List of 80th Annual Oscar Nominees
Tuesday January 22 8:58 AM ET

Complete list of 80th annual Academy Award nominations announced Tuesday:

1. Best Picture: "Atonement," "Juno," "Michael Clayton," "No Country for Old Men," "There Will Be Blood."

2. Actor: George Clooney, "Michael Clayton"; Daniel Day-Lewis, "There Will Be Blood"; Johnny Depp, "Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street"; Tommy Lee Jones, "In the Valley of Elah"; Viggo Mortensen, "Eastern Promises."

3. Actress: Cate Blanchett, "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"; Julie Christie, "Away From Her"; Marion Cotillard, "La Vie en Rose"; Laura Linney, "The Savages"; Ellen Page, "Juno."

4. Supporting Actor: Casey Affleck, "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"; Javier Bardem, "No Country for Old Men"; Hal Holbrook, "Into the Wild"; Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Charlie Wilson's War"; Tom Wilkinson, "Michael Clayton."

5. Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett, "I'm Not There"; Ruby Dee, "American Gangster"; Saoirse Ronan, "Atonement"; Amy Ryan, "Gone Baby Gone"; Tilda Swinton, "Michael Clayton."

6. Director: Julian Schnabel, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"; Jason Reitman, "Juno"; Tony Gilroy, "Michael Clayton"; Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men"; Paul Thomas Anderson, "There Will Be Blood."

7. Foreign Film: "Beaufort," Israel; "The Counterfeiters," Austria; "Katyn," Poland; "Mongol," Kazakhstan; "12," Russia.

8. Adapted Screenplay: Christopher Hampton, "Atonement"; Sarah Polley, "Away from Her"; Ronald Harwood, "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"; Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, "No Country for Old Men"; Paul Thomas Anderson, "There Will Be Blood."

9. Original Screenplay: Diablo Cody, "Juno"; Nancy Oliver, "Lars and the Real Girl"; Tony Gilroy, "Michael Clayton"; Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava and Jim Capobianco, "Ratatouille"; Tamara Jenkins, "The Savages."

10. Animated Feature Film: "Persepolis"; "Ratatouille"; "Surf's Up."

11. Art Direction: "American Gangster," "Atonement," "The Golden Compass," "Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street," "There Will Be Blood."

12. Cinematography: "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford," "Atonement," "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," "No Country for Old Men," "There Will Be Blood."

13. Sound Mixing: "The Bourne Ultimatum," "No Country for Old Men," "Ratatouille," "3:10 to Yuma," "Transformers."

14. Sound Editing: "The Bourne Ultimatum," "No Country for Old Men," "Ratatouille," "There Will Be Blood," "Transformers."

15. Original Score: "Atonement," Dario Marianelli; "The Kite Runner," Alberto Iglesias; "Michael Clayton," James Newton Howard; "Ratatouille," Michael Giacchino; "3:10 to Yuma," Marco Beltrami.

16. Original Song: "Falling Slowly" from "Once," Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova; "Happy Working Song" from "Enchanted," Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz; "Raise It Up" from "August Rush," Nominees to be determined; "So Close" from "Enchanted," Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz; "That's How You Know" from "Enchanted," Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz.

17. Costume: "Across the Universe," "Atonement," "Elizabeth: The Golden Age," "La Vie en Rose," "Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street."

18. Documentary Feature: "No End in Sight," "Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience," "Sicko," "Taxi to the Dark Side," "War/Dance."

19. Documentary (short subject): "Freeheld," "La Corona (The Crown)," "Salim Baba," "Sari's Mother."

20. Film Editing: "The Bourne Ultimatum," "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly," "Into the Wild," "No Country for Old Men," "There Will Be Blood."

21. Makeup: "La Vie en Rose," "Norbit," "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End."

22. Animated Short Film: "I Met the Walrus," "Madame Tutli-Putli," "Meme Les Pigeons Vont au Paradis (Even Pigeons Go to Heaven)," "My Love (Moya Lyubov)," "Peter & the Wolf."

23. Live Action Short Film: "At Night," "Il Supplente (The Substitute)," "Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets)," "Tanghi Argentini," "The Tonto Woman."

