A great year for horror at the Oscars on Friday the 13th

It's Friday the 13th and I'm observing it the same way I did last month, examining horror nominees at an awards show. Then, it was the Saturn Awards. Today, it's the Academy Awards. I begin with Sinister Cinema Reviews asking What is Going On With The Oscars??!! A BIG Year for Horror!

Horror is actually getting recognition at the Oscars for the second year in a row??! What is happening?? This is great for the genre.

I agree with Jason on most of his points except for Bugonia being horror film; I consider it to be science fiction so much that it headlined Science fiction movie nominees at the Critics Choice Awards for Science Fiction Day. The Saturn Awards agreed, nominating it for Best Science Fiction Film. Still, Jason has enough company that Empire Magazine tweeted the following image.


Including Bugonia got pushback in the replies; several users questioned its inclusion or flatly stated that it's not horror. I'm agree; it's science fiction that appeals to horror fans, but it's not horror.

Speaking of Empire Magazine, it published The Oscars Have Finally Embraced Horror – And It’s Worth Screaming About. Follow over the jump for excerpts from it and my reactions.

Long COVID six years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic

I covered the 15th anniversary of Fukushima yesterday, so I'm blogging about the sixth anniversary of COVID-19 being declared a pandemic today. As the preview image shows, March 11, 2020 was an eventful date for the pandemic beyond the WHO declaration. Watch Fox 13 Tampa Bay report 6 years later: Millions living with long COVID.

Six years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of Americans are still living with its long-term effects.

Seven million dead from the disease worldwide? More like 21 million. That written, the big story is long COVID, which I touched on in 'The Pandemic Made People Worse Drivers,' a driving update when I pointed out the increased strokes and worse heart health mentioned in the SciShow video. The public health emergencies declared during the pandemic may have ended three years ago, but the after effects linger on. So does the denialism, which has infected the comments to this video on YouTube. Who's hiding under the bridge of an online science article? You don't want to know.

That's a wrap for today's observance. Stay tuned for Friday the 13th.

CNBC reports 'Japan bets on nuclear energy 15 years after Fukushima disaster'

I closed Marsh Family sings 'Grief and Destruction' with the choices for today's entry.

Tomorrow is the sixth anniversary of COVID-19 being declared a global pandemic and the fifteenth anniversary of the Fukushima triple disaster. Stay tuned to see which one I write about.

For the first time since Invasive species riding plastic debris from Fukushima 11 years later, I'm examining the Fukushima triple disaster. I begin with CNBC International Live reporting Japan bets on nuclear energy 15 years after Fukushima disaster.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is expected to discuss further investment and energy cooperation when she meets with U.S. President Trump this month — with nuclear power and related technology likely to remain a key theme. On the 15th anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, CNBC's Kaori Enjoji examines how this deepening economic and energy engagement could draw Japan further into a geopolitical tug-of-war and weigh on its companies.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is a lot like Donald "Hoover Harding Cleveland" Trump in choosing an old technology over a newer one. In her case, it's nuclear energy over renewables. In his case, it's coal and other fossil fuels. I think she's maker the smarter choice. I really don't like coal and would pick nuclear energy over it, although I really prefer renewables.

South China Morning Post examined Japan's changing attitude toward nuclear energy in Why a Fukushima survivor is choosing a nuclear future.

Takuma Hashimoto was just three when the 2011 tsunami triggered a nuclear meltdown near his home in Japan’s Fukushima prefecture. Now, the 18-year-old student is training to become a nuclear engineer. His journey mirrors a national shift; 15 years after the Fukushima disaster, Japan is choosing energy security over its nuclear trauma. As the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East squeeze global supplies, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is leading a pivot back to nuclear power. With public support at record highs, Japan is waking up to a stark reality: for the most resource-poor G7 nation, nuclear energy is no longer a risk, but a lifeline.

It's not just Prime Minister Takaichi who is choosing to return to nuclear energy, but a majority of her country. However, not all agree. Notice the protestors in Al Jazeera English reporting Japan nuclear power: Largest plant reopens years after Fukushima disaster.

