spirit awards

7:12AM STV | And Your Host, Steve Coogan: The British comic who vied with Rainn Wilson for August’s Worst Flop honours today took Wilson’s old job hosting the Independent Spirit Awards on Feb. 21. Not quite what we’d call a huge step up for the organisers, but, said Spirit Awards executive producer Diana Zahn-Storey in a statement, “He’s a brilliant actor and comedian whose style and accent will bring an international flair to the event.” In other words, Ricky Gervais turned them down. [The Envelope] More »

Trade Roundup: Writerless Talk Show Host Carson Daly Ready To Try And Survive On Charm Alone

6:30AM Defamer Hollywood | A brave Carson Daly will be the first late-night talk show host to cross the picket line and attempt to return to work without a writing staff; upon his arrival at the studio, Daly will be awkwardly reminded by a security guard that his show was cancelled two years ago. [THR] · Mark Ruffalo is invited to the Leonardo DiCaprio/Martin Scorcese reteaming party Shutter Island. [THR] · I’m Not There, expected to duke it out in every Oscar category you got with similarly ambitious music biopic Walk Hard, leads the Independent Spirit Award nominations with four. Angelina Jolie flop A Mighty Heart and Ang Lee’s artsy, NC-17 fuckfest Lust Caution received three nods each. [Variety] More »