Showbiz411

The Oscars are turning into one big freaking musical, that’s for sure. First “Chicago” producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron were hired to produce the show. Now Rob Ashford’s coming on as choreographer. Add to that the idea that “Les Miserables” is going to be nominated  in, like, every category from Best Picture and Director (Tom Hooper) to all kinds of things for Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway and others in the cast. Then, consider that the Academy has restored the five nominees rule for Best Song. And that Adele — if we’re lucky– will sing “Skyfall” (it had better be nominated for Best Song). Are you following this? The 2013 Academy Awards are going to be like a show stopping Busby Berkeley musical. Who knows? Maybe host Seth MacFarlane can sing, too!

Roger Friedman

Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News. Friedman previously wrote the Intelligencer column at New York Magazine, He writes for Parade magazine and has written for Details, Vogue, the New York Times, Post, and Daily News and many other publications. He is the writer and co-producer of a film about R&B Music called “Only the Strong Survive,” which was released by Miramax in 2003 and was a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals.