JENNY MCCARTHY + CARMEN ELECTRA + KATHY GRIFFIN = QUALITY: In 1998, Brian Helgeland won a (much-deserved) Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for L.A. Confidential as well as an equally well-deserved Golden Raspberry Award for his screenplay for The Postman. This year's Razzie winners will not repeat that honor. Surprisingly, while higher profile films were nominated, this year's awards were dominated by Jenny McCarthy's Dirty Love, which managed to win awards for Worst Picture, Worst Director, Worst Screenplay, and Worst Actress. Other awards were won by Will Farrell and Nicole Kidman (Worst Screen Couple), Paris Hilton (Worst Supporting Actress), Hayden Christensen (Worst Supporting Actor), Rob Schneider (Worst Actor), and Son of the Mask (Worst Remake or Sequel).

DID THE GIRL-ON-GIRL SHOWER SCENE KEEP CRUEL INTENTIONS 2 OFF THE LIST? Entertainment Weekly lists the 25 Worst Movie Sequels Ever Made and gets it mostly right, whiffing perhaps on exclusions of Grease 2 (sorry, Kim), Rocky V, Meatballs 2, 3 and 4, and Mannequin 2: On the Move, but getting kudos for the Mac Davis-Jackie Gleason-helmed Sting 2 and Weekend at Bernies 2: What's That Strange Smell?

So which sequels make your list?

And in other movie news this Oscar weekend (look for our picks some time soon). Coming out on the same day as the Ron Howard adaptation starring Tom Hanks of a book I'm pretty sure I am the only human in the Western World not to have read is be the early contender for porn title of the year: The DaVinci Load.

FIRST PRIZE IS A SHINY NEW CADILLAC: Well, at least it should be, in The Chicago Tribune and Chicago's Goodman Theatre's "Write Like Mamet" competition, which is open for another week. The contest is in honor of the Goodman's Mamet festival (and joins with the premiere of Mamet's network TV attempt, The Unit), and offers you the chance to try to one-up "Glengarry Glen Oz" (at the link above) or "Glengarry Glen Claus." In other Mamet trivia, did you know that Kristen Bell (aka Veronica Mars) had her first major movie role in Mamet's underrated spy thriller Spartan? She previously had had a tiny role in Pootie Tang, but I don't think that counts.

WHERE HAVE YOU GONE, TONY SOPRANO: In keeping with the full-court media press accompanying next week's sixth season premiere of The Sopranos, here's a nice set of New York Magazine pieces in which six writers were asked to suggest a suitable ending for the series. Your alternatives are welcomed.

PRIESTS...IN....SPACE: Since I know we have some fans both of sci-fi and of this particular book out there, an interesting tidbit has made its way across the wires---Brad Pitt has acquired the rights to make Mary Doria Russell's The Sparrow into a film as a starring vehicle for him. It's been a good while since I read the book, which deals with the events and aftermath of a Jesuit-led mission to another planet, but this is certainly an interesting pick for Pitt.

IF I WERE A BETTING MAN: Just a little conventional wisdom check with the good oddspeople at Pinnacle Sports.

American Idol: The frontrunner is currently Chris Daughtry. In order of odds: Chris, Ace, Katharine, Lisa, Taylor, Elliott, Paris, Kellie, Mandisa, Ayla/Melissa (tied), Kinnik, Bucky/Will (tied), Gedeon/Kevin (tied). Kinnik is going to outlast Gedeon? Man, his cartoony smile must annoy many more people than just Simon (and me).

Academy Awards: The odds point to Reese Witherspoon and Philip Seymour Hoffman for the top acting kudos; Ang Lee for director, Brokeback for picture, and Rachel Weicz for supporting actress. Supporting actor is a bit more all over the place: Paul Giamatti's got the best odds, but not by much. George Clooney is running a close second. Just writing about the Academy Awards is making me snoozy -- anyone wanna lay odds that the ratings are going to suck?

Sopranos: Who's gonna be the first to get whacked when The Sopranos returns on March 12? Pinnacle's odds point to Vito Spatafore at 6/1, followed by Uncle Junior at 7/1, Christuhfuh at 8/1, and Bobby Bacala and Patsy Parisi at 9/1. The immediate Soprano family seems to be safe for now, with Tony, Carmela, Meadow, and A.J. all coming in at 90/1. The best betting idea of all? "No one dies" is running at 20/1. Hm. No one dies for an entire season of the Sopranos? I betcha I could fund the ALOTT5MA Fulltime TV Viewing Fellowship betting against that one.

STILL NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH: For those of you who don't make a habit of visiting the iTunes music/video store regularly, today's a good day to visit, as Project Runway and Inside The Actors Sutdio have been added to the video library, and iTunes is offering free downloads of both Academy Award-nominated song "Travelin' Thru" and the pilot of NBC's Conviction (a/k/a/ Grey's Prosecutors). In addition, while you're there, pick up "Wicked Little High," the major label debut of Academy Award-nominated songstress Bird York, which is tremendous and haunting stuff--Sarah McLachlan crossed with Beth Orton. Also, if you want an edge in your Oscar pool, download and watch the 5 live-action short film nominees.