The world's biggest nuclear power plant is back on line in Japan. Engineers flipped the switch to power up the plant 15 years after the Fukushima disaster, which killed an estimated 20,000 people. Tokyo Electric Power Company is responsible for Fukushima, and is also in charge of this plant. That fact alone has residents near the facility opposed to the plan.

Al Jazeera’s Patrick Fok reports from Kashiwazaki in western Japan.

Two things. First, the tsunami killed the overwhelming majority of victims, not the meltdown. Second, the Fukushima plant performed as designed; it was the failure of the backup generators, which the tsunami drowned, that led to the meltdowns. The higher seawalls help protect against both of those reoccurring, so I'm relieved to see them.

That's a wrap for today's anniversary. Stay tuned to see if I cover COVID-19 tomorrow.

Marsh Family sings 'Grief and Destruction'

Today's "something brief I can share in April, no fooling" is "Grief and Destruction" - Marsh Family parody of Barry McGuire's "Eve of Destruction" on war in Iran.

There are obviously lots of angles to this story, and it’s dangerous to wade into things without knowing how they will play out. So we waited to see if anything positive might emerge after the initial assassination of the despicable Khamenei (whose name was in an early draft of a chorus), and what the Trump administration/regime’s purported rationale was … and over subsequent days as we watched the grotesque media performances by Hegseth, the missiles killing children not just tyrants, and the escalation of damage and casualties without any sign of a coherent policy or endgame, we made the song about how it’s dangerous to wade into things without knowing how they’re going to play out.

If we’d known undead Tony Blair was going to remerge from the media crypt with some pearls of wisdom on Sunday, we would have probably made space to take the piss out of that ... but it would have been counterproductive to just parachute in (a bit like in 2003).

The original track “Eve of Destruction” was only reluctantly laid down at the end of a recording session by a gravelly-voiced Barry McGuire, and the demo leaked to a radio station where it was an instant hit in a country torn apart and increasingly divided over foreign wars and domestic protests in late 1965. Phil Sloan wrote the song months earlier, after the Gulf of Tonkin incident that was central to LBJ’s justification for US escalation in Vietnam. We had it on our radar for a future conflict, but want to give a shoutout to Kevin Ellis for urging us to use it to address this conflict.

If you want to hear a properly mixed folk-pop song of ours about the heroic protest movement in Iran, then you can find “Zan Zendegi Azadi” on our forthcoming album.

With luck, this might not be worth sharing in April, because by then the conflict might be over. High oil prices are bad for the economy and worse for Donald "Hoover Harding Cleveland" Trump and the Republicans running for Congress. He might just declare victory and quit bombing. All of us should be so lucky.

Tomorrow is the sixth anniversary of COVID-19 being declared a global pandemic and the fifteenth anniversary of the Fukushima triple disaster. Stay tuned to see which one I write about. In the meantime, Happy MAR1O Day!

'Abandoned - Westminster Mall California' by Bright Sun Films, a tale of the Retail Apocalypse

I'm taking a break from awards shows with Bright Sun Films presenting Abandoned - Westminster Mall California.

Like many suburban malls in America, Westminster Mall was the classic indoor shopping experience when it opened in 1974. It lasted through renovations, recessions and major store closures, all continuing to be a local community hub. However, it would ultimately close in 2025 and in just a matter of weeks, it's interiors were completely trashed. After making headlines for it's steep decline, it seems now that the mall will best be known for the destruction that followed its closure. So join me today as we find out what happened to the once local California icon that was, the Westminster Mall.

Jake Williams managed to find an example of the entire rise and fall of the American mall in this one site. That bodes well for his next feature-length project of the same name. May it fare better than Closed for Storm, which showed great promise, but didn't make as much of a splash as Class Action Park. That was fun, but not very thoughtful; Defunctland made a smarter video on a much smaller budget.

That's a wrap for today. Stay tuned for something brief I can share in April, no fooling.

Actresses, costume designers, art directors, and casting directors at the Oscars for International Women's Day

Happy International Women's Day! Yesterday, I asked "Actresses and other female-dominated categories at the Oscars, anyone?" I didn't see any comments to the contrary, so that's what I'm covering for the Sunday entertainment feature today as filtered through Gold Derby's odds. Jessie Buckley leads Best Actress in a Leading Role for her role as the original Anne Hathaway in Hamnet with every editor and expert plus 96.3% of users. Rose Byrne sits in second with the support of 2.5% of users. She's followed by Renate Reinsve at 0.6%, Emma Stone at 0.5%, and Kate Hudson at 0.1%. I voted for Stone at the Saturn Awards and hope she wins tonight; she's not winning here.


