The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its schedule for key events coming up at the end of this year and beginning of next year.

For example, film fans hoping to plan the Most Awesome Party EVER will be thrilled to know the Oscar ceremony is scheduled for Feb. 22, 2009.

However, one note may throw fans for a loop: "One notable change for the 81st Awards is the move of the Nominations Announcement from the traditional Tuesday to a Thursday. The switch was made to avoid a conflict with the 2009 Presidential Inauguration."

What is with this nonsense?!

Get your priorities straight, Academy!

For one thing, the average American spends a LOT more time in a week wondering what to see at the movies than s/he spends deciding who to vote for.*

In addition to that, more people see movies in a year than vote in the presidential elections. Sad but probably true. Turnout would be more impressive if voting booths were in theaters instead of schools and fire stations.

Finally, moving the nominations means that there will be nothing to distract us from what is certain to be an incredibly expensive, self-congratulatory D.C. event. If there's an expensive, self-congratulatory event in January I want to pay attention to, it's the Oscar nominations.

Then again, it's entirely possible the Academy pushed back its announcement so it can RULE the news reports and not have to share the spotlight, in which case I say, well-played, Academy!

* From a poll taken of myself, my husband and our cats, who were not impressed with any of this foolishness. They still wish Gore had won.

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