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    And it ended under 4 hours

    Leo's F-bomb & Hathaway's awesomeness make for an amusing Oscar telecast

    Joe Leydon
    Feb 28, 2011 | 12:35 am
    • James Franco and Anne Hathaway were entertaining.
      Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images
    • Mlla Kunis, right, who presented with Justin Timberlake, in an Elie Saab gown,showed the most cleavage
      Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images
    • Photo by Mark Ralston/AFP

    OK, maybe it’s because I am so totally awestruck by the awesomeness that is Anne Hathaway. (After hearing her warble the tongue-in-cheek tweak of Hugh Jackman, I want her cast in a musical – immediately. Didn’t somebody say something about her starring in a Judy Garland biopic?)

    Or maybe it’s because I interpreted James Franco’s “What, me worry?” insouciance as her co-host as some kind of cannabis-fueled performance art. (How else can you explain his apparently forgetting the title of the Best Picture winner about 17 seconds after the crew from The King’s Speech left the stage?)

    Or maybe, just maybe, it had something to do with the (relative) brevity of the overall program, which usually plods along a half-hour or so longer.

    Whatever the reason, I found myself mostly amused and lightly entertained Sunday evening during the ABC telecast of 83rd annual Academy Awards. Hathaway and Franco came off as good sports having a great time, whether they were magically inserted into clips from Oscar-nominated films – a familiar Oscarcast gimmick, to be sure, but funny nonetheless – or mocking their own presumptive appeal as viewer bait for “a younger demographic.”

    And, really, if you didn’t laugh when Morgan Freeman described them as “the naked girl from Love and Other Drugs and the guy from General Hospital,” maybe you just weren’t in an Oscarcast kind of mood to begin with.

    To be sure, there were few real surprises among the actual winners in the various Oscar categories. Indeed, the people who prepared the montage of Best Picture nominees more or less acknowledged the inevitability of a King’s Speech win by editing the clips to a telltale soundtrack: Colin Firth’s dramatic delivery of, well, King George VI’s speech. It was almost as though the producers were telling the zillions of viewers: “Yeah, you know who’s gonna win, we know who’s gonna win, but what the hell, let’s have some fun.”

    On the other hand, there was a welcome dearth of irredeemably embarrassing moments. Indeed, the closest this year’s Oscarcast came to cringe-worthiness was Kirk Douglas’ game but halting struggle to not sound too much like the similarly stroke-impeded Dick Clark while cracking wise during his delivery of the Best Supporting Actress award.

    At first, I felt extremely uncomfortable while noting the all-too-obvious frailty of this Old Hollywood icon. As it turned out, however, the guy proved he still has great timing: His playful vamping while keeping the five nominees (and the audience) in suspense had the makings of a classic running gag. In fact, I was genuinely surprised that only one subsequent presenter, Justin Timberlake, had the cheek to draw things out with his own, “You know…”

    And speaking of Best Supporting Actresses: If you saw Melissa Leo in The Fighter – hell, if you saw her during her several seasons on TV’s Homicide: Life on the Street – were you at all surprised that this brassy, sassy and extremely talented lady made Oscar history by being the first winner to drop the F-Bomb (duly blipped by ABC censors, of course) during an acceptance speech? As they might have put it in the Oscar-underachieving Social Network: LOL.

    Also worth noting:

    ACING THE AUDITION: After her smoothly self-assured and sweetly snarky intro of the Best Actor nominees, Sandra Bullock immediately established her credentials for hosting next year’s Oscarcast. Make it so, please.

    BELIEVE IT OR NOT: Future historians may note that The Wolfman (winner of the Best Make-Up prize) and Citizen Kane have something in common. Seriously. Each film claimed precisely the same number of Oscars: One.

    BEST CLEAVAGE: Mila Kunis.

    BEST ATTEMPT AT A HOOK-UP: When Kirk Douglas completed Melissa Leo on her glam look, she replied: “Hey, you’re pretty good-looking yourself. What are you doing later on?” (And no, that’s not when she dropped the F-Bomb.)

