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A caped crusader and a mysterious island lead the pack of nominees for the 2009 Saturn Awards.

The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror announced on Tuesdays its nominations for the annual awards, which recognize the year’s best in genre film making.

“The Dark Knight” received 11 nods to top the movie categories, including best film actor for Christian Bale and best action/adventure/thriller film. The Christopher Nolan-directed pic will compete in the latter category with “Changeling,” “Gran Torino,” “Quantum of Solace,” “Traitor” and “Valkyrie.”

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Best Motion Picture

WINNER: “Slumdog Millionaire”

Performance By An Actor In A Leading Role
WINNER: Sean Penn in “Milk”

Performance By An Actress In A Leading Role

WINNER: Kate Winslet in “The Reader”

Performance By An Actor In A Supporting Role

WINNER: Heath Ledger in “The Dark Knight”


Performance By An Actress In A Supporting Role

WINNER: Penélope Cruz in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”


Achievement In Directing
WINNER: Danny Boyle for “Slumdog Millionaire”

Adapted Screenplay

WINNER: “Slumdog Millionaire,” by Simon Beaufoy
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Original Screenplay

WINNER: “Milk,” by Dustin Lance Black


Achievement In Music Written For Motion Pictures (Original Song)

WINNER: “Jai Ho” from “Slumdog Millionaire” Music by A.R. Rahman, Lyric by Gulzar

Achievement In Music Written For Motion Pictures (Original Score)

WINNER: “Slumdog Millionaire,” A.R. Rahman

Achievement In Cinematography

WINNER: “Slumdog Millionaire”


Achievement In Film Editing

WINNER: “Slumdog Millionaire,” Chris Dickens


Achievement In Costume Design

WINNER: “The Duchess”

Achievement In Art Direction

WINNER: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”


Best Animated Feature Film

WINNER: “WALL-E”

Best Animated Short Film

WINNER: “La Maison en Petits Cubes”

Best Live Action Short Film

WINNER: “Spielzeugland (Toyland)”

Best Documentary Feature

WINNER: “Man on Wire”


Best Documentary Short Subject

WINNER: “Smile Pinki”

Best Foreign Language Film

WINNER: “Departures” – Japan


Achievement In Visual Effects

WINNER: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

Achievement In Makeup

WINNER: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” Greg Cannom


Achievement In Sound Editing

WINNER: “The Dark Knight”

Achievement In Sound Mixing

WINNER: “Slumdog Millionaire”


Perhaps time does heal all wounds. According to E! News, Kanye West is set to perform and close the MTV Video Music Awards this Sunday.

Last year, after the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards, West vowed to never perform at the awards after being relegated to a small stage and shut out despite five nominations.

Now, West has appeared to have forgiven and forgotten and will join Britney Spears in the 25th anniversary edition of the VMAs. West’s decision to perform may be less about moving on and more about self-promotion as the rapper’s new single “Love Lockdown” is expected to be released on Monday.

Producers have confirmed Spears is opening the show but they are keeping mum about whether or not the pop star will perform.

Other singers set to perform or appear are Christina Aguilera, Jonas Brothers, Rihanna, T.I., Pink, Kid Rock, the Ting Tings, Lupe Fiasco, Lil Wayne and Katy Perry.

Britney Spears may have performed an awful jaw-dropping routine of “Gimme More” at last year’s MTV Video Music Awards, but will the disaster performance prevent Spears from making a return to the awards this September?

According to the music network, Spears—whose comeback seems to be well on its way—is a nominee for Best Female Video for “Piece of Me.” However there is no word whether the pop princess will try to redeem herself by performing on stage.

Other nominees for “Best Female Video” include: Katy Perry for “I Kissed a Girl,” Jordin Sparks for “No Air,” Rihanna for “Take a Bow,” and Mariah Carey for “Touch My Body.”

For the first time ever, fans will select nominees—and eventual winners—via online voting. British comedian Russell Brand is set to host the show – which airs live from Hollywood on Sept 7th.

Canadian “Degrassi” star Adamo Ruggiero was so popular at the GLAAD awards on Saturday, he may have even made Rufus Wainwright jealous.

The crowd went so wild when Adamo took to the stage to speak about his decision to come out of the closet, that when Wainwright was accepting the Stephen F Kolzak Award later in the evening, he said, “I’m giving up my music career and taking up a role on Degrassi.”

The crowd also went nuts when “Degrassi” was announced in its category, though it lost the award to “Brothers and Sisters.”

Ruggiero made the bold decision to come out earlier this year. The 22-year-old has received much praise for his courage, especially considering that there are many stars who, even later in life, refuse to admit their homosexuality.

