Today's Entertainment

February 29 - March 6, 2016 Page 3 ACROSS 1. Role on "NCIS" (2) 9. Actor Gulager 10. "My Name Is __" 11. Show-off 13. Wife of comic strip Viking Hagar 15. Fill with joy 17. "Dancing With the Stars" host 18. Musical disk, for short 20. "Life of __"; 2012 blockbuster film 21. "Who Do You Think You __?" 23. __ Blocker 24. Ruby or topaz 25. Film for which Patricia Neal won an Oscar 26. Cry heard in a flu shot clinic 29. "__ Law" (1986-94) 30. Zoe of "NCIS: New Orleans" 34. 1996 movie for Madonna 36. Game site 38. Like a poorly lit room 39. Fanny 42. "__ Yes to the Dress" 43. Actor on "blackish" (2) DOWN 1. Guinness product 2. Future tulip 3. "Man of the __"; 2006 Robin Williams movie 4. Continent: abbr. 5. Initials for actor Reeve 6. Robert of "The Sopra- nos" 7. "Less __ Perfect" 8. Cereal grain 9. Series for Nick Gehlfuss (2) 12. Role on "Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." (2) 14. "__ Smart" 16. "__ Grant" 19. Bob Barker's successor 20. __ Lassiter; role on "Spin City" 22. Role in "The Wizard of Oz" 23. Dustin's initials 27. "__ of Valor"; 2012 Alex Veadov movie 28. "My Mother the __" 30. Kennedy or Rogers 31. "__ Night With Seth Meyers" 32. Bert who played the Cowardly Lion 33. Vane direction letters 35. Energy 37. Fabray, to friends 40. "Just the Ten of __" (1988-90) 41. Baio's initials Solution on page 2. CoverStory 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 cate- gories set off a firestorm, prompting some to call for a boycott of the event ... which, in turn, prompt- ed the leadership of the Academy of Motion Pic- ture Arts and Sciences to institute new rules re- garding Oscar voters. And the 2002 winner for best actress, Halle Berry, has deemed it "heartbreak- ing" that "another woman of color has not walked through that door" for that specific 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 sec- ond time 11 years after he first did it. If anyone might have wondered about his still having rel- evance to the occasion, that ended with the uproar that followed last month's announcement of the nominations. There are feelings that no one is better-suited for the job than Rock this year, given his trademark of frank hu- mor that skewers society. Even if it happens to be Hollywood society. It's also notable that the first presenters announced for the broadcast included fellow comics Whoopi Goldberg and Kevin Hart, both of whom easily could reference the nominee controversy. Among oth- ers 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 Re- ese Witherspoon — 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 Me- moriam" 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 enter- tainment-world deaths that stunned many, including those of Alan Rickman and singer-actor David Bowie. Following is a list of nominees in major catego- ries 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"; Jennifer Lawrence, "Joy"; Charlotte Rampling, "45 Years"; Saoirse Ronan, "Brook- lyn." Best supporting actor: Christian Bale, "The Big Short"; Tom Hardy, "The Revenant"; Mark Ruffalo, "Spotlight"; Mark Rylance, "Bridge of Spies"; Sylves- ter Stallone, "Creed." Best supporting ac- tress: Jennifer Jason Leigh, "The Hateful Eight"; Rooney Mara, "Carol"; Rachel McAdams, "Spot- light"; 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. Color them controversial: ABC airs the 88th Oscars

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