The contest for Best Actress in a Supporting role is more competitive, as Amy Madigan currently leads as the choice of 80.0% of editors, 58.3% of experts, and 49.0% of users, Teyana Taylor, winner of the Critics Choice and Golden Globe, close behind with the support of 10.0% of editors, 19.4% of experts, and 27.7% of users, BAFTA winner Wunmi Mosaku on her tail as the pick of 10.0% of editors, 22.2% of experts, and 21.7% of users, with Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas and Elle Fanning far behind at 1.3% and 0.3% of users, respectively.* That's quite a change from late January, when Taylor led the Gold Derby odds. While I voted for Ariana Grande at the Saturn Awards, I expect Madigan to win tonight and am rooting for her to win on the 15th.

Follow over the jump for the nominees in three craft categories dominated by women.

'Plur1bus' vs. 'Alien: Earth' and 'Star Wars: Skeleton Crew' for Best New Genre Series at the Saturn Awards

I told my readers, "I have one or two more posts planned for the Saturn Awards nominees before the awards on Sunday night, so stay tuned." Without any further ado, here are the nominees for Best New Genre Series.

Best New Genre Series:

Alien: Earth
Outlander: Blood of My Blood
Pluribus
Robin Hood
Spartacus: House of Ashur
Star Wars: Skeleton Crew

Pluribus leads this category with four nominations, followed by Alien: Earth and Star Wars: Skeleton Crew tied at three each, then Outlander: Blood of My Blood, Robin Hood, and Spartacus: House of Ashur with just this one. The professional choices are Pluribus and Alien: Earth, both of which earned Critics Choice Award nominations and the former also a Golden Globe nomination along with awards for Rhea Seehorn for her acting. I voted for Pluribus, but I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if Alien: Earth wins instead. I also wouldn't be surprised if Star Wars: Skeleton Crew or Outlander: Blood of My Blood upsets both of the professional picks. Both of the latter have dedicated fandoms and the former was a really fun adaptation of Treasure Island combined with Goonies/Stranger Things that worked in a Star Wars setting. As I last wrote in Animation and International Film nominees at the Saturn Awards, "the Saturn Awards are about entertainment not art, they don't care for subtle, and they love to stick it to the experts." Also, electorates matter.

Follow over the jump for the remaining television nominees plus all of my votes and some predictions.

'It: Welcome to Derry' leads Best Horror Television Series at the Saturn Awards

I closed 'Stranger Things' leads Best Fantasy Television Series at the Saturn Awards with "Stay tuned for horror tomorrow. Zombies and evil clowns!" Without any further ado, here are the nominees for Best Horror Television Series.

Best Horror Television Series:

Anne Rice’s Talamasca: The Secret Order
The Institute
It: Welcome to Derry
The Last of Us
The Walking Dead: Dead City
Yellowjackets

As Deadline Hollywood reported, It: Welcome to Derry leads this category with five nominations, followed by Anne Rice’s Talamasca: The Secret Order and The Institute with two then The Last of Us, The Walking Dead: Dead City, and Yellowjackets with just the series nomination. On that basis, I think It: Welcome to Derry is the favorite and I expect it will win. I didn't vote for it; I voted for The Last of Us because Stranger Things is competing in fantasy. Honestly, I think The Walking Dead: Dead City is the zombie show with a better chance of winning at these awards. Remember, electorates matter.

Best Television Presentation:

The Beast in Me
Black Mirror
Murderbot
Nautilus
The Pitt
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon

One other show about the zombie apocalypse leads its category, The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon with three nominations. The rest have just this one nomination, so I think The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon is the favorite. If it wins, it will be without my help; I voted for Emmy, Critics Choice Award, and Golden Globe winner The Pitt. I think it's a ringer in this category, but I don't care.

I have one or two more posts planned for the Saturn Awards nominees before the awards on Sunday night, so stay tuned.