24. Visual Effects: "The Golden Compass," "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End," "Transformers."

____

Academy Award winners previously announced this year:

HONORARY AWARD (Oscar statuette): Robert Boyle

Get Light (Hearted) With Paige

We may prefer darker washes because we’re under the delusion that it thins us. Still, for those who don’t have those problems (and we know there are a lot of you), try lightening the mood with the new range of light washes from Paige Premium Denim. Portia De Rossi and Amanda Bynes have been sporting the Light Stretch Destruction wash – a light blue hue with subtle distressing for a worn in feel. The brand new Point Dume wash – a super light blue with subtle white fading is a new favorite of Rumer Willis and Hayden Panettiere while Paige’s Light Clean wash – a chambray toned blue has made fans of Audrina Patridge and Kate Hudson. Available in a range of skinny, boot cut and cigarette styles www.paigepremiumdenim.com

Happy MLK Day!

Classic Christie

Actress Julie Christie accepts the award for Best Actress for her role in 'Away From Her' at the 2007 National Board of Review of Motion Pictures Awards Gala presented by Bulgari at Cipriani's 42nd Street, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2008 in New York. Christie wore Chopard’s spectacular cushion-cut diamond necklace (83 carats) and ruby (20 carats) and diamond drop earrings.
(AP Photo/Evan Agostini)

BeansTalk readers know we adore Stephen Colbert -- love this news! (Fans know, of course, that this version seen here is the second generation. There's actually a third...and that's the version that hangs in infamy.)

Colbert portrait hangs at Smithsonian

By BRETT ZONGKER, Associated Press Writer

Stephen Colbert was denied when he tried to run for president this year in South Carolina. Now the fake TV pundit is getting some love from the city of his birth.

His portrait was hung Wednesday at the Smithsonian Institution's National Portrait Gallery in Washington for a six-week showing in what the museum considers an "appropriate place" — right between the bathrooms near the "America's Presidents" exhibit. Museum officials stress it's only temporary.

"We agreed to go along with the joke and hang it for a short time in between the bathrooms," said museum spokeswoman Bethany Bentley. "Let me tell you two key things here: His portrait is not coming into the collection, and it's not hanging permanently."

That may come as a surprise to Colbert, who has campaigned for the honor and boasted on his Comedy Central show Tuesday night that his portrait was "hanging in the hall of presidents, just a few yards from the father of our country — exactly where I believe it belongs."

Colbert, who plays a pompous conservative talk-show host on "The Colbert Report" and recently tried to run for president as a Democrat, went to great lengths to persuade Smithsonian Institution officials he was worthy.

The portrait — actually three portraits in one — depicts a debonair Colbert standing at a fireplace in front of a similar portrait of himself posing in front of the same mantel with a third picture of himself.

After the work was rejected by the National Museum of American History, Colbert eventually made his way to the portrait gallery. Bentley said Colbert wasn't begging so much as "making his case." She said they welcome the conversation about whose portraits are included in the gallery's collection. It was just not Colbert's time, she said.

"Who's the competition? Who do I need to knock out of here to get me up?" Colbert asked gallery director Marc Pachter.

Colbert argued he was more deserving than athletes Lance Armstrong or Andre Agassi and pulled out his Hacky Sack for a few kicks in the art gallery to prove it. "You do realize I'm in big trouble if you hit any of these portraits," Pachter said.

Still, Colbert said he thinks his "sack work" ultimately won Pachter over for the temporary display.

"I don't mean to brag, but as it contains three portraits, my portrait has more portraits than any other portrait in the National Portrait Gallery," he said, adding, "All Employees must wash hands before returning to work."

Word of his portrait at the gallery spread quickly among loyal fans.

Unique Bexley, 20, and Jacqueline Canales, 19, both of Washington, said they talked on the telephone after watching the show Tuesday and decided they had to go to the portrait gallery.

"It's kind of sad that this is the first time we've been here," Canales said Wednesday as a steady stream of young admirers took their pictures with Colbert's portrait.

