A major new flick by Paul Haggis, the writer/director of one Oscar best picture champ ("Crash") and writer of another ("Million Dollar Baby"), is huge news to Oscarwatchers like us. But is "In the Valley of Elah" another masterpiece or a dud? Hollywood Reporter loves it. Variety blasts it.

First, the Hollywood Reporter: "Paul Haggis has not only avoided the dreaded sophomore slump, but the director and co-writer of the Oscar-winning "Crash" has returned with another bona-fide contender.

"Ostensibly a murder-mystery set against the backdrop of the war in Iraq, 'In the Valley of Elah' is a deeply reflective, quietly powerful work that is as timely as it is moving.

"Further graced by an exceptional Tommy Lee Jones lead performance that would have to be considered one of the finest in the 60-year-old actor's career, the Warner Independent release is getting a little preliminary festival exposure at Venice and Toronto before opening in limited engagements on Sept. 14." READ MORE

"The Dixie Chicks earn a shocking nomination for Vocal Group of the Year, their first in that category since 2003," gasped our forum poster MrTalented when the CMA nominations were announced. Their strong awards showing is a bit of surprise considering how the Nashville establishment spurned the Chicks after they lambasted George W. Bush over the war in Iraq. But that's all over now. The wider music establishment finally forgave the Chicks and embraced them earlier this year when they became one of the few artists ever to sweep the Grammys' Triple Crown: record, song and album of the year. But those Nashville boys — well, they can be a bit conservative, ornery and a bit stubborn by nature. Many Chicks fans wondered: Will the South ever rise and embrace them again?

MrTalented also noted another factoid: "Reba McEntire and Martina McBride are both nominated for Female Vocalist. They each have 4 wins apiece, and if one of them wins a 5th this year, she'll have more Female Vocalist titles than any other woman in the history of the awards."

Here are more reax posted in our message boards:

HollywoodStar: Dixie Chicks deserved their nod, too bad they won't win, let alone, attend.

According to the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the cost of manufacturing an Emmy statuette is:

a.) $150
b.) $250
c.) $350
d.) $400
e.) $450

CLICK HERE for the Correct Answer!

More star presenters have been named for the the Primetime Emmys gala on Sept. 16 — Alec Baldwin, Stephen Colbert, Marcia Cross, Jon Cryer, Ellen DeGeneres, America Ferrara, Tina Fey, Joely Fisher, Brad Garrett, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Julia-Luis Dreyfus and Kyra Sedgwick. Those are in addition to glitteratti already announced - CLICK HERE.

Fox Network came thisclose to naming someone other than "American Idol" emcee Ryan Seacrest as host of the Emmycast on Sept. 16: Hugh Laurie.

Laurie was actually the early first choice of several top Fox exex, who lobbied strongly for him to get the job, according to a TV academy source. Others tubthumped for Seacrest, who's a logical choice since he already hosts America's most popular regular TV program plus specials like New Year's Eve countdowns. The standoff at the network was to blame for any host being named so late. Last year Conan O'Brien's appointment was unveiled in mid-May — three months before the Seacrest announcement this year.

In the end, Fox decided to go with its "Idol" star over its "House" star because exex felt Seacrest would draw a larger TV audience and because viewers might be confused seeing Laurie in an unfamiliar role.

But Laurie, in fact, is an accomplished entertainer beyond just that Doctor Grouch act you see on "House." He's a darn good pianist, for one thing. He performs in a few bands — 16:9 and Poor White Trash — and tickles the ivories in the "House" episode he submitted to Emmy judges in the race for best drama actor, "Half-Wit."

But most noteworthy of all are the wild performances he gave on "A Bit of Fry and Laurie," the outrageous comedy sketch show he did between 1986 and 1995 with Stephen Fry on the BBC. Click below to see Laurie in drag and other loopy poses.

Sure, it's nice to learn the Emmy predictions of top TV critics, but, personally speaking, I know who the real best experts are: our forum moderators Chris "Boomer" Beachum and Robert "Rob L" Licuria. They've not only tracked these kudos like brainy bloodhounds through the years, but they've actually viewed the same episodes submitted to judges by nominees as examples of their best work.

