Sobe Life Water….