"We might look at the rest of the museum, but we really came for Colbert," Bexley said. "I needed a new Facebook picture, so it might as well be with Stephen Colbert."

___

Associated Press photographer Jacquelyn Martin contributed to this report.

CMT Crossroads: Robert Plant And Alison Krauss

Premieres Monday, February 11

Led Zeppelin front-man and legendary rocker, Robert Plant and bluegrass superstar Alison Krauss share the stage performing their own classics as well as songs from their new album, Raising Sand in the next all-new episode of CMT Crossroads: Robert Plant And Alison Krauss premiering Monday, February 11 at 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., ET/PT. Plant and Krauss were recently nominated for a Grammy® in the category of “Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals” for the song "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)" from Raising Sand.

Together, Plant and Krauss combine his rock intensity with her angelic grace for a phenomenal episode of CMT Crossroads. The two music icons perform songs from their new album, including "Please Read the Letter" and "Rich Woman." The pair performed Alison Krauss and Union Station’s “The Boy Who Wouldn’t Hoe Corn,” as well as Led Zeppelin classics “Black Dog” and “When the Levee Breaks.” The pair also pay homage to The Everly Brothers with their version of “Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On).” Special guest, T Bone Burnett, acclaimed songwriter, performer and Raising Sand producer, joins in the onstage collaboration.

CMT Crossroads pairs country music stars with popular artists from other genres—pop, rock, R&B—to play together, swap stories, and share their common love of music. Recent episodes of CMT Crossroads have included Lindsey Buckingham and Little Big Town; Steve Earle and Rosanne Cash; Bonnie Raitt and Lyle Lovett; Lionel Richie and Kenny Rogers; Bon Jovi and Sugarland; John Fogerty and Keith Urban; Kelly Clarkson and Reba McEntire; and Kenny “Babyface” Edmond and Trisha Yearwood; and, most recently, Joss Stone and LeAnn Rimes.

CMT Crossroads is presented by Alltel Wireless, the first title sponsor of the critically-acclaimed series and new advertiser for CMT. Alltel is owner and operator of the nation's largest wireless network and has 12 million customers.

For more information about Robert Plant and Alison Krauss log on to http://shorefire.com/clients/plantkrauss/.

For more information on CMT Crossroads log on to CMT.com.

Survey Finds Majority of Americans Do
More Than They Realize to Live "Green"

When it comes to doing their part for the environment, Americans may be "greener" than they think - with many participating in more than two "green" activities regularly. A new study entitled "Moving Consumers from Green Interest to Green Action," conducted by Insight Research Group in partnership with HGTV and the Natural Resources Defense Council, set out to gain an in-depth understanding of people's relationship to green and how it fits into their lives. The research found that more than 84 percent of respondents believe "it is a moral obligation" to care for the environment and 86 percent already participate in at least one green activity such as conserving energy at home, recycling, driving a fuel efficient car, buying recycled products or picking up litter. However, the research also found that a main barrier to doing more "green" actions is people's trepidation that such activities may associate them with extreme political or environmental viewpoints.

Not surprisingly, given the increased media coverage of "green" topics, the study found that 40 percent of consumers say they are more aware of environmental issues now than they were in 2006. In addition, 81 percent of respondents think the current focus on environmental or "green" issues is "here to stay" rather than a "passing fad."

"Until now, the communication around environmentally-friendly lifestyles has been focused on an all or nothing approach, but this study shows that consumers want to understand the full spectrum of green activity -- from choosing eco-friendly building and design products to recycling or using alternative forms of energy," said Jim Samples, president, HGTV. "And they want to understand how what they do impacts their homes, neighborhoods and communities, without feeling that they have to make a political or social statement. For its part, HGTV will continue to integrate green themes into new initiatives and existing programs. Our goal is to inspire and empower viewers with aesthetically-pleasing, affordable and accessible eco-focused ideas."

The study found that Americans would be willing to do even more if they understood how a particular "green" action could help the environment as well as benefit them personally. In fact, 78 percent said they are "willing to make a lifestyle change for the good of the environment." While many responded that "the best way to solve current environmental problems" is through individuals (72 percent) and businesses (64 percent) taking responsibility, most admit they can't distinguish between the reality and the hype, and report it is hard to know what actions are truly good for the environment.

