Jennifer Hudson has a great story. Girl from Chicago, raised by a single mom, goes on American Idol, gets booted early, ends up starring in a movie that leads to her winning an Oscar, but her joy is tempered when three of her family members are killed under tragic circumstances. Then she loses a ton of weight using Weight Watchers. These facts might make you believe this book would be really interesting. You would be wrong.

On Feb. 24, millions of television sets across the globe tuned in to one of the most celebrated and glamorous celebrity spectacles of the modern era: The Oscars. Yet, within the aftermath of this 85th Oscar ceremony, it is important to note that all too often viewers are somehow missing the bigger picture. Within the Oscar experience, there is a plethora of trivial and somewhat meaningless aspects of the evening that many people choose to highlight. What designer clothing is Meryl Streep going to wear as she struts down the carpet? Did Robert Downey Jr. have something done to his nose? Did you hear about Jennifer Lawrence’s wardrobe malfunction? It is a melancholy truth that these topics are brought to the forefront of discussion.

In recent years, there have been some really good Oscar hosts like Hugh Jackman, some acceptable hosts like John Stewart, some disappointing hosts like Steve Martin & Alec Baldwin, and some flat-out horrendous hosts like James Franco & Anne Hathaway. Despite the best efforts of some, none have come close to capturing the same wit, timing, and showmanship of reoccurring hosts like Bob Hope, Johnny Carson, or Billy Crystal. At the 85th Annual Academy Awards ceremony however, Seth MacFarlane of “Ted” and “Family Guy” emerged as the single most entertaining first-time Oscar host of the 21st century.

The Oscar season is customarily kicked off by the Academy president and a random star solemnly announcing the nominees in a drab ceremony. The Academy decided to shake up tradition this year, however, in one of the most cheerful Oscar mornings we’ve ever had. Seth MacFarlane, director of “Ted” and this year’s Oscar host, announced the nominees Thursday morning alongside the invaluable Emma Stone, who had the funniest bit at last year’s Oscar ceremony. MacFarlane and Stone made for an outstanding duo, engaging in playful banter about each of the categories. Even when one of their jokes didn’t quite hit the mark, MacFarlane and Stone still looked like they were having a genuine ball on stage. That’s more than can be said about Anne Hathaway and James Franco when they hosted the Oscars two years ago.

Last week, there were two DVD releases that were must sees: George Clooney’s hit, “The Descendents,” and Charlize Theron’s “Young Adult.”

The Artist

Oro Valley traffic alert

The lights dim, the curtains open, and the opening number begins. From the references to inside jokes to the bits of scenes performed throughout the year, one thing is clear – It’s time for the 2011 Ironwood Ridge High School Pygmy Awards.

LeBron James knows how to shake hands. It shouldn't be that hard to remember when.

Yves Saint Laurent changed the way women dress more than they know.

May 3, 2006 - It's easy to spot Mexico when driving on Interstate 19 from Tucson, because it's the part of the landscape with the shanty-covered hills.