How much longer can Ben Affleck ride this wave of pity? It’s three weeks to Oscar. Voting ends two weeks tomorrow. And the Directors Guild has just joined the Actors Guild and the Producers Guild and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and the Broadcast Film Critics Association in naming Ben Affleck and Argo the best of the year. Full Story

It’s a month to Oscar which means it’s time to yell at Vanity Fair for its annual Hollywood Issue. As always, the limited diversity that’s featured in this supposed celebration of the best of the industry is hidden behind the cover. Of course, yes, they suck for this, totally. But if the Hollywood Issue is a reflection of Hollywood, well, isn’t this actually a pretty accurate reflection of Hollywood? Hollywood is white and no women over 40 are allowed. Full Story

This year we get the Afflecks... You know how hard the Afflecks have been working. Last night, from the moment they arrived, it was work time, did you see? Ben Affleck hit the carpet before Jennifer Garner did -- she must have been held up getting out of the car. As soon as she joined him though he was right in her ear -- downloading information/gossip/strategising, whatever it was, she dutifully nodded, understanding the game plan, gave him a quick kiss, and they were off. Full Story

You know why. Because she cleaned up his mess. This is what she does. He forgets to thank George Clooney and Grant Heslov and he tells her to get up there and fix it for him. She’s been fixing it for him for almost 10 years now. Ben Affleck, the award winning director, was fixed by Jennifer Garner. Full Story

What? I’m just saying, they looked like they were having a lot of fun together on the red carpet. There are so many reasons to love Sofia Vergara a lot. This boring dress is not one of those reasons, but whatever. My point is she makes me smile. I look at her and I smile. I listen to her and I smile. Full Story

She had to bring him. She had to. She could not face the Afflecks alone. I don’t understand why. If I’m JLO, I’d face the Afflecks alone every.single.time. Especially in this dress. No, I don’t like this dress. In fact, I think it’s a gross dress -- much more typical of Zuhair Murad than Marion Cotillard’s last week Full Story

There didn’t seem to be any joy in Ben Affleck’s face when he arrived at the Critics’ Choice Awards last night. Every time the camera cut to him he had the sad eyes. And it seemed like the entire room felt sorry for him too. As you know, earlier in the day, Affleck was left off the list, along with Kathryn Bigelow, when the Academy announced the Oscar nominations. Full Story

Argo received 7 Oscar nominations today including Best Picture. So Ben Affleck, who is listed on the official producer list, along with George Clooney, has an invitation. But what he really wanted, though he probably won’t admit it, was the Best Director acknowledgement. And they said, nope, not yet. Full Story

So many bears on one carpet, what’s a bear to do? The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has announced the first group of presenters at Sunday’s Golden Globe Awards: George Cloney, Will Ferrell, Nathan Fillion (!), Debra Messing, Jeremy Renner, Amanda Seyfried, Jason Statham, Meryl Streep, Kerry Washington, and Kristen Wiig. Full Story

Earlier this week, it was confirmed that Ben Affleck dropped out of Focus, a comedy about an aging con artist and a young sexy apprentice, played by Kristen Stewart. Click here for a refresher. Full Story

Ben Affleck is in Washington today at a House Armed Services Committee hearing on the situation in Congo. He’s been advocating for awareness in the region for a while now. Did you ever see State Of Play? Did you find him convincing? I did. Very. And in real life Jennifer Garner would be so much more effective than Robin Wright because of the cookie-baker exterior. Full Story

This week it was the directors’ turn to roundtable with The Hollywood Reporter. Last week Maria wrote about the Actress Roundtable, pointing out that Anne Hathaway is like jazz hands through the entire video. Click here for a refresher. Have you watched the directors? Ben Affleck, to me, is like Anne Hathaway among the directors. Full Story

Pace yourself, Ben. It’s a long season. Here’s Ben Affleck at the GQ Men of the Year party last night. Part of the deal in getting the cover is to show up for the magazine’s event, although at the time of this writing (4am ET) I don’t see any photos of Channing Tatum, also Man of the Year. Full Story

Jeremy Renner presented the Career Achievement Award from the Casting Society America to Ben Affeck last night. Affleck’s last two films have featured excellent ensembles, including Renner in The Town. Renner’s appearance in support of his former director coincided with the online release of the red band trailer for his upcoming Hansel & Gretel. Full Story