    LATE BLOOMER: David Seidler, writer of The King’s Speech, won many new friends – and, maybe, inspired more than a few procrastinators – by announcing in his acceptance speech that he is the oldest person ever to receive the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. (He was born, by the way, in 1937.) “I hope that record is broken quickly,” he said. “And often.”

    SMILE WHEN YOU SAY THAT: Remember when Robert Downey Jr. got a bit huffy at the Golden Globes when Ricky Gervais made a joking reference to Downey’s checkered past as a hard-partying repeat offender? Well, Downey seemed to take it a lot better – and provided a bit of “fact-checking” – when his Sherlock Holmes co-star and fellow award presenter Jude Law made an even more detailed crack about his bad old days as a substance abuser. Maybe Downey’s developed a sturdier sense of humor. Maybe he should share co-hosting chores with Sandra Bullock next year.

    SMILE WHEN YOU SAY THAT, PART II: At the very start of his utterly charming and engagingly self-effacing acceptance speech after being handed the Best Actor prize for The King’s Speech, Colin Firth dryly quipped: “I have a feeling my career has just peaked.”

    My first reaction: He’s being entirely too modest. My second reaction: Well, if he really does go ahead with plans to star in that Gambit remake…

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    independence day fun

    Where to celebrate the 4th of July throughout the Houston area in 2025

    Holly Beretto
    Jun 18, 2025 | 11:30 am
    Shell Freedom Over Texas
    Courtesy of Shell Freedom Over Texas
    The city has revealed the performers for its July 4 celebration.

    A country only turns 249 once. To celebrate Independence Day, cities around the Houston region have a host of entertainment options for all ages — including, of course, fireworks to light up the night sky. Happy 4th of July!

    Thursday, July 3
    Houston Symphony: Star-Spangled Salute
    This annual concert at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion is free for everyone, and offers a selection of patriotic songs to celebrate the holiday. 8pm.

    Friday, July 4
    Freedom Over Texas
    Houston’s annual July 4th bash returns to Eleanor Tinsley Park along Allen Parkway with local, regional, and national entertainment, headlined by Ashley McBryde and Lee Brice. Attendees also have access to a beer garden; a sponsored area with representatives from local sports teams; the "Red, White & Play Kids Zone" with games, face painting, and entertainment; and "Liberty Park," which salutes the military and includes pictures with military assets. The grand finale of the celebration is a “Texas-sized” fireworks display. This year’s event will donate a portion of the entrance fee to the Houston Food Bank. Gates open at 4 pm. The cost is $10.

    Bubbles and Fireworks
    Buffalo Bayou Partnership hosts this event, which sets sail from Allen’s Landing at 8 pm. Hop on a boat and head into the bayou for a sensational view of fireworks over downtown, complete with bubbly, wine, beer, and light bites. The cost is $150 per person. Space is limited and this event is for ages 13 and older. Reserve online.

    City of Baytown 4th of July Celebration
    Beginning at 4 pm, the event includes live performances from groups like the Spazmatics and The Zydeco Outlaws, among others, food and craft vendors, and children’s activities. The evening is capped off with fireworks. The event is free to attend.

    City of Bellaire Celebration of Independence Parade & Festival
    This free event at Loftin Park kicks off with a parade at 9 am. A festival, held from 9:30 am-12 pm, includes music, food, and other family fun.

    City of Friendswood July 4th Celebration
    The day begins at 10 am, with a parade on Friendswood Drive, followed by a festival in Stevenson Park with rides, games, music, and entertainment. At 7 pm, a celebration will be held in Centennial Park, with live music and other entertainment, capped by a fireworks show around 9:10 pm.

    City of La Porte 4th of July in Five Points
    After a parade down Broadway, there’s a party at Five Points Plaza, featuring free hot dogs while they last, live music, and a fire truck that will spray water in the street. All festivities are free. The fun starts at 10:30 am.