Previous posts about the 53rd Saturn Awards

• 'Avatar: Fire and Ash' leads Best Science Fiction Film nominees at the Saturn Awards
• 'Sinners' leads Best Thriller Film nominees at the Saturn Awards
• 'Fantastic Four: First Steps' vs. 'Superman' for Best Cinematic Adaptation Film at the Saturn Awards
• 'Wicked: For Good' leads Best Fantasy Film at the Saturn Awards
• 'Frankenstein' leads Best Horror Film at the Saturn Awards for Friday the 13th
• 'Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning' leads Best Action/Adventure Film at the Saturn Awards
• 'Dust Bunny' leads Best Independent Film at the Saturn Awards
• Animation and International Film nominees at the Saturn Awards
• 'Dexter: Resurrection' leads television nominees at the Saturn Awards
• 'Andor' vs. 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' and 'Severance' for Best Science Fiction Television Series at the Saturn Awards
• 'Stranger Things' leads Best Fantasy Television Series at the Saturn Awards

'Stranger Things' leads Best Fantasy Television Series at the Saturn Awards

I'm returning to Saturn Awards coverage with the nominees for Best Fantasy Television Series.

Best Fantasy Television Series:

Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches
Ghosts
The Librarians: The Next Chapter
Outlander
Stranger Things
Wednesday

As Deadline Hollywood reported, Stranger Things leads this category with five nominations, followed by Outlander with three, Wednesday with two, and Anne Rice’s Mayfair Witches, Ghosts, and The Librarians: The Next Chapter with just this one. This sets up a fight between the organized fandoms of Stranger Things and Outlander. Popculturememes uploaded 'Stranger Things 5' Dominates 2026 Saturn Award Nominations With 5 Major Nods!

The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Films has officially announced the nominees for the 53rd Annual Saturn Awards, and Stranger Things 5 is leading the pack for television. The series secured a nomination for Best Fantasy Television Series, cementing its status as the "king of nostalgia horror" even in its final season.

But the honors didn't stop at the series level. The cast also cleaned up with several individual nominations, proving that the performances in the series finale were some of the strongest in the show's decade-long history:

Best Actress in a Television Series: Millie Bobby Brown

Best Young Performer in a Television Series: Sadie Sink & Noah Schnapp

Best Guest Star in a Television Series: Linda Hamilton

The show is tied with other genre giants like Andor and IT: Welcome to Derry, each earning 5 nominations. The ceremony is set to take place on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at the Universal Hilton in Los Angeles, with Joel McHale returning to host for his fourth consecutive year.

The same search that retrieved this video returned six other shorts, mostly about Sadie Sink and Noah Schnapp's nominations. That's a sign of an enthusiastic fandom.

Meanwhile, Outlander fandom, which skews older, is running a Twitter/X campaign with images like this.


This isn't quite the official campaign Starz ran in 2021, but it is something.

Between the two, I voted for Stranger Things, although I would not be the least surprised if Outlander wins.

By the way, seeing Ghosts and Wednesday here makes me miss the Best Genre Comedy category that debuted at last year's awards. If it had returned, I'd have voted for Wednesday.

Follow over the jump for the two acting categories I haven't covered yet.

Metallica marching band winners for Marching Music Day

Happy Marching Music Day! This year, I'm celebrating For Whom the Band Tolls: The Winners!

Last year, we challenged marching bands at all collegiate levels to come up with the most exciting, unique, and impressive performances of our songs. The submissions are in, we’ve watched the videos, and we’re thrilled to announce that the University of South Carolina has taken the top prize in the 2025 Collegiate Edition of the annual competition. Congratulations Gamecocks! A huge thank you to all the incredible bands who participated this year.

The winners across seven categories listed below will receive more than $165,000 in total prizes. In an exciting twist on our second For Whom The Band Tolls competition, this year’s first-place Division 1 winner will have the opportunity to record a Metallica song and the EA SPORTS™ College Football Theme Song, both to be included in the EA SPORTS™ College Football video game!

The victors in each category will receive instruments and equipment for their programs provided by us with the support of our generous sponsors, including Sweetwater, TAMA, Hal Leonard, KHS America, and more.

And the winners of the Metallica Marching Band Competition Collegiate Edition are…

Follow over the jump for the complete shows of the winners.