Boomer and Rob agree on a lot of races this year, but not lead actress in a drama series. Here — hooray! grab some popcorn and a ringside seat, kiddos — we have a pundit smackdown! Boomer's gal is Kyra Sedgwick ("The Closer"), Rob's is Minnie Driver ("The Riches"). Yes, in his text below, he initially put Minnie and Kyra in a tie, but he adds now, way, "If I have to stick my neck out, then I'm going out on a huge limb and pick Minnie."

LEAD ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES: BOOMER'S PREDIX

PATRICIA ARQUETTE, "Medium" ("Be Kind, Rewind" -- 38:45 minutes / 18 scenes)

Arquette really feels comfortable in this role and provides a nice performance in an episode geared around a "Groundhog Day" dream-like situation. She wakes up over and over, each time with a new chance to salvage a murderous outcome at a restaurant (and even severe injury to herself). It is a solid job, but the only memorable moment for me was the third version of the kitchen scene when she loses control.

PERFORMANCE GRADE: 75/100
OTHER INTANGIBLES: 75/100
AVERAGE GRADE: 75/100

MINNIE DRIVER, "The Riches" ("Pilot" - 33:45 minutes / 18 scenes)

Driver nails the Southern accent (believe me, I live here where she supposedly was raised) and does a much better job with it than her co-star Eddie Izzard, whose accent was all over the place. Unfortunately, I just thought it was a above-average performance in an episode that fell mostly flat. She certainly has a chance in this category, but I don't really think it will happen.

PERFORMANCE GRADE: 80/100
OTHER INTANGIBLES: 70/100
AVERAGE GRADE: 75/100

EDIE FALCO, "The Sopranos" ("The Second Coming" - 13:45 minutes / 8 scenes)

The Emmy voters may want to give Falco one final award for her incredible character work over the last few years. If they do, it will be for far more than she is given to do in just over 13 minutes on this episode. The writers didn't do her justice at all this final season and should have offered her a great departing showcase somewhere along the way. She does have great scenes with Robert Iler and especially one final kitchen argument with James Gandolfini, but will it be enough?

PERFORMANCE GRADE: 80/100
OTHER INTANGIBLES: 80/100
AVERAGE GRADE: 80/100

SALLY FIELD, "Brothers & Sisters" ("Mistakes Were Made, Part 2" - 17:30 minutes / 11 scenes)

I've never really seen the show, so if I didn't follow the television industry, they could have billed Field as "Special Guest Star" and I wouldn't have known any difference. There are so many long stretches where she isn't even on screen. When she is, Field is effective as a concerned mother about her son going into the military (past and present). Somebody has to finish in last place, so even though she is a double Oscar winner and past Emmy winner, I think it will be her amongst these five other contenders.

PERFORMANCE GRADE: 65/100
OTHER INTANGIBLES: 75/100
AVERAGE GRADE: 70/100

"Slings & Arrows," a drama about the intrigue backstage at a Shakespearean theater festival, reaped the most nominations (14) for Gemini Awards, which are Canada's equivalent to the Emmys. Last year's winner of best drama series now returns with additional bids for lead performers Paul Gross, the late William Hutt, Susan Coyne and Martha Burns.

Science investigation thriller "ReGenesis" received the second-most bids (12).

Biggest disappointment: "'Little Mosque on the Prairie' — the lighthearted look at Muslim life that received international buzz when it premiered last fall — was largely shut out of the awards honoring the best in Canadian television," noted the Toronto Star.

"Corner Gas," winner of best comedy series for the last two years, returns to defend its title against steady comedy faves "Royal Canadian Air Farce" and "This Hour Has 22 Minutes."

For a full list of nominees, CLICK HERE

(Photo: Oxygen)

Carlos Mencia of Comedy Central's "Mind of Mencia" will host the Creative Arts Emmy ceremony on Sept. 8 at the Shrine Auditorium. That's when most of this year's primetime Emmys will actually be bestowed — in the crafts categories (lighting, sound, camera work, costumes) and guest acting (adding a dash of celebrity involvement).

