We’ve trudged our way through the bitter cold winds of January and dealt with the sappy lovestruck couples and self-induced chocolate comas of that much loved or much dreaded holiday known as Valentine’s Day, and now the season ’tis upon us. The votes are in and this Sunday many a film-lover will hunker down with their popcorn, pizza, friends, and loved ones (in that order, we say, you know the popcorn always takes precedence) and tune in to the one and only Academy Awards show.  This year’s Oscar night extrazaganza features first-time host Ellen DeGeneres, live from the Kodak Theater at 5pm Pacific/8pm Eastern.  Get your printable ballots here from the Oscars website and settle the debate once and for all on who is the biggest film nerd in your circle.  I’m going to go ahead and call out a challenge to my associate Chris Dortch right now…film geek vs. film geek…what shall the stakes be, hmmm? I’ll let you determine that one Chris.  Leave us a comment and let us know your picks, viewers!

It’s been far too long since I had an opportunity to say a few words to you Doc Channel fans in the Blogosphere (a word I loathe far too much to be using as often as I do). There are so many things to talk about I’m sure I’ll forget a few and have to hit you with another update in a few days but for now, I’ll give you the Cliff Notes version. Firstly, I’d like to take a moment to shout from the nearest mountain top that three of my favorite documentary films EVER MADE (no faint praise, coming from me) will be premiering this month on the Documentary Channel. First there is Tony Gayton and Bill Cody’s brilliant time capsule of the original Athens, Georgia scene “Athens, GA: Inside Out”. If your an Athens afficianado (you know you love Pylon, what’s not to love?) or even just have an R.E.M or B-52’s album or two in your collection you’ll find much to love about this film and if you like what you see you’ll also what to make it a point to check out Tony and Bill’s other music doc premiere, the mind-bogglingly brilliant chronicle of Dexter Romweber and the strange and beautiful music he’s responsible for “Two Headed Cow”. Not only is the film one of the flat-out best music docs of recent vintage it includes interviews with folks like equally brilliant folks like Neko Case and Chan Marshall (who you’ll either already know by her other moniker Cat Power or possibly as my future wife…shhhhh wishful thinking). Tony Gayton name might also be familiar to you as the screenwriter of the criminally underrated drug picture “The Salton Sea”. Last but not least, February brings Jeff Feuerzeig’s “Half Japanese: The Band Who Would Be King”. If you’ve seen Jeff’s most recent master-work “The Devil and Daniel Johnston” you know you can expect nothing short of genius from him and “Half-Jap” delivers,. It’s funny, it’s poignant, it rocks and it has an interview with Byron Coley from Forced Exposure (the man is one great sound bite after another). No jive, we’re very excited to offer films such as these to you folks out there. They are the kinds of docs we love to put out there and I hope that if you like them that you’ll make the effort to drop us a line and let us know. Exciting times for you Doc Fans out there. That’s all for now.