Rourke Steals Show at Spirit Awards

Wrestler actor self-destructed on the way to role of a lifetime, Golden Globe honors

(NEWSER) - After the collapse of his career—admittedly his own fault—Mickey Rourke has found his way back up the Hollywood ladder with his recent Golden Globe for The Wrestler. Despite many promising turns during the 1980s, CNN reports, self-destructive behavior and problems with authority—which Rourke attributes to childhood abuse—culminated in his ditching acting for professional boxing (and taking some literal hits along the way). More»

Nominees told to deliver thank-yous off the telecast

(NEWSER) - Even an Oscar producer admits the long-winded thank-you speeches are “the single most hated thing on the show,” and this year organizers think they've come up with a brilliant way to avoid them. Nominees were instructed at yesterday’s luncheon to prepare two speeches: The one for the audience should be, you know, interesting (“Share your passion on what the Oscar means to you,” said a producer). The other one—with all the names—will be given backstage to a “Thank You Cam.” More»

Mariah Carey joins such notables as Angelina Jolie, Tom Hanks

(NEWSER) - Mariah Carey has given not one, but two extremely odd acceptance speeches this week—and she’s in good company. The Frisky remembers seven other award show speeches that went down in history:

• Angelina Jolie: Kissed her brother on the lips and talked about being “so in love” with him.
• Tom Hanks: Outed his gay high school teacher and classmate.

Past winners haven't had big hits in years

(NEWSER) - That gold-plated statuette actors take home Oscar night may as well be a parting gift from Hollywood. Past winners—like Nicole Kidman, Halle Berry, and Adrien Brody—have had little luck at the box office in subsequent years, Reuters reports. The problem, says one film critic, is that the winners usually get flooded with lucrative project offers—and end up taking on ill-suited roles. More»

(NEWSER) - Loki, the Chihuahua who figured prominently in Mickey Rourke’s Golden Globe acceptance speech, died Monday, E! Online reports. The 18-year-old dog accompanied Rourke on the red carpet at the awards. The Oscar-nominated actor is very attached to his canine friends. “Sometimes, when a man is alone, that's all you got is your dog,” he said. “And they've meant the world to me.” More»