Some media aren't too happy about the appointment. TMZ.com gets snarky about him emceeing the Creative Arts bash, adding, "The key word in that sentence is 'creative.' Mencia, star of Comedy Central's 'Mind of Mencia,' is frequently accused of stealing his material -- earning the nickname 'Carlos Menstealia.'" READ MORE .

For a 13th time, the ceremony will be produced by Spike Jones Jr. with his production company SJ2 Entertainment, plus Creative Arts Emmys co-chair Lee Miller and John Moffitt, a governor of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

E! Networks will broadcast the Creative Arts Emmycast as a two-hour special on Sept. 15 at 8 p.m., one night before the Primetime Emmys will be presented on Fox.

A few series episodes that nominees gave to Emmy judges as samples of their best work will air soon on TV. 

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Neil Patrick Harris, "How I Met Your Mother" - "Showdown" episode - Monday, Sept. 3,  8 p.m. ET on CBS

Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Mariska Hargitay, "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" -  "Florida" episode - Sunday, Sept. 9, 11 p.m. ET on USA Network

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Aida Turturro, 'The Sopranos" - "Soprano Home Movies" - Sunday, Sept. 9, 8 p.m. on HBO

(Thanks to "MrTalented" for keeping us posted.)

"The Sopranos" star James Gandolfini may have won three times already, but it's been several years since we've seen him at the podium with a chunk of TV academy gold in hand. However, we'll see him there again soon, according to our two forum moderators Chris "Boomer" Beachum and Robert "Rob L" Licuria, who offer their analysis, nominee by nominee, below. Also included is detailed analysis of the sample episode submitted by each contender to judges as an example of their best work from the past TV season.

Note that Boomer and Rob L differ on who may be a spoiler in this smackdown. Boomer says Hugh Laurie ("House") has the best shot at pulling off an upset; Rob L. says to watch out for James Spader ("Boston Legal"). I agree with them both that Gandolfini is out front to win and with Boomer that Laurie has the best shot for an upset. Beware: they're both underestimating Denis Leary.

First, here are Boomer's predix:

JAMES GANDOLFINI, The Sopranos ("The Second Coming" - 32:45 minutes /19 scenes)
What more can be said about this incredible submission? I knew when it first aired at the end of May that it was a great one for Gandolfini, and a second viewing validates that theory. As an actor, he gets to show off the full range of his character (demanding, depressive, fiery, self-centered, loving) and has even more screen time than I originally remembered. There are so many memorable moments by Gandolfini here, but I am specifically reminded of the pool scene with Robert Iler, the great kitchen argument with Edie Falco, the beatdown in the restaurant (justified, even though gory), and the always interesting therapy sessions. Congratulations to Mr. Gandolfini on a fourth Emmy Award!
PERFORMANCE GRADE: 95/100
OTHER INTANGIBLES: 95/100
AVERAGE GRADE: 95/100

HUGH LAURIE, House ("Half-Wit" - 29:15 minutes /21 scenes)
On the surface, this episode doesn't offer a big "money" scene or lots of ranting and raving normally associated with Laurie's character. I really like it, though, because it shows a nice range (who knew he played the piano that well?) and actually has some charm to it. Laurie is definitely overdue for an Emmy (and will probably have to wait because of Gandolfini's last shot), but he really might be the spoiler this year.
PERFORMANCE GRADE: 80/100
OTHER INTANGIBLES: 90/100
AVERAGE GRADE: 85/100

DENIS LEARY, Rescue Me ("Retards" - 31:45 minutes/ 14 scenes)
This is a very workmanlike performance with several fine scenes across various locations and with various cast members/guest stars. If not for the big bar scene near the end where he starts drinking again and has an incredible monologue, it wouldn't be all that memorable. I also don't think voters will care for the way he handles his ex-wife in their confrontation. Better luck next year.
PERFORMANCE GRADE: 80/100
OTHER INTANGIBLES: 70/100
AVERAGE GRADE: 75/100