You can check out this week’s AC Weekly, published tomorrow (Dec. 27) to see our “year in review” for the Atlantic City region. It’s interesting how Atlantic City still occasionally takes a hit for being Las Vegas’ weak little seaside sister. On a positive note, the numerous on-going casino/hotel room expansions, new casinos ready to break ground and discussion of the Bader field property generated plenty of positive press nationally in the business sector. Our outstanding dining and shopping options, as they continue to expand, have also been well documented in the New York Times and other major publications. The city has continued to prove that younger people are coming here for a night on the town or a weekend getaway, helping to dispel the notion that AC is a town that only caters to bus tripping seniors.

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The Golden Globes and Independent Spirit nominations are out, launching the Academy Award season in full tilt mode. I was delighted that Juno is earning so much critical acclaim and is being pegged as the Little Miss Sunshine of this award season. It deserves all that and more. Ellen Page, in the title role, has been nominated for best actress—musical or comedy by the Globes and the movie is also up for best musical or comedy vs. Sweeney Todd, Across the Universe, Hairspray and Charlie Wilson’s War. Ellen’s co-nominees are Amy Adams (Enchanted), Helena Bonham Carter (Sweeney Todd), Nikki Blonsky (Hairspray) and Marion Cotillard (La Vie En Rose). There are only five original screenplay nominees and Juno’s Diablo Cody snagged one of them.
For the Independent Spirit awards, Page is nominated along with Angelina Jolie (Mighty Heart), Sienna Miller, (Interview), Parker Posey (Broken English) and Tang Wei (Lust; Caution). Jason Reitman earned a best directing nod as well. The nominees for best film are Juno, I’m Not There, The Diving Bell & the Butterfly; Mighty Heart, and Paranoid Park.

Because that’s what it would cost you, if you went on to Stubhub.com right now and bought a pair of front row floor seats to the sold-out Miley Cyrus (TV’s Hannah Montanna) concert, scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 5, at Boardwalk Hall.
The highest price for tickets as of this afternoon are $9,575 EACH for a pair of front row tickets. The lowest listed price right now is $174 for a single ticket in upper section 219.

The N.J. Casino Control Commission voted four to one not to renew the Tropicana’s Casino License Wednesday afternoon. The four commissioners concluded that the Trop failed to meet the state’s license requirements.
Gary Stein, a former State Supreme Court Justice, was appointed as the Trustee who will oversee the operations of the Tropicana.
Tropicana President, Mark Giannantonio will work with the Trustee and later with a Conservator in supervising the operations of the Tropicana. According to TV 40, Tropicana’s Attorney said that they plan to appeal the decision.
Tonight, Giannantonio said, “After hearing today’s decision by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, I can assure the Commission and the public that I, along with my Tropicana team in Atlantic City, will work closely and diligently with the appointed Trustee.”
“I want the public to know that the Tropicana will remain fully open for business in Atlantic City. We have a very dedicated and hard-working staff here who will remain committed, as always, to provide our guests with a quality experience throughout their stay.”

Will Smith has a big ticket flick opening this week, I Am Legend, a last-man-on-earth sci-fi flick based on the novel by of the same name by Richard Matheson. While I’m looking forward to this film (Will Smith has been money when it comes to sci-fi flicks), I urge local Netflix or Blockbuster subscribers to check out the 1971 version of the same story, The Omega Man.
The reason I’m suggesting this is not just that it’s a good movie, but because it co-stars Rosalind Cash, a native of Atlantic City who had a fine acting career in the ’70s and ’80s before leaving us too soon due to cancer in 1995. When Cash had a love scene with Charlton Heston back in the day, it was still a big deal interracial romance, especially with such a major star as Heston. In this week’s Entertainment Weekly, the director of the new film, Francis Lawrence, talks about his remake and says that he had one tribute to the original flick involving Cash’s Afro. For a look at Rosalind Cash’s career check out her IMDB listing here and for a tribute to her career, go here.

The Mullen family in Linwood does a terrific holiday display. This year they have kicked it up a notch with a synchronized dancing light display set to music that you can tune into your radio at 104.1FM. The house is located on Wabash Ave., across from the Seaview Ave. School. Check it out!

There is some serious funny business going on at the Borgata. The casino is going for laughter this spring, adding Wanda Sykes (March 22), George Carlin (April 5), Joy Behar (April 12), Tracy Morgan (May 3) and Bob Saget (June 21) to their line-up. This comes on the heels of a comedy heavy line-up already in place, including Lisa Lampanelli for New Year’s Eve, an added third concert by Jim Norton (Jan. 18–20), and Dennis Miller Feb. 1. You can order tickets here.

The Keith Urban-Carrie Underwood tour has announced their initial dates. While we knew A.C. was a stop, we now know that the duo will be showcased at Boardwalk Hall, sponsored by Trump Entertainment, on February 15, 2008, 7:30pm. Tickets go on sale Saturday, Dec. 15 at 10am via Ticketmaster. Ticket prices are $45, $65, $95 and $125. It’s too bad the name is taken, or they could have called this the U2 Tour (Urban & Underwood).

Congrats to Levon Helm and his South Jersey posse for a well-deserved Grammy nomination for the recently released album, Dirt Farmer.
Announced earlier today in Los Angeles, Helm’s first album in decades was nominated for Best Traditional Folk Album. Here are the other nominated albums in that category.

Try Me One More Time
David Bromberg
[Appleseed Recordings]

Let Us Now Praise Sleepy John
Peter Case
[Yep Roc Records]

Banjo Talkin’
Cathy Fink
[Rounder]

Dirt Farmer
Levon Helm
[Dirt Farmer Music/Vanguard Records]

Charlie Louvin
Charlie Louvin
[Tompkins Square]

For a complete list of this year’s Grammy nominations, go to the Grammy Web site.

This is a slow time of the year for concert announcements, but Borgata did add Diana Ross to their line-up, coming January 13. Tickets go on sale this Saturday, Dec. 8 on the Borgata Web site.