Thursday Thirteen #159

THIRTEEN FACTS ABOUT OSCAR'S BEST ACTOR

As we wait to see which actor will take home the award for Best Actor of 2011, let's look at some trivia about nominees and winners in years gone by.

Starting on the small screen doesn't mean you won't get a crack at Oscar gold. Here are 13 past Best Actor nominees who first did well on TV:


1) George Clooney (nominated in 2011, 2009, 2007) has a long TV resume, featuring shows as diverse as The Facts of Life, Roseanne and, most famously, ER.


2) Johnny Depp (nominated in 2003, 2004, 2007) was on 21 Jump Street.


3) Leonardo DiCaprio (nominated in 2006 and 2004) had a supporting role on Growing Pains.


4) Denzel Washington (winner in 2001, nominated in 1999 and 1992) was a doctor on Chicago Hope.

5) Jamie Foxx (won in 2004) was, of course, on The Jamie Foxx Show and In Living Color.

6) James Franco (nominated in 2010) has had a recurring role on General Hospital.


7) Will Smith (nominated in 2001 and 2006) was once The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.


8) John Travolta (nominated in 1994 and 1977) was a Sweathog on Welcome Back, Kotter.


9) Ryan Gosling (nominated in 2006) was a Mousketeer.


10) Bill Murray (nominated in 2003) was one of the Not Ready for Prime Time Players on Saturday Night Live.

11) Clint Eastwood (nominated in 2004 and 1992) was a cowboy on Rawhide.


12) Woody Harrelson (nominated in 1996) was Woody on Cheers.


13) Tom Hanks was most successful TV actor turned Best Actor of all (nominated in 2000, 1998 and 1988, winner in 1994 and 1993) as well as an art director in drag in Bosom Buddies.

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Maybe I should rethink this ...

I have always believed that if only I was pretty, my life would be easier. Perhaps that's not so true.

On the mend?

I saw a nurse practitioner this afternoon who tells me my ear looks clear, so the problem is probably an infection deeper in, perhaps my sinuses and/or Eustachian tube. She gave me sudafed and predicted that in a few days, I'll be fine.

I was hoping for a silver bullet, some magic that would suddenly make me well. But I guess that's just not gonna happen.

Oh well. I didn't have to pay a cent for the visit, and I got a flu shot. So I guess this is a good time to take a moment and be grateful for my insurance.

Ear ache, my eye!

It's been two weeks now that I've been waiting for my right ear to "pop." At night, when I lay on my side, I can actually hear my heart beat through my ear. And it's loud. Like Edgar Allen Poe/tell-tale heart loud. All this has been accompanied by an incipient little headache. So this evening I'm going to the Take Care Clinic at Walgreen's, in search of relief.

 Wish me luck!