Awards / Awards Shows

As TMZ first reported, the Michael Russell Group sued the folks that put on the Golden Globe Awards for breach of contract after the PR firm's contract was not renewed -- claiming the HFPA promised they would.

Reps for the HFPA tell TMZ the reason they didn't renew their deal with MRG was that some "troubling allegations of impropriety" came to their attention. According to a lawsuit filed in federal court in 2009, the PR firm was sued for fraud, among other things, over a supposed charity gig where they allegedly misrepresented the involvement of several key sponsors and partnerships.

Cinepoint Productions claims it did publicity work for the Association for 17 years, taking the Golden Globes from irrelevance to prominence.

In fact, Cinepoint claims they did such a good job, the Globes were able to lock in a $26 million annual deal with NBC beginning in 2012 ... up from their previous deal, worth just $12 mil-a-year.

Cinepoint claims in the suit -- filed today in L.A. County Superior Court -- it was promised when its contract with the Association expired in 2009 it would be renewed, and Cinepoint did a lot of hard work relying on the promise ... a promise it says was not honored.

Of course, it's Hollywood, and Cinepoint was unceremoniously kicked to the curb -- the contract was not renewed.

Cinepoint is suing for the fees it would have earned, $2 million, plus punitive damages.

Two sources connected with the production of the AMAs tell TMZ that Miley changed her mind about singing the song within the last few days. A source connected with the production says the rundown for the show -- which includes the song list -- changed on Thursday and that's when Miley's version of "Every Rose" disappeared. A second source close to the show confirmed the last minute change.

A source close to Miley told TMZ Miley strongly considered doing the song, but decided on doing "Love and Forgiveness" two weeks ago -- that coincides with reports of the affair, which Bret strongly denies.

Either way, no roses nor thorns for Miley tonight.

The 35-year-old beauty really is a huge star.

The girl-on-girl action went down last night -- after Sandy got a huge standing ovation while receiving something called the Generation Award.

After the smooch, Bullock addressed the attention now placed on her personal life, saying "Can we please go back to normal because therapy is really expensive. Go back to making fun of me, I don't care, it's time to get back to normal."

Sources tell TMZ the plan for Sandra to appear was weeks in the making and kept under tight wraps. We're told Sandy didn't think twice once she heard it was an award selected by the troops.

As for the logistics, live tigers were part of the awards show (see above) and we're told the cages were purposely placed to keep Sandra's entrance as secret as possible right up until she walked on stage. Siegfried & Roy would be proud.

Sandy won the "Troops Choice" Award for Entertainer of The Year ... which was voted on by members of the military.

The guy who flashed the "Text Dolphin" sign at the Oscars nearly broke the organization he was trying to promote -- after a tidal wave of text messages almost took down the group's mobile server.

It all went down when one of the stars of "The Cove" tried to get some promotion for the TakePart dolphin-saving organization by flashing the sign during the Best Documentary acceptance speech -- it lasted two seconds before they cut away from the sign.

But TMZ has learned those two seconds of exposure triggered so many text messages -- the group's mobile service provider nearly went down.

The group claims they've doubled their membership in the two days following the awards.

The people behind the Academy Awards claim they left Farrah Fawcett out of the Oscars In Memoriam montage this year because she was better known as a TV star -- which begs the question, how the hell did Michael Jackson make the cut?!?!

Bruce Davis -- the executive director of the film academy -- told the Associated Press both Fawcett and Gene Berry were more famous for their "remarkable television work" and would therefore be more appropriately honored at the Emmys.

So by that logic, Michael Jackson would probably be more appropriately honored at the Grammys right? Oh wait, he was!! Kinda contradicts your point, huh Bruce?

For the record -- Davis had no excuse for blowing off Bea Arthur and Captain Lou Albano, who starred in the theatrical masterpiece "Body Slam" back in 1986.

This time crazy redhead producer Elinor Burkett wasn't to blame -- but Larry's own producers, who needed him to stop blabbing because of a time crunch.

The look on Roger's face when they tell him to wrap it up is just priceless.