Today's Entertainment

February 22 - 28, 2016 Page 3 ACROSS 1. One of the boys on "Home Improvement" 5. "Monster's __"; 2001 Billy Bob Thornton film 9. Bob Saget's role on "Full House" 10. 5004 and 5006 12. "Death __ __ Funeral"; 2010 Chris Rock movie 13. "__ Steel"; 2011 Hugh Jackman film 16. Org. for Bears and Lions 17. Knox or Worth: abbr. 18. Series for Jon Huertas 20. James Caan's role on "Las Vegas" 21. "O Brother, Where Art __?"; George Clooney movie 23. Erica Durance's role on "Smallville" 25. Building annex, often 26. Mary __ Summers; role on "Gilligan's Island" 27. Actor Wheaton 28. Mischief-maker 29. Undesirable spots 30. Diamond, for one 32. Zebulon, to John Walton Sr. 33. Role on "Little House on the Prairie" 38. Emilio's initials 39. Pack animal 41. "You're So __"; Carly Simon song 42. Part of autumn: abbr. 43. Actor Christopher 45. "Men in __" 47. "The Five-__ Engagement"; 2012 Jason Segel film 48. Boatmen's needs DOWN 1. Role on "Chicago Fire" (2) 2. Ortiz of "Ugly Betty" 3. Nurse's letters 4. Actress Sedgwick 5. With 18 Down, early host of "The Price Is Right" (2) 6. Initials for sharpshooter Oakley 7. Actor __ Chaney Jr. 8. Sitcom for James Brolin (3) 9. Crazy 11. Cutlass or Alero 14. Initials for actor Stoltz 15. "Switched __ Birth" 18. See 5 Down 19. Role on "Seinfeld" 22. Actor Ken 24. "Lean __ __"; 1989 Morgan Freeman film 29. On __ __ with; equivalent to 31. "__ Make a Deal" 34. "Unhappily __ After" 35. "__ Femme Nikita" 36. Sandra Bullock's age 37. "Star Trek __ Dark- ness"; 2013 movie 40. "Now You __ Me"; 2013 Jesse Eisenberg thriller 42. Above, to a poet 44. Setting for "American Dad!": abbr. 46. Acuff's initials Solution on page 2. By Jay Bobbin © Zap2it The annual Oscar cer- emony is about who wins the gold statuettes, as usual — but this year, it also is about much more. The lack of nominees of color in the acting categories set off a firestorm, prompting some to call for a boycott of the event ... which, in turn, prompted the lead- ership of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to institute new rules regarding Oscar voters. And the 2002 winner for best actress, Halle Berry, has deemed it "heartbreaking" that "another woman of color has not walked through that door" for that spe- cific honor since. It'll be hard for the telecast to ignore the situation when ABC televises the 88th Academy Awards from Hollywood's Dolby The- ater on Sunday, Feb. 28. One guarantee of the matter's mention is who the host is: Chris Rock, filling that role for the second time 11 years after he first did it. If anyone might have wondered about his still having relevance to the occasion, that ended with the uproar that followed last month's announce- ment of the nominations. There are feelings that no one is better-suited for the job than Rock this year, given his trade- mark of frank humor that skewers society. Even if it happens to be Holly- wood society. It's also notable that the first presenters an- nounced for the broad- cast included fellow com- ics Whoopi Goldberg and Kevin Hart, both of whom easily could reference the nominee controversy. Among others set to take the Oscar stage to help hand out the honors or perform: past winners (along with Goldberg) Benicio Del Toro, Jared Leto, Julianne Moore, J.K. Simmons, Charlize Theron and Reese With- erspoon — plus Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Ryan Gosling, Lady Gaga, young "Room" co-star Jacob Tremblay, Kerry Washington, and music's Sam Smith, The Weeknd and Pharrell Williams. Also, the yearly "In Memoriam" segment should have particular impact this time. Not only did such legends as Maureen O'Hara, Omar Sharif and Christopher Lee pass during the past year, 2016 began with several entertain- ment-world deaths that stunned many, including those of Alan Rickman and singer-actor David Bowie. Following is a list of nominees in major categories in the 88th Oscars. Best picture: "The Big Short"; "Bridge of Spies"; "Brooklyn"; "Mad Max: Fury Road"; "The Mar- tian"; "The Revenant"; "Room"; "Spotlight." Best actor: Bryan Cranston, "Trumbo"; Matt Damon, "The Martian"; Leonardo DiCaprio, "The Revenant"; Michael Fass- bender, "Steve Jobs"; Eddie Redmayne, "The Danish Girl." Best actress: Cate Blanchett, "Carol"; Brie Larson, "Room"; Jen- nifer Lawrence, "Joy"; Charlotte Rampling, "45 Years"; Saoirse Ronan, "Brooklyn." Best supporting actor: Christian Bale, "The Big Short"; Tom Hardy, "The Revenant"; Mark Ruffalo, "Spotlight"; Mark Ry- lance, "Bridge of Spies"; Sylvester Stallone, "Creed." Best supporting ac- tress: Jennifer Jason Leigh, "The Hateful Eight"; Rooney Mara, "Carol"; Rachel McAd- ams, "Spotlight"; Alicia Vikander, "The Danish Girl"; Kate Winslet, "Steve Jobs." Best director: Lenny Abrahamson, "Room"; Alejandro G. Inárritu,"The Revenant"; Tom McCa- rthy, "Spotlight"; Adam McKay, "The Big Short"; George Miller, "Mad Max: Fury Road." Chris Rock returns as host of the 88th Oscars, Sunday on ABC. CoverStory Color them controversial: ABC airs the 88th Oscars

• Cover