As part of its charitable initiative, Change the World. Start at Home(SM), HGTV, in partnership with organizations such as Natural Resources Defense Council, Rebuilding Together and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, will help consumers identify "green" activities that can contribute to environmental preservation.

In addition, the network will premiere new "green" series and episodes in 2008.

"People are coming to realize that the environment isn't just a place you go visit. It's in our homes, under the sink and on the dinner plate. It's in the choices we all make every day," said Alex Kennaugh, director of marketing, NRDC. "That means they have the power in their own hands to make help it better. One step leads to the next, and pretty soon you're making a real difference in your life. There is a tremendous appetite for simple steps and meaningful action. But the hard part is separating out the help from the hype."

When asked why they participate in "green" activities, consumers reported the major motivators are that "it's good for the environment" (82 percent), "it helps future generations" (78 percent), "it's healthy" (78 percent), "it's the 'right thing' to do" (78 percent), and "it fits with my morals or beliefs" (73 percent). Interestingly, Insight Research Group's consumer segmentation, People's Approach to Green and the Environment (PAGE), revealed that consumers who are the most green, "Green Gurus" (17 percent), regularly participate in 4.1 green activities, while the rest of consumers -- which includes Conscientious Citizens (24 percent), Guidance Seekers (24 percent) Bystanders (17 percent) and Hype Haters (18 percent) - are not far behind, regularly participating in an average of 2.5 green activities.

"Insight's approach to this consumer segmentation is different from other studies which focus more specifically on behaviors and tag people along a light to dark green spectrum," said Amy Henry, vice president, Insight Research Group. "Our PAGE analysis takes into account people's entire mindset, evaluating their relationship to green as one part of their overall approach to life. Because our segmentation considers the 'whole person,' it sets up the opportunity to speak to these different types of people in a way that will truly motivate them to increase 'green' behaviors. If we deliver the right information and messages, there is opportunity, particularly among the Conscientious Citizens and Guidance Seekers, to get consumers to act on their 'moral obligation' to care for the environment."

Segmentation Methodology
Insight's research methodology consisted of both qualitative and quantitative phases. The initial qualitative research phase included twenty 30-minute phone interviews recruited via RDD (random digit dialing) among consumers of a wide range of ages, professions, regions, political opinions, and environmental attitudes. The phone interviewees also completed a three-day online, interactive debate via blogging based on "green"-focused prompts and questions. The quantitative research phase consisted of a nationally representative online survey with a robust sample recruited via RDD (N = 1000).

Insight research Group
Founded in 1998, Insight Research Group (www.insightresearch.biz) is a brand research and strategy firm that identifies and interprets the psychological and cultural drivers behind consumer brand relationships. Insight translates these insights into customized strategies for deepening and strengthening a brand's emotional connection to consumers, ultimately changing behaviors and driving business results. Insight successfully applies this approach across a wide range of clients, including lifestyle, media, technology, fashion and youth-focused organizations.

About HGTV
HGTV, America's leader in home and lifestyle programming, is distributed to more than 95 million U.S. households and is one of cable's top-rated networks. HGTV's website, http://www.hgtv.com, is the nation's leading online home-and-garden destination that attracts an average of 5.2 million unique visitors per month. HGTV owns 33 percent of HGTV Canada and provides much of the Canadian network's daily programming. The network's branded programming also can be seen in 124 territories across all seven continents and its selected programming is available to service men and women on board Navy ships and through American Forces Radio & Television Service (AFRTS) which services more than 1,000 outlets in over 175 countries. Headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., with offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Nashville and New York, HGTV is wholly owned by The E.W. Scripps Company (NYSE:SSP), which also operates Food Network (http://www.foodnetwork.com), DIY Network (http://www.diynetwork.com), Fine Living TV Network (http://www.finelivingcom), and Great American Country (http://www.gactv.com).

About NRDC
The Natural Resources Defense Council is a national, nonprofit organization of scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. Founded in 1970, NRDC has 1.2 million members and online activists, served from offices in New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org.

