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Award shows ready to stroll down the red carpet

The holidays have ended. Bitter cold and snow promise to hang around for a few months yet. What's left to get excited about?

For pop-culture fans, the answer is simple: Awards season!

From now through the end of February, glitzy, glittering awards ceremonies will crown the best in music, television and movies from the past year.

It all starts this weekend with the 68th annual Golden Globes. On Feb. 13, the red carpet comes out again for the 53rd Grammy Awards. And the granddaddy of them all, the 83rd Academy Awards ceremony, takes place Feb. 27.

In addition to those biggies, a number of smaller shows will air, including the Screen Actors Guild Awards (Jan. 30) and the Independent Spirit Awards (Feb. 26).

Now, some people might greet this news with a bored “who cares?” But others, like Gurnee resident and Oscar fan Linda Heeter, can't wait for the fun to start.

Heeter has hosted an Oscar party in her home for 15 years. She usually tries to create a special theme and decor for the event. One year, she placed a red carpet in her hallway and had her guests put on gold-star name tags. Another time, she served little boxes of popcorn.

“I try to do something to make the party unique,” she said.

Why go all out for the Oscars? Heeter said part of it is her longtime love of movies and the glamour of Hollywood. Another factor is the time of year, she said.

“Cabin fever starts to set in right about now,” Heeter said. “I thought these parties would be something fun to do in the worst part of winter.”

People all over the suburbs will watch at least one of the big award shows in the coming weeks, and many will host parties in their homes. Here's a rundown of the key shows coming up, and what they have to offer.

The Golden Globes

The season gets rolling with the Golden Globes, which are handed out Sunday by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

Though considered a “warmup” event for the Oscars, the Globes award presentation differs in key ways. First, the HFPA honors both movies and television with these awards. And it splits the best picture and best actor/actress categories into two groups — “drama” and “comedy or musical.”

Globes speeches tend to be looser and funnier than Oscar ones, in part because the event specifically recognizes comedies — remember the speech Sacha Baron Cohen gave in 2007 after winning a Globe for “Borat” — and possibly because alcohol is served at the event. Comedian Ricky Gervais is hosting for the second year in a row, and he's sure to strike an irreverent tone.

When it airs: 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 16, on NBC

Website: goldenglobes.org

Local tie: #8220;Glee,#8221; the television show co-created by Mount Prospect native Ian Brennan, is again nominated in the Best Television Series #8212; Comedy or Musical category. It won last year.

What to watch for: The great Robert DeNiro will receive the Cecil B. DeMille Award, a presentation that promises to be memorable.

The Grammy Awards

Though the music industry continues to suffer from drops in CD sales, it still knows how to throw a party.

Expect lots of outrageous fashion at this awards show, which will be broadcast from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Current Queen of Pop Lady Gaga thrilled the crowd at the MTV Video Music Awards in the fall by wearing a dress made of meat, and it's likely she has something special planned for the Grammys as well.

Fashion aside, the Grammys can be a tough show to get your head around for two reasons: It honors a huge variety of music/performers, and the only music eligible for this year's awards is that released between Sept. 1, 2009, and Sept. 30, 2010. (Huh?)

Still, there are some interesting possibilities in the major categories. For instance, Cee Lo Green has been nominated in the Record of the Year category for his song #8220;(Expletive) You,#8221; which would make for an interesting acceptance speech. The Album of the Year race includes the aforementioned Ms. Gaga (#8220;The Fame Monster#8221;) and fellow pop starlet Katy Perry (#8220;Teenage Dream#8221;) in competition with a resurgent Eminem (#8220;Recovery#8221;). (Lady Antebellum and the Arcade Fire also have been nominated but are considered longshots.)

When it airs: 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13, on CBS

Website: grammy.com

Local tie: He won't be part of the show, but Evanston resident Justin Roberts has been nominated in the Best Musical Album for Children category for his record #8220;Jungle Gym.#8221; Many local families have enjoyed his concerts at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Ravinia in Highland Park and other spots.

What to watch for: Rapper Kanye West has been nominated for his song #8220;Power.#8221; Kanye + award shows = craziness.

Academy Awards

Most people consider the Oscars to be the Grand Poobah of awards programs. Nominees for this year's gala won't be announced until Tuesday, Jan. 25, but the Golden Globes usually offer a decent clue as to what and who will get a nod.

Natalie Portman and Jesse Eisenberg appear to be locks for acting nominations, and their respective films, #8220;Black Swan#8221; and the #8220;The Social Network,#8221; also look like safe bets in the recently expanded Best Picture field.

Other actors who have generated early Oscar buzz include Annette Bening (#8220;The Kids Are All Right#8221;), Colin Firth (#8220;The King's Speech#8221;) and Christian Bale (#8220;The Fighter#8221;). #8220;Toy Story 3#8221; could get a Best Picture nomination this year, as it earned almost unanimous praise from critics. But do Woody and Buzz have enough power to make the film the first animated Best Picture winner?

Beyond the awards themselves, red-carpet style will surely be another big topic of conversation, along with the performances of first-time hosts Anne Hathaway and James Franco.

When it airs: 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 27, on ABC

Website: oscars.org

Local tie: We'll see when the nominations come out. Last year, cinematographer and Palatine High School graduate Mauro Fiore won for his work on #8220;Avatar.#8221;

What to watch for: Gowns, gowns, gowns.

Jesse Eisenberg has earned a Golden Globe nomination for his work in Columbia Pictures' "The Social Network." The film has also been nominated.
Natalie Portman has been nominated for a Golden Globe for her role as a perfectionist ballerina in “Black Swan.” She’s a good bet for an Oscar nod as well.
Jane Lynch, a native of Chicago’s South Suburbs, has earned a Golden Globe nomination for her role in the popular TV show “Glee.” The Fox show, co-created by Mount Prospect native Ian Brennan, has also been nominated.
Justin Roberts, an acclaimed children’s musician who lives in Evanston and plays the suburbs regularly, is up for a Grammy this year.
Lady Gaga shows off her unique sense of style at last year’s Grammy Awards. She is nominated again this year in the Album of the Year and other categories. Associated Press
Fashions tend to be a little more extreme at the Grammy Awards. Here’s rapper M.I.A. arriving at the 2009 show in Los Angeles. Associated Press
Actress Vera Farmiga arrives at last year’s Academy Awards ceremony. Fashion promises to be a major attraction at this year’s show, too. Associated Press
Elizabeth Banks arrives at last year’s Academy Awards ceremony. Red-carpet fashion is a big draw for viewers. Associated Press