Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009

Honorary Oscars dished out

Los Angeles -- The Academy Awards won't be presented until March, but the first Oscar statuettes of the season were set to be handed out Saturday night at a private, black-tie dinner in Hollywood.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is breaking with tradition and presenting its honorary Oscars away from the televised ceremony. Actress Lauren Bacall, producer-director Roger Corman and cinematographer Gordon Willis will each receive Oscar statuettes at the inaugural Governors Awards event.

The winner of this year's Irving J. Thalberg Memorial Award, producer John Calley, will also receive his trophy at the star-studded dinner. Each of the four recipients were chosen by the academy's Board of Governors.

Annette Bening, Tom Hanks, Kirk Douglas, Anjelica Huston and Quentin Tarantino have signed on as presenters for the evening, which will include 600 invited guests celebrating at the Grand Ballroom above the Kodak Theatre.

Academy president Tom Sherak said the Governors Awards event "will be full of memorable moments celebrating [the honorees'] accomplishments."

Corman has directed more than 50 films and produced more than 300 during his five-decade career, including "It Conquered the World" and 1960's "The Little Shop of Horrors."

Willis is a two-time Academy Award nominee for "Zelig" and "The Godfather, Part III."

Gabor blames Madoff

Los Angeles Zsa Zsa Gabor's lawyer blames convicted swindler Bernard Madoff for a hefty tax bill owed by his client.

According to documents obtained by The Associated Press on Friday, the Internal Revenue Service filed a lien of more than $118,000 for the years 2001 and 2002 against the 92-year-old actress on Oct. 5 in the Los Angeles County Recorder of Deeds.

Gabor lawyer Chris Fields estimates that Gabor lost about $7 million in Madoff's Ponzi scheme and the tax bill is part of the fallout.

Birthdays today

"People's Court" judge Joseph Wapner, 90

Actor Ed Asner, 80

Singer Petula Clark, 77

Comedian Jack Burns, 76

Actor Sam Waterston, 69

Bandleader Kevin Eubanks, 52

Singer Chad Kroeger, 35