• Academy members just got DVDs of "W.," "Doubt" and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

• Among the 15 films competing for a place on the short list of seven for the visual effects Oscar are such expected entries as "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," "The Dark Knight" and "Iron Man." Among those missing — "Speed Racer" and "Wanted" — while the critically panned "Journey to the Center of the Earth" made the cut. Following a vote by the FX branch, the seven short-listed films will be announced Jan. 6 and a JaN. 15 screening of 15-minute excerpts from those will narrow the field to three Oscar nominees. AMPAS

• Sasha Stone of Awards Daily spotlights the rave reviews for "Gran Torino" from papers on both coasts and asserts: "Eastwood's acting nomination seems secure, along with a screenplay nod. Can it crack best director and picture?": Awards Daily

• Meanwhile, David Carr (that rapscallion Carpetbagger) defends the take-no-prisoners style practiced by his New York Times colleague Manohla Dargis, after she came in for criticism for her criticism earlier this week. Carr cites her reviews of both "Gran Torino" and "Doubt" as evidence of her commitment to telling it like it is rather than just saying what people want to hear. The Carpetbagger

• The PGA has announced the TV contenders for their Jan. 24 kudos at the Hollywood Palladium. Last year's comedy series champ "30 Rock" contends again as do returning nominees "Entourage" and "The Office" and 2007 nominees "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "Weeds." On the drama series side, nominees "Dexter" and "Lost" are back joined by newcomers "Damages" and "Mad Men" as well as 2006 nominee "Boston Legal." Long-form TV and feature film nominees will be announced Jan. 5. Variety

• New York Vulture interviews "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" supporting player Taraji P. Henson who candidly admits, "'I signed up to work with Brad Pitt. Where is he?' Instead, a chagrined Henson spent most of her time working with stand-in actors, who would later be replaced with computer-generated old-man babies. 'They had a blue sock on their head and they had the face cut out so I could interact with them,' she explained." New York Vulture

• British actor and comedian Steve Coogan (" Hamlet 2") is to host the 24th annual edition of the Indie Spirt Awards in Santa Monica the day before the Feb. 22 Oscarcast. Not sure who he is? Check out his picture on the left. Think of him as the polar opposite of just-announced Oscar host Aussie hunk Hugh Jackman. The live edition airs on IFC beginning at 5 p.m. PT while an edited version goes out later that night on AMC. This free-willing kudocast has been emceed as of late by the likes of Rainn Wilson and Sarah Silverman while writer-director John Waters served as host for many of the early years of these awards.

• Michael Riedel of the New York Post reports Oscar winners Geoffrey Rush ("Shine") and Susan Sarandon ("Dead Man Walking") will be making their Broadway debuts later this season in the first rialto revival of Eugene Ionesco's "Exit the King." As the feuding married monarchs, they take on roles played by Tony Award winners Richard Easton and Eva La Gallienne in the original 1968 production. New York Post

Photos: Warner Bros., Focus Features