newsmakers

newsmakers

Aniston responds to Oscar snub

LOS ANGELES

Yes, Jennifer Aniston would like to thank the academy. But it won’t be this year.

At long last, many critics saw Aniston fulfill potential first revealed in 2002’s art-house hit “The Good Girl” in an even darker, more daring role in the drama “Cake,” in which she plays a drug-addicted woman in chronic physical and emotional pain.

That performance earned the “Friends” star Golden Globe and Critics’ Choice nominations, and this weekend, Aniston’s performance also is up for a Screen Actors Guild award.

But the motion picture academy passed her by when it announced its nominations last week.

On the day after failing to receive the Oscar nomination, the 45-year-old Aniston was promoting “Cake,” which opened Friday, while sitting just inches away from a poster touting her “Oscar-worthy performance.”

“Well, there’s ‘Oscar-worthy,”’ the actress said, with a grin. “The truth is, this movie hasn’t even come out yet,” she continued. “I feel so lucky that any of that has even happened on a movie that we started shooting not even a year ago. We started April 3rd of last year. I couldn’t ask for more than that. “

Diamond pleads not guilty in bar fight

PORT WASHINGTON, Wis.

The actor who played Screech in the 1990s TV show “Saved by the Bell” has pleaded not guilty to charges resulting from a bar fight in southeastern Wisconsin.

Dustin Diamond and his fiancee, Amanda Schutz, appeared in Ozaukee County Circuit Court on Thursday on charges stemming from the Christmas Day scuffle at a Port Washington bar.

Diamond is accused of stabbing a man after Schutz became involved in an altercation. The stabbed man told police he had shoved Diamond forcefully and didn’t realize he had been cut until later.

The 38-year-old Diamond pleaded not guilty to second-degree reckless endangering safety, a felony, and two misdemeanors. Schutz entered the same plea to misdemeanor disorderly conduct.

Diamond has been free on bond. The judge set a $500 signature bond for Schutz.

Associated Press