"Is this the whale?" joked a noisy patron, pointing to some dark red slabs of tuna on the small tray of sushi, which had just been deposited on his table at one of California's renowned sushi restaurants "Come on guys, it's your signature dish! Where's it gone? I'm feeling left out here!"

His waitress wasn't laughing. Hours earlier, the small, exclusive venue, called The Hump, had found itself at the centre of an explosive culinary scandal that has thrown an awkward spotlight on practices at one of America's top sushi spots.

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Kathy Ireland, Anna Kendrick, Mo'Nique had the touch of glitz when it come to walking the red carpet at the Academy Awards on Sunday, Oscar night. Taking on the best of the threads and giving fashion a run for the money, there is no way anyone could have been disappointed in the results. The fast pace of fashion brings out the best Hollywood has to offer.

Usually, in years past, Oscars mean a chance to point out who blew it and why their clothes could have been made for a clown. This year the ladies were hot and didn't miss a step when it came to the gown, jewels and accessories.

“The Hurt Locker” distributor Summit Entertainment LLC will expand the Oscar-winning movie by more than 25 percent. The film will play in 348 theaters in the U.S. and Canada this weekend, up from 274 last weekend, Paul Pflug, an outside spokesman for Los Angeles-based Summit, said yesterday in an e- mail.

The increase was smaller than some analysts anticipated after the film won six Academy Awards, including best picture, on March 7. The limited expansion is consistent with theater chains’ usual policy “not to re-release films that have already entered the home-entertainment marketplace,” Pflug said.

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The Best Supporting Actress nominee donned a ruffled fuchsia Marchesa dress, and matching lipstick. Though it's unfortunate that the shade clashed with the red carpet (planning people!), we think that the whole ensemble had kind of a flamenco-dancer vibe -- yet Farmiga looked beautiful.

But, in our opinion, Farmiga is a special case. In other words, do not attempt this trend at home. One false move and you'll be searching for the perfect powder blue eyeshadow to match to your "Flashdance"-inspired leg warmers, which, we promise, will not be an Oscar-worthy look.

Another Oscar nominee who paired her makeup with her gown is Gabourey Sidibe. The actress, who donned a royal blue dress, was also sporting metallic blue eyeshadow with a hint of gold.We love the gown but we're, ah, up in the air about the eye makeup. What do you guys think?

Traditionally once the Oscars are over, one of the first questions critics ask is what’s next? What will the latest Oscar winners do in order to live up to their newly acquired subtitle of “Academy Award winner.” Following Sunday night’s telecast,  The Envelope reports on what’s next for Oscar’s biggest winners.

After being named the first woman in history to claim the best director trophy, Kathryn Bigelow has already signed on to reteam with Locker producer Mark Boal for the new film Triple Frontier, a thriller set against the backdrop of South America. In addition, Bigelow is set to direct the premiere episode of HBO’s newest series The Miraculous Year.

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Sunday night's Oscar program almost didn't happen for millions of TV viewers in the New York City area, in the latest high-stakes battle between media giants over the cost of TV programming. Why are these battles happening now, and who will ultimately win?If you happened to be one of Cablevision's 3.1 million subscribers in New York, New Jersey or Connecticut on Sunday.

You missed some classic TV: a closeup of Academy Award winner Mo'Nique's hairy legs on Barbara Walters' Oscar special, Kathy Ireland's freaky posture on the red carpet and Neil Patrick Harris singing about why inmates drop soap. That's because ABC cut off the signal of its New York City station to Cablevision subscribers just after midnight on Sunday morning, in a dispute over "retransmission fees," the money the cable company pays for carrying local broadcast stations.

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Ryan isn't the only O'Neal terribly disasppointed by the absence of Farrah Fawcett in the tribute montage to filmdom's fallen stars shown during the 82nd Annual Academy Awards."On behalf of myself, my father Ryan O'Neal and my entire family, we are deeply saddened that a truly beautiful and talented actress Farrah Fawcett was not included in the memorial montage," Tatum O'Neal said in a statement Tuesday.

"We are bereft with this exclusion of such an international icon who inspired so many for so many reasons. Beautiful, talented Farrah will never be forgotten by her family and amazing fans."Indeed she will not, though the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has already excused itself from being the one responsible for carrying Fawcett's memory into 2010.

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After winning a Razzie award for "Worst Actress", Sandra Bullock patiently waited until this past Sunday, when she could rejoice as the reigning "Best Actress" as well.  Bullock beat out several other fine actresses including 15-time nominee Meryl Streep, to win the award for her role in "The Blind Side". 

The two actresses had previously tied at another awards show, and even engaged in a Sandra Bullock Meryl Streep kiss on stage, but Sunday night was a solo win for Bullock.  She claimed the lead actress award all to herself and seemed shocked by the win.  The Sandra Bullock acceptance speech made for one of the true highlights of the Oscar winners list in 2010.

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There was something unsettling when Tom Hanks hurriedly announced the Oscar winner for Best Picture at Sunday’s show.Maybe it was because the buildup for Best Picture was unevenly spread throughout the show, with 10 people introducing the 10 nominated films at random times.

Or maybe, when "The Hurt Locker" won the night’s biggest award, the audience at the show and across the country was burned out on the nearly three and a half hour event.The Oscars should be the best awards show on the planet. It’s Hollywood’s night to shine, and nobody enjoys indulging their egos more than actors, actresses and directors.

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Tatum O'Neal expressed deep regret over the failure of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to include Farrah Fawcett in its Oscars memorial segment.O'Neal yesterday was reported joining her father, Ryan, in a protest to the Academy over the omission. Ryan was Farrah's life partner and the father of her son, Redmond.

In a excerpt from their letter to the Academy obtained by People Magazine, she said: 'On behalf of myself, my father Ryan O’Neal and my entire family, we are deeply saddened that a truly beautiful and talented actress Farrah Fawcett was not included in the memorial montage during the 82nd Academy Awards.

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