Dooney & Bourke 'Medium' Metallic Lock Sac

Pops of red accent a rich metallic leather sac with buckled side tabs and a clip-on strap.

* Magnetic strap closure.
* Removable shoulder strap.
* Key fob.
* Interior zip and cell phone pockets.
* Leather.
* By Dooney & Bourke; imported.

We are fans of Dooney & Bourke – the quality of their purses are very high. We’re not fans of any brand’s logo’s line, Dooney’s included. We especially like this new style (which comes in other sizes)

$325

tokidoki for LeSportsac 'Scuola' Backpack

Adorable print covers a practical, multipocketed backpack. A cute character key fob hangs from the side.

* Drawstring closure with front flap and double D-ring buckle.
* Adjustable shoulder straps.
* Exterior front zip pocket and two side mesh pockets.
* Mesh zip pockets under front flap.
* Interior zip pocket.
* Polyester.
* By tokidoki for LeSportsac; imported.

We must admit we love this tokidoki stuff – it’s so cute. We’ve looked and looked at these at the Le Sportsac store at the Beverly Center, at Happy Six (West L.A.’s Little Tokyo, on Sawtelle), and at Bloomingdales in Century City. Given that we change bags frequently, we have to really consider when we make a big purchase and even doubly so when it’s something whimsical, like this. Adorable, no?

$172

Francesco Biasia 'Ruth' Tote

Sizable front pocket with three openings keeps the essentials close on a tall tote, topped with a slouchy magnetic closure.

* Interior zip, cell phone and PDA pockets.
* Leather.
* By Francesco Biasia; imported.

This large-scale bag (like the above Dooney) is described as able to contain a magazine, wallet and water bottle. If we were the type of carry the same bag until it begins to look worn, this would be the kind of bag we’d consider. It’s the right size, simple in styling, yet the olive color offers just enough color to not be boring – and it’s a color that coordinates with many other colors

$458

Elliott Lucca 'Bettina' Woven Shopper

Woven front panel and wide-tab top add texture to a shiny shopper crafted in patent or metallic leather.

* Bridge flap with pinch-lock closure.
* Interior zip, cell phone and PDA pockets.
* Protective feet.
* Leather.
* By Elliott Lucca; imported.

This bag is described as extra large meaning it will carry everything the large bag has, plus a sweater and instead of just a wallet, a full-sized wallet.

$385

Tracy Reese 'Sydney' Buckle Tab Tote

Square-buckled tab secures a supple leather tote with elegantly piped seams.

* Magnetic tab closure.
* Exterior back zip pockets; front magnetic flap with zip pocket and hidden slip pocket underneath.
* Center zip compartment.
* Interior zip and slip pockets.
* Leather.
* By Tracy Reese; imported.

Sometimes, just sometimes, we wish we had coin. If we had coin, we could, at the very least, consider buying this. As it stands, we can only dream.

$650

Welcome to Gordon Ramsay’s Nightmare

(BeansTalk note: we have actually gotten accustomed to this show. Still, we DO think he’s mean. Our pervasive thought throughout the show is always – is Ramsay really that good of a cook to be so mean to these hapless restaurant runners? Whatever the situation is, he sure makes for some dramatic TV.)

Multi-Michelin-starred chef, Gordon Ramsay, returns to BBC AMERICA in a fourth, U.S. premiere season of the BAFTA and International Emmy award-winning series, Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares. In the series, failing chefs are given the chance of a lifetime — to have their failing restaurant critiqued by one of the best in the business. But can they handle the scrutiny? And will they actually take Gordon's advice?

Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares premieres Thursday, January 24, 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.


Funny, surprising and inspiring, the BBC AMERICA hit series exposes the harsh reality of running a restaurant. In the brand new season, Gordon is pushed to the limit as he faces a succession of worst-ever restaurants, from a vegetarian place in Paris, to a huge curry house in Nottingham, to a buffet restaurant in Sussex and an oyster bar in Brighton.



Change is never easy, and with the pressure on, there’ll be walk-outs, shut-outs, shouting matches galore and one obstinate chef who just won’t leave until he’s physically removed. This season, the irrepressible Gordon actually fails to turn around one restaurant, but succeeds with the rest, making vegetarian food sexy for the French, using sustainable seafood to reinvent fish and chips and making authentic regional Indian food to replace oily slop. The fourth season features six new restaurants and two “revisit” episodes, where Gordon checks back on restaurants he visited in prior seasons.



Please note: BBC AMERICA will feature an hour-long sneak preview of a brand-new restaurant competition series, Last Restaurant Standing, immediately following the season premiere of Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares.


www.bbcamerica.com

Episode Synopses



Episode one — Ruby Tates

The venue for the season premiere is Ruby Tates in Brighton, owned and run by ex-actor Allan Love. This oyster bar and seafood restaurant is in an affluent and trendy area just one block from the beach, but the owner has never tasted the food, because he hates fish. In fact, he won’t even poke his head into his own kitchen, where his two chefs, turn out a lackluster menu. They admit they wouldn’t eat their own food. And, incredibly, there isn’t a local fish in sight. Owner Allan’s putting on the worst performance of his life. He’s so far in denial that he’s ruining any chance of success, and he throws Gordon out of the restaurant even though he’s losing $3,000 a week. With his restaurant and home on the line, there’s an urgent need to get back to basics, galvanize the staff and produce great, simple food. Can Gordon persuade them to shape up, or will an emotional Allan bring down the curtain on Gordon’s attempts to save his business?

Episode one premieres Thursday, January 24, 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.



Episode two — Piccolo Teatro

Piccolo Teatro is a vegetarian restaurant in Paris run by feisty former waitress, Rachel. She bought the place three years ago, and now, she and her best friend Stephanie, are trying to convert the carnivorous French. For Gordon, it’s a sentimental journey to the city where he spent his formative years as a chef. Paris is a food mecca full of gastronomic delights, it should be a dream, but his trip to Teatro turns into one of his biggest nightmares yet. Piccolo Teatro’s eccentric chef inhabits a world of his own, and he’s incapable of preparing edible food. Rachel is handicapped by her total lack of experience, discipline, leadership and motivation. Despite losing money at the rate of $11,000 a month, she doesn’t bother opening for lunch and can’t understand why people don’t love the awful rabbit food she’s serving. Gordon’s radical remedy is designed to be an emergency wake-up call, but Rachel’s one of his most stubborn subjects yet. Will he be able to perform an eleventh-hour miracle, or is he about to admit defeat?

Episode two premieres Thursday, January 31, 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.



Episode three —The Priory

The Priory is a 100-seat buffet restaurant in Sussex, owned by a former IT consultant, Scott. The former chapel of a nineteenth-century convent, the restaurant is in a spectacularly beautiful location and offers bargain roast dinners. Scott bought the place for $600,000, but with an aging clientele eating for half-price, he’s losing $10,000 a week. Despite the heavenly location, the food is straight from hell — recycled meat, soup in a bucket, synthetic sauces, and worse, a lazy head chef content to preside over food-encrusted ovens and an equally disaffected staff. In one of his toughest challenges ever, Gordon’s got to move mountains to turn a time-warp into a trend-setter. He’ll need to make Scott repent for his business sins, get the staff to confess their faults and above all transform The Priory’s terrible food into ambrosia. Will he inspire a miracle, or witness a disaster?

Episode three premieres Thursday, February 7, 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.



Episode four — The Fish & Anchor

The Fish & Anchor is a restaurant and bar in rural West Wales, owned and run by former boxer, Mike, and his wife, Caron. Mike, a self-taught cook, is a one-man pressure cooker in the kitchen, as he struggles to accommodate a massive menu. Meanwhile, Caron’s unique style of front-of-house management includes abusing the customers and her husband in equal measure. Every night, they go twelve rounds with the local clientele, while they take on a $2,000 loss each week. Enter Gordon, who finds himself cast as marriage counsellor in a culinary battlefield. It’s a last-ditch attempt to reverse the restaurant’s disastrous reputation, while putting some love back into the kitchen and on the plates. Will Mike accept this last-minute reality check in the fight of his life, or will he stay on the ropes and sink?