Everyone knows that Lisa is Buddhist buds with Richard Gere, but who knew Bart was skateboarding off to the Church of Scientology?

The voice of the infamous 8-year-old cartoon character, Nancy Cartwright, donated $10 million to the church last year, reports PageSix.com.

In comparison, Tom Cruise donated $5 million over the year in an “instalment plan.”

The money goes toward spreading the church’s anti-psychology message. “It was all part of Scientology’s Global Salvage effort, which aims to ‘de-aberrate’ Earth ? meaning to rid mankind of psychology ills and other ‘aberrant’ behavior,” the site reported.

Kirstie Alley matched Cruise’s donation, while John Travolta and wife Kelly Preston pitched in $1 million each. They all reportedly received awards recognizing their contributions.

Country duo Brooks and Dunn received two awards at last night’s Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards to bring their total number of ACM awards to 21, Reuters reports today.

Other winners included Brad Paisley with three awards, American Idol winner Carrie Underwood with two, and Keith Urban and Sara Evans with one each.

Kevin Chesney, AKA the ex-Mr. Renee Zellwegger won entertainer of the year for the second year in a row.

Other winners included Jason Aldean and group Sugarland. Vince Gill was presented with the humanitarian of the year award, which he promptly passed over to a young girl named Caitlin who was there with the Make A Wish Foundation.

Reba McEntire hosted the ceremony, which was broadcast live on CMT.

Carrie Underwood was the big winner at last night’s Country Music Television Awards, walking away with two awards.

The American Idol winner took best breakthrough video and female video for her hit “Jesus, Take the Wheel.”

“This is my very first acceptance speech so I made a list,” Underwood said before reading a lengthy list.

“Music videos are a huge tool,” she said after the ceremony for the awards, chosen by fans. “Fans love them because they add a new dimension to the song and we love them because it’s just another way to get (the music) out there. For my first video to win two awards tonight was amazing.”

Keith Urban took home the video of the year award for “Better Life.” He performed the song during the show with a choir from the Gulf Coast and showed scenes from the hurricane damaged area.

“We just wanted to present a better tone for Better Life, and I had been down to New Orleans and was struck by a combination of things — how much has been done and how little has been done,” Urban said. “We just wanted to bring a little more awareness back to the cause down there.”

Jeff Foxworthy hosted the ceremony.

2006 CMT MUSIC AWARD NOMINEES & * WINNERS

Video of the Year

* Keith Urban – “Better Life”
Brad Paisley – “Alcohol”
Brooks & Dunn – “Believe”
Faith Hill with Tim McGraw – “Like We Never Loved At All”
Gretchen Wilson – “All Jacked Up”
Kenny Chesney – “Who You’d Be Today”
Toby Keith – “As Good As I Once Was”
Trace Adkins – “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk”

Male Video of the Year

* Kenny Chesney – “Who You?d Be Today”
Keith Urban – “Better Life”
Toby Keith – “As Good As I Once Was”
Trace Adkins – “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk”

Female of Video of the Year

* Carrie Underwood – “Jesus Take The Wheel”
Faith Hill – “Mississippi Girl”
Miranda Lambert – “Kerosene”
Sara Evans – “A Real Fine Place To Start”

Group / Duo of the Year

* Rascal Flatts – “Skin (Sarabeth)”
Brooks & Dunn – “Believe”
Little Big Town – “Boondocks”
Sugarland – “Just Might (Make Me Believe)”

Collaborative Video of the Year

* Bon Jovi featuring Jennifer Nettles -”Who Says You Can’t Go Home”
Brad Paisley featuring Dolly Parton – “When I Get Where I’m Going”
Faith Hill with Tim McGraw – “Like We Never Loved At All”
Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon – “Jackson”

Hottest Video of the Year

* Billy Currington – “Must Be Doin’ Somethin’ Right”
Dierks Bentley – “Come A Little Closer”
Keith Urban – “Making Memories Of Us”
Trace Adkins – “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk”

Breakthrough Video of the Year

* Carrie Underwood – “Jesus Take The Wheel”
Jason Aldean – “Hicktown”
Miranda Lambert – “Kerosene”
Sugarland – “Something More”

Most Inspiring Video of the Year

* Brad Paisley featuring Dolly Parton – “When I Get Where I’m Going”
Brooks & Dunn – “Believe”
Carrie Underwood – “Jesus Take The Wheel”
Reba McEntire – “You’re Gonna Be”

Video Director of the Year

* Sophie Muller / Faith Hill with Tim McGraw – “Like We Never Loved At All”
Michael Salomon / Toby Keith – “As Good As I Once Was”
Shaun Silva / Kenny Chesney – “Who You’d Be Today”
Trey Fanjoy / Miranda Lambert -”Kerosene”

Country superstar Garth Brooks will perform his new single, “Good Ride Cowboy,” at the 39th annual Country Music Association awards.

