We knew there was going to be an Avatar moment at the Oscars sooner or later, and Ben Stiller gave it to us: Appearing in full Na'vi regalia, he clicked and hissed his love for James Cameron and presented the Oscar for Best Makeup -- which Avatar wasn't actually in the running for. (Star Trek ended up taking the Oscar.) Stiller also claimed to have two Star Trek ears signed by Leonard Nimoy, which we are hoping against hope is true. Video at Geekosystem.

Last night CBS broadcast this year's Kennedy Center Honors, held earlier this month, and it was a pretty lovely affair as Mel Brooks, Robert DeNiro, Bruce Springsteen, Dave Brubeck and Grace Bumbry were honored for their incredible contributions to arts and culture. It was an exceptionally star-studded affair, too — not only on stage but in the audience, where President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama sat with the honorees. Meryl Streep and Marty Scorsese honored De Niro (great story by Scorsese too, about how De Niro got to the essential truth of a character); Carl Reiner honored Brooks, along with Gary Beach and Matthew Broderick from The Producers ("Springtime For Hitler" was especially hilarious considering the locale, and the audience), plus Jack Black in tights; Herbie Hancock honored jazz great Dave Brubeck (on his birthday!), along with an ensemble performance by none other than his sons; and Aretha Franklin (sans hat) honored Bumbry. There were others — Martin Short, Frank Langella, Ben Stiller, Sharon Stone (looking jarringly young), Ed Norton — and then there was the finale: Bruce. (more...)

video This is why the Internet was created: For hyper-meta viral videos bridging generational gaps between comedians, one of whom is Mickey Rooney. Full stop. (more...)