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The next round of Award Season nominations have been announced this morning as the British Film Academy released its list of contenders for the 2009 BAFTAs. Indie darling Slumdog Millionaire garnered 11 nominations (including Best Picture) as did big-name Hollywood champ The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (which also secured a nom for Best Picture). These films and others will compete for BAFTAs when the award ceremony takes place in the UK on February 8:

“Slumdog Millionaire,” the rags-to-riches tale of an Indian game show winner, scooped 11 nominations for the British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs) on Thursday, days after leading the way at the Golden Globes. The movie is a contender for categories including best film, best director for Danny Boyle, best leading actor for Dev Patel and best supporting actress for Freida Pinto. The BAFTAs are Britain’s leading film and television awards and the ceremony will take place on February 8, hosted by television presenter Jonathan Ross. Ross is currently suspended from the BBC after a row over lewd telephone calls to actor Andrew Sachs but his television chat show is due to return next week. “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald and starring Cate Blanchett, also received 11 nominations, including best film and best director for David Fincher. Among other leading contenders were “The Dark Knight” — the latest Batman movie starring the late Heath Ledger as the Joker — with nine nominations, and “Changeling,” directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Angelina Jolie, with eight. Kate Winslet, who made a highly emotional acceptance speech at the Golden Globes after winning two gongs, is nominated twice in the BAFTA leading actress category, for “Revolutionary Road” and “The Reader.” “Slumdog Millionaire” won four awards at the Golden Globes earlier this month, leading to predictions of success at next month’s Oscars.

It’s kinda brills that little Dev Patel (who stars in Slumdog and played Anwar in Skins) is going head to head with überstar Brad Pitt. Love it! It looks like we’re getting a pretty clear picture of which films will be showing up again when the Academy Award nominations are announced next week. Slumdog Millionaire stole my heart, so I’ll be rootin’ for that film. I cannot believe that a little Indian film can not only go head-to-head with an overbloated Hollywood production but also stands a real chance of coming out on top. It also looks like it’s going to be a very good year for Kate Winslet. Her performances in both The Reader and Revolutionary Road seem to be resonating well with award voters. I suspect she’ll be bringing home at least one more trophy in the coming weeks. Next up, the Oscar noms … will there be any surprises? My guess is no but we’ll have to wait until the 22nd to find out.

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CBS has unveiled the new cast of Survivor: Tocantins, which premieres on February 12 at the same bat time, same bat channel. Among the new crop of “survivalists” vying for a chance to outwit, outplay and outlast their competitors for a million dollar prize are folks from a variety of walks of life … including a bartender, a US Army sergeant and a model. Perhaps the most interesting contestant, at least by celeb standards, is the inclusion of a former member of the 90′s pop group SWV (Sisters With Voices). Here are the official bio photos for all 16 contestants (the SWV chick is the first photo):

As a former member of the pop group SWV, Taj Johnson-George managed to survive the album charts in the early ’90s. Is she ready for Survivor…or will she be too “Weak”? The singer is one of 16 new castaways on Survivor: Tocantins—the Brazilian Highlands, the 18th installment of the Emmy-winning CBS series.

Jeff Probst will host once again, but the beginning of the season is all about first impressions. The contestants—who also include a school principal, an Army sergeant and a cattle rancher—have already been divided into two tribes. Before the castaways even have a chance to speak to one another, they’ll have to choose one person from each tribe to stay behind. As a CBS release says, “Will this mean the end for these two individuals or will they get a second chance to make a first impression?”

Viewers can find out when the season kicks off on Thursday, Feb. 12. In the meantime, here’s a list of the potential million-dollar winners:

Jalapao Tribe

* Sandy Burgin, 53; bus driver
* Joe Dowdle, 26; real estate sales
* Spencer Duhm, 19; student
* Carolina Eastwood, 26; bartender
* Stephen Fishbach, 29; corporate consultant
* Taj Johnson-George, 37; former pop star
* James “JT” Thomas Jr., 24; cattle rancher
* Sydney Wheeler, 24; model

Timbira Tribe

* Tyson Apostol, 29; professional cyclist
* Debra “Debbie” Beebe, 46; school principal
* Erinn Lobdell, 26; hairstylist
* Sierra Reed, 23; model
* Jerry Sims, 49; U.S. Army sergeant
* Candace Smith, 31; attorney
* Brendan Synnott, 30; entrepreneur
* Benjamin “Coach” Wade, 37; soccer coach

You can check out the full bios for this new crop of Survivors HERE and match them up with their photos, if you so desire. I’m happy to report that the gays will be represented – so, Holla!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE that Taj Johnson-George from SWV is among the new cast … I really loved SWV back in the day. I just hope she doesn’t turn out to be a dud of a competitor … I want her to bring it and bring it good. In honor of Taj and SWV, I think it’s time that we look back and remember how amazing SWV was and still is. After the jump, check out the video for my fave SWV song ever, Right Here …

Here’s a fun little game to get today’s party started … can you guess which maturing celeb was snapped running away from the harsh glare of the paparazzi in such a manner that his pants began to slip off his buns and expose his underwear?

Here’s a little hint … this particular celeb tends to usually wear his pants hanging off his ass in order to show off his undies, it’s like the thing that he does. Can you guess? After the jump, find out who it is …

We are just 5 days away from the Inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America and things continue to progress as our nation prepares to make the transition from one leader to the next. Earlier this morning a Senate panel voted to approve Hillary Rodham Clinton as our nation’s new Secretary of State (a full vote on her confirmation by the Senate should come next Tuesday) and late yesterday the official presidential portrait of Barack Obama was released to the media. Obama‘s portrait is the first ever to be photographed digitally:

The Office of the President-Elect today released the new official portrait for Barack Obama, who will take the oath of office on Tuesday. New White House photographer Pete Souza captured the image on a digital camera, a first for an official presidential portrait. Last week, The Smithsonian Institution museum announced it acquired the iconic red, white and blue collage of Obama with the word “Hope” appearing at the bottom. It became one of the most memorable images of the presidential race. The art will be hung at the U.S. National Portrait Gallery before the Inauguration, the museum said. Curators at the museum also announced that the caption for the official portrait of President George W. Bush would be tweaked today. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent, had objected to wording in the caption that said Bush’s time in office was “marked by a series of catastrophic events” including “the attacks on September 11, 2001, that led to wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.” In a Jan. 7 letter to the director of the National Portrait Gallery, Sanders said the notion the terrorist attacks were linked to or led to the Iraq war has been widely debunked. Gallery Director Martin Sullivan wrote back Monday to say the label will be revised and will delete the words “led to.”

And so … as one leader is slowing being pushed out one door, the next is being welcomed thru another. I believe that all of the previous presidential portraits were oil paintings (or some other fancy sort of portraits) which will hang in stark contrast to the crisp new digital photo of Obama. While I am all for new technology use and fully support Obama‘s presidency as a medium for presidential firsts, I think I’d still prefer if his presidential portrait was done in the traditional oil painting format. Something about the traditional nature appeals to me. Still, Obama‘s election as president heralded many firsts and will, I’m sure, bring more firsts to come. I am VERY excited for next week’s inauguration. Just 5 more days …

UPDATE: Pink reader Tim informs me that this official portrait is the one that will hang in government offices and a traditionally painted portrait (that will hang in the White House) has been commissioned. Love it!!

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