Though he is officially retired, Brooks will perform as a tribute to late singer and rodeo champion Chris LeDoux.

“Chris embodies everything that?s great about country music,” Brooks said. “He lived with passion, integrity and a commitment to big dreams. It?s how he rodeoed and it was how he made his music. Chris wasn?t larger than life, he was life ? and that?s what the very best of country music is made of.”

Kenny Chesney’s performance of “Living in Fast Forward” will kick off the awards.

Chesney is the reigning Entertainer of the Year. “Living in Fast Forward” can be found on his new CD, The Road and the Radio, which will be in stores on Nov. 8.

The extensive list of performers also includes Dierks Bentley, Big & Rich, Bon Jovi with Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland, ceremony hosts Brooks & Dunn, Sara Evans, Faith Hill, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Julie Roberts, George Strait, Keith Urban, Gretchen Wilson and Lee Ann Womack.

For the first time ever the CMAs won’t be held in Nashville. Instead, the awards will air live from Madison Square Garden in New York City. The show will be broadcast on CBS on Nov. 15 at 8 p.m.

Nominees for the 39th CMA awards

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Toby Keith
Brad Paisley
Keith Urban

FEMALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Sara Evans
Alison Krauss
Martina McBride
Gretchen Wilson
Lee Ann Womack

MALE VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Kenny Chesney
Alan Jackson
Brad Paisley
George Strait
Keith Urban

HORIZON AWARD
Dierks Bentley
Big & Rich
Miranda Lambert
Julie Roberts
Sugarland

VOCAL GROUP OF THE YEAR
Alison Krauss + Union Station Featuring Jerry Douglas
Diamond Rio
Lonestar
Rascal Flatts
Sugarland

VOCAL DUO OF THE YEAR
Big & Rich
Brooks & Dunn
Montgomery Gentry
Van Zant
The Warren Brothers

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
?Alcohol?? Brad Paisley
?As Good As I Once Was? ? Toby Keith
?Baby Girl? ? Sugarland
?Bless the Broken Road? ? Rascal Flatts
?I May Hate Myself In The Morning? ? Lee Ann Womack

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Be Here ? Keith Urban
Feels Like Today ? Rascal Flatts
Live Like You Were Dying ? Tim McGraw
Somewhere Down In Texas ? George Strait
There?s More Where That Came From ? Lee Ann Womack

MUSIC VIDEO OF THE YEAR
?Alcohol? ? Brad Paisley
?As Good As I Once Was? ? Toby Keith
?Days Go By? ? Keith Urban
?I May Hate Myself In The Morning? ? Lee Ann Womack
?When I Think About Cheatin?? ? Gretchen Wilson

SONG OF THE YEAR
?Alcohol?
Brad Paisley
?As Good As I Once Was?
Toby Keith/Scotty Emerick
?Bless The Broken Road?
Marcus Hummon/Bobby Boyd/Jeff Hanna
?I May Hate Myself In The Morning?
Odie Blackmon
?Redneck Woman?
Gretchen Wilson/John Rich
?Whiskey Lullaby?
Bill Anderson/Jon Randall

Nashville Star has started auditioning for its fourth season in cities across the United States.

Auditions began on Oct. 21 in Los Angeles and will run through December.

The USA Network’s Nashville Star is a country singing competition, much like American Idol.

“Nashville Star works because it showcases the best untapped musical talent on television,” said Jeff Wachtel, USA’s executive vice-president of original programming. “One thing we’ve learned over the past three seasons is that there’s an incredible pool of talented performers whose voices have yet to be heard.”

Many artists have turned into household names after winning the singing competition, including Canada’s George Canyon who was a runner-up on the show and walked away with more Canadian Country Music Awards at this years show than any other artist.

The Nashville Star winner receives a recording contract.

The fourth season is scheduled to premiere in March.

CASTING TOUR SCHEDULE:
October
21 – Los Angeles, CA
29 – Chicago, IL
29 – Morgantown, WV
29 – Phoenix, AZ
29 – Oklahoma City, OK

November
05 – Dallas, TX
05 – Lincoln, NE
05 – Raleigh, NC
05 – Tampa, FL
12 – Portland, OR
12 – Washington, DC
12 – Pittsburgh, PA
12 – Atlanta, GA
18 – Nashville, TN
21 – Indianapolis, IN
30 – Houston, TX

December
08 – Las Vegas, NV