    City of Pasadena 4th Fest
    Pasadena's party features a live DJ, Pasadena Idol performers, and a host of other activities celebrating the nation’s birthday at the Pasadena Fairgrounds. The festival starts at 4 pm, with a fireworks display at 9:15 pm. The event is free to attend.

    City of Pearland Celebration of Freedom
    Live music, kids activities, strolling entertainment, giveaways, and a photo booth top the list of fun on the 4th in Independence Park, beginning at 6 pm. The evening finishes with an 18-minute fireworks display. It’s free to attend.

    City of Seabrook Fourth of July Parade
    The parade begins at the Miramar Shopping Center and ends at Rex L. Meador Park. Kids are encouraged to decorate bikes, scooters, wagons and other non-motorized vehicles for a special children’s parade. Look for a bounce house, hayrides, hotdogs and other Fourth of July-themed fun. Festivities begin at 9:30 am.

    City of Sugar Land Red, White, and Boom
    Gather at Constellation Field for this epic celebration with music, food, vendors, and a grand fireworks finale. Admission is free. The event kicks off at 5 pm.

    Dueling Pianos and Fireworks
    Katy’s Home Run Dugout hosts this bash, headlined by dueling piano duo Joilux. Guests can request their fave tunes, and enjoy a killer fireworks show. The event is free, and those attending can order bites and drinks off the gathering spot’s regular menu. Celebrations kick off at 8 pm.

    Einstein’s Fireworks Cruise on Lake Conroe
    Depart from Einstein’s Surf & Boat Shop at the Margaritaville Lake Resort Lake Conroe for this three-hour cruise, which includes music, snacks, and a great vantage point for seeing the fireworks on Lake Conroe. BYOB. The cost is $75.

    Fourth of July in The Woodlands
    An array of activities are happening all day long, beginning at 8 am with festivities that precede the 49th Annual South County 4th of July Parade, which winds through The Woodlands Town Center and Market Street, featuring fire engines, military units, and marching bands.

    From 10 am to 6 pm, Woodlands townships have a host of Red, White, and Pool activities in their pools (fees vary). Finally, the Red, Hot & Blue Festival and Fireworks Extravaganza kicks off at 6 pm with food, live entertainment, and family fun at multiple locations throughout The Woodlands.

    Houston Symphony: Star-Spangled Salute
    The Symphony’s free July 4 concert at Miller Outdoor Theatre in Hermann Park is a Houston tradition. Expect songs like “The Stars and Stripes Forever” and “America the Beautiful,” followed by a grand finale fireworks display. The concert begins at 8:30 pm.

    Kemah Boardwalk July 4th Celebration
    The popular entertainment zone has live music beginning at 2 pm, with multiple bands taking the stage. A fireworks show starts at 9:30 pm. The fireworks show is free. Those wishing to hop on a boat and catch the show from the water need to pay $40. Boarding begins at 9 pm.

    Missouri City Fourth Fest
    Taking place on the Houston Community College - Southwest College campus, this free party includes carnival games, live performances, food from local vendors, and a fireworks display. Festivities begin at 5 pm.

    Valley Ranch 4th Fest
    Cover band Dunn & Brooks and ZZ Tex highlight this day-long celebration, which also features yard games, a kids’ zone, train rides, a shopping boutique, July 4th swag, food trucks, and a Red, White, and Brews cash bar. It’s all capped off with Montgomery County’s largest fireworks display. The fun starts at 5 pm and admission is free.

    Saturday, July 5
    Stars, Stripes, and Swing
    The Jazz Connection Orchestra performs at Margaritaville Lake Resort Lake Conroe’s Del Lago Ballroom. There’s a cash bar with offerings such as tacos, hot dogs, and other snacks. Tickets are free but must be reserved in advance. The concert is at 7:30 pm, with a fireworks show immediately following at 9:20 pm.

    Freedom Over Texas
      
    Courtesy of Freedom Over Texas
    The Freedom Over Texas celebration takes place on the Fourth of July.
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