Episode four premieres Thursday, February 14, 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.



Episode five — The Curry Lounge

The Curry Lounge in Nottingham is episode five’s featured restaurant. This 120-seat Indian restaurant has been run since January by a former sales director, Raz, who’s new to the business — and it shows. Despite a million-dollar renovation, featuring décor inspired by Bollywood, the honeymoon period’s well and truly over. His once-healthy business is evaporating, and at this rate, he’ll be closed in less than a year. Enter Gordon, relishing the prospect of tackling an Indian restaurant for the first time, and finds there’s plenty to fix. This do-it-yourself curry house puts the customers in control of the menu, allowing them to create their own dishes, and making life hell for the head chef. He’s not a fan of the over-the-top presentation, which includes giant suspended nan breads. Also, the front-of-house team lacks any clear line of command. Worst of all, the cooking’s just not up to the challenge, with inauthentic dishes cluttering a mile-long menu. It’s time to put some passion back into the kitchen, and persuade Raz to get real. Can Gordon make the Curry Lounge a contemporary ethnic delight, or will the big time, and a dining room full of happy customers, remain a distant dream?

Episode five premieres Thursday, February 21, 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.



Episode six — The Granary

The Granary in rural Hampshire is an upscale restaurant which, at 200 seats, is the biggest Gordon’s ever taken on. Originally opened four years ago by entrepreneur Nigel Nieddu, the restaurant was relaunched after a four million dollar refit, but it’s still losing $8,000 a week. It promises classy modern British cuisine, but in reality, the fussy menu features food sourced from all over the globe. The locals, intimidated by its exclusive reputation, are staying far away. While the head chef plays parole officer to his unruly teenage charges in the kitchen, Nigel stubbornly struggles to contain the front-of-house chaos he’s created. Gordon’s got to carry out radical surgery to prevent disaster. The kitchen needs a massive injection of discipline to stop the lippy apprentices, and it’s time to go back to nature and get passion back on the menu. But there’s a meltdown on the horizon. Can Gordon persuade the headstrong boss to see the grim reality, or will the Granary bite the dust?

Episode six premieres Thursday, February 28, 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.



Episode seven — La Parra de Burriana revisited

This week Gordon is back in Spain to see how his old friend Laurence is faring at La Parra de Burriana, an ex-pat restaurant in Nerja on the Costa del Sol. One year ago, Gordon found Laurence serving his scary signature dish, prawns in garlic with chocolate sauce. The Mediterranean menu certainly did have a special twist — no-one wanted to eat it. The kebabs were raw, the place was over-booked (in spite of dog mess in the dining room) and the customers faced an interminable wait for their food. Unsurprisingly, Laurence lost $44,000. Now, one year on, Gordon returns to La Parra de Burriana to find that they’ve survived the winter. But the bad news is that Laurence still has dreams above his skills and is planning to run before he can walk. He actually wants to open a second restaurant before he’s made a real success of the first. But with cremated desserts and gum drops on the menu, Gordon’s about to apply the brakes — Ramsay style.

Episode seven premieres Thursday, March 6, 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.



Episode eight — Fenwick Arms revisited

In the season finale, Gordon returns to rural Lancashire to see how Brian and Elaine are faring at the Fenwick Arms. When he first arrived one year ago, Gordon was staggered by Brian, who, after thirty years in the business and a quadruple heart-bypass, still put in 120 hours a week and insisted on laying down the law in the kitchen. Despite doing the work of three men, Brian and his partner were $500,000 in debt, losing an additional $3,000 a week and facing bankruptcy within three months. This was a pub with ideas way above its station. The tables were set for the Queen and the complex menu boasted ostentatious dishes, all coated with Brian’s cloying signature sauces. Instead of a functioning kitchen crew, the kitchen was stuffed with Brian’s collection of novelty dinner plates and appliances bought from eBay. A year ago, Gordon’s campaign for real food and real gravy started to turn things around for the Fenwick Arms. But now that he’s returned, he finds morale at an all-time low, and Brian ready to throw in the towel.

Episode eight premieres Thursday, March 13, 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Boys in the Food

Jon Mayer and Jim Stump, hosts of The Feasty Boys Eat America work up a mouthwatering appetite for America’s best local ingredients starting Wednesday, January 16, 2008 at 8 PM (ET/PT). Unapologetically cooking the way they like to eat, Jon and Jim consistently rely on their arsenal of essential ingredients, the Four B’s: Beer, Bacon, Butter, and “Better not forget the cheese.” Nutritionists turn away, and viewers get ready - and hungry - as The Feasty Boys serve up a full course meal of down-home, finger-licking, lip smacking, no frills, hold-the-cloth-napkin, hearty fare.

Criss-crossing the United States guided by their stomachs, taste buds, and passion for discovering the unique ingredients each American locale proudly boasts Jim and Jon discover that a love for delicious, authentic cooking extends out of the city limits and across every stateline. Every Wednesday through February 13 at 8 PM (ET/PT) on the Travel Channel, the guys explore each destination, meet the locals, and catch, harvest, pick, and slice each region’s specialty ingredient before using it to cook up their own, one-of-a-kind “Feastified” dish.

Along the way, Jon and Jim’s route includes stops at: southern New Mexico for a lesson on the countless varieties of chiles; west to Arizona to enter the world of ostrich ranching; and north to Green Bay, Wisconsin to brave the elements for a winter tailgating session at historic Lambeau Field during a Packers’ game. Avoiding anything hoity-toity or stuffy, the guys discover the true local flavor of every destination they visit…and then wash it down with a cold brew.

The Feasty Boys Eat America is produced by Creative Differences for the Travel Channel. Executive producers for Creative Differences Productions are Erik Nelson, Les Heintz, and Phil Fairclough. Executive producer for the Travel Channel is David Gerber.
(photo: Feasties on Good Morning America)

Debra Messing, Globe Nominee
Gets Sparkly at Party

Actress Debra Messing poses on the press line at the Awards Season Diamond Fashion Show Preview presented by the Diamond Information Center and In Style magazine in Beverly Hills, Calif. on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008. Messing wore a Platinum and diamond right hand ring by Neil Lane. www.preciousplatinum.com.

Holmes Make
Critics' Awards
a Toga Party

Actress Katie Holmes takes the stage to present the award for best comedy movie at the 13th annual Critics' Choice Awards in Santa Monica January 7, 2008. She wore a Lanvin dress as she presented the award for the Best Comedy Movie. She wore Lanvin’s one-shoulder champagne silk sequined Grecian cocktail dress from the Spring 2008 Collection. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok

Pompeo Chooses
Trench To Show
Heigl Support

Actress Ellen Pompeo poses on the red carpet at the premiere of "27 Dresses" in Los Angeles, California, January 7, 2008. Pompeo, who was there in support of her "Grey's Anatomy" co-star, Katherine Heigl, who stars in 27 Dresses, wore Lanvin’s sleek silk taffeta trench coat. REUTERS / Hector Mata

Burrows is British
And Goes to BAFTA

Boston Legal star Saffron Burrows wore a dress by David Meister on Saturday for the British Academy of Film & Television Association’s annual party Burrows selected Meister’s stipple print jersey dress with navy patent belt. (getty images)

Some Hot New Shoes

Donald J. Pliner Wedge Thong Sandal

• Choose beige Napa (shown) or black patent (see below) leather.
• 2" hooded wedge heel; rubber sole.
• Made in Italy.


Foot Friendly: About Donald J. Pliner
From the very beginning (he launched his line in 1989), Donald J. Pliner has been devoted to designs that are both comfortable and chic. He calls it "high-fashion comfort" and refuses to believe that shoes can't be both stylish and wearable.

We adore Pliner shoes. Adore them. We have never bought them full price (think Nordie's rack and Ebay) and they don't disappoint. Even though we have a crapload of black sandals, we covet these. $245

Stuart Weitzman Elastic Wedge Thong

• Choose camel (shown) or black (see below). • Leather and elasticized straps. • 3/4" covered wedge. • Made in Spain.

We would so wear these. But probably only in black. $230.