Oscar® Night

This year's Oscar® telecast gets a bit of a shakeup, with the hiring of Chris Rock as the host of the program. The edgy and sometimes controversial comedian promises some surprises - and is bringing along the writing staff from his HBO specials to help deliver.

This is the first time since 1996 that anyone other than Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Crystal or Steve Martin has emceed the most-watched show in the world. (1996 was the year David Letterman was brought in to shake things up, but his stint took his sad turn - "Uma, meet Oprah…" - never to be repeated.)

Rock, 39, has previously hosted the MTV's Movie Awards and has appeared in the movies "Beverly Hills Cop II," "Head of State" and "Nurse Betty."

The one-time "Saturday Night Live" regular has won three Emmys for his TV programs and two Grammys for his comedy albums.

Rock will be seen next in the remake of "The Longest Yard" with Adam Sandler. And you'll hear him as the voice of the zebra in the animated feature "Madagascar," both to be released in 2005.

As the only accredited Canadian broadcaster with access to the stars CTV will give Canadians a customized front row seat for The 77th Annual Academy Awards®.

In fact, CTV is heading to Hollywood to provide more comprehensive coverage than ever before.

In all, CTV will broadcast six hours of coverage on Sunday, February 27, beginning at 5 p.m. ET (check local listings). The line-up includes:

CTV at the Oscars® (5 p.m. ET),
Local News (6 p.m. ET),
Rejoin CTV at the Oscars® (6:30 p.m. ET),
The Barbara Walters Special (7 p.m. ET),
Oscar® Countdown 2005 (8 p.m. ET) and
The 77th Annual Academy Awards® (8:30 p.m. ET), hosted by Chris Rock.

CTV warms up for the "Night of Nights" with CTV at the Oscars® a live, pre-Oscar® primer hosted by etalk Daily's Ben Mulroney and Tanya Kim from the Red Carpet outside Hollywood's Kodak Theatre, with David Giammarco and Canada AM's Beverly Thomson reporting from the Orange Court Balcony, overlooking the theatre's main entrance. Viewers can catch the ensuing action unfolding live, just hours before the big event.

In addition to CTV at the Oscars®, Mulroney and Kim will deliver live interviews, and star-studded reports to CTV local newscasts across the country throughout the day.

Then, it's the annual pre-Oscars® favourite, The Barbara Walters Special. Nominated for an Academy Award® for Best Actor in Ray and Best Supporting Actor in Collateral, Jamie Foxx sits down with Barbara Walters for her annual special. Other interviews include funnyman Will Ferrell and Desperate Housewives Teri Hatcher.

Following Walters' Special, the official Red Carpet pre-show Oscar® Countdown 2005 begins, hosted by Billy Bush, Jann Carl, Chris Connelly and Shaun Robinson, and 30 minutes later, it's Canada's favourite awards show, The 77th Annual Academy Awards®.

CTV's full Oscar® coverage includes:

etalk DAILY

From Thursday, February 24 through Monday, February 28 at 7 p.m. ET, Canada's number one entertainment magazine, etalk Daily dedicates its show to everything Oscar®.

On Thursday and Friday, reporting pool-side at the star-packed Four Seasons Hotel, hosts Ben Mulroney and Tanya Kim will take viewers through this year's hottest races, and their Oscar® picks for Best Supporting Actor & Actress, Best Actor & Actress and of course, the most-coveted Best Picture Award.

On Monday, it's the Oscar® wrap-up, including Mulroney's memorable interviews from the Red Carpet, the best and worst fashions, a recap of the winners and losers and a backstage tour. Tanya Kim and Susie Wall, on party patrol, will divulge the juicy, behind-the-scenes details of the Vanity Fair and Elton John Oscar® parties.

Canada AM

On Friday, February 25 Beverly Thomson will co-host Canada AM live from the Red Carpet at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. Thomson will bring viewers the Canadian connection to the Oscars® as she speaks with the talented Canuck nominees, including Paul Haggis, producer of Million Dollar Baby.

She'll chat with Elton John's party planner and get the inside scoop on his weekend Oscar® party. Ben Mulroney will divulge his picks for Sunday's best bets, and give viewers a sneak peek behind the scenes - from suped-up security, to the gowns, the diamonds and more. Oscar® Insider, Steve Pond, will reveal the Academy's new rules and the ceremony's new look.

On Monday, February 28, Canada AM will feature special reports from Beverly Thomson and etalk Daily's Ben Mulroney, Tanya Kim, and Susie Wall on the night's memorable moments, the winners and losers, the best and worst fashions, and party highlights.

Gabereau

On Thursday, February 24, Vicki Gabereau commemorates the Academy Awards® with her annual Oscar® special (check local listings).

Oscar® -Related Programming

DISCOVERY CHANNEL

Daily Planet
February 21 to Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. /8 p.m. PT

Join hosts Natasha Stillwell and Jay Ingram as Daily Planet explores the science of the silver screen. In the week leading up and days after the big night, special segments reveal the movie magic alchemy of technological marvels and human artistry that produced some of the year's most memorable films, plus the science and logistics that go into orchestrating a huge award show event

Becoming Alexander
Friday, Feb. 25 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT

How does an Oscar®-winning director elicit stellar performances from this cast? With unprecedented access on the set of a major Hollywood film, Becoming Alexander goes behind the scenes as Oliver Stone -- Academy Award®-winning director for Platoon, Born on the Fourth of July and Midnight Express -- calls for a complete physical, cultural and historical immersion for his cast and crew on his latest feature film, Alexander. Shot in an observational style before, during and after the film's production, this one-hour documentary follows actor Colin Farrell and Stone as Farrell prepared to bring Alexander the Great to life on the big screen.

DISCOVERY CIVILIZATION

The Entertainers: The Coen Brothers
Saturday, February 26 at 9 p.m. ET/12 midnight PT

Discovery Civilization profiles some of the greatest entertainers of the past and present in this weekly series. In the spotlight on "Oscar® Eve", Academy Award®-winning brothers Joel and Ethan Coen successfully took on the Hollywood Establishment with little money -- but great indie success. How do these brothers, whose films include Fargo; Oh Brother, Where Art Thou and Raising Arizona, work together and keep it all in the family?