It’s been a good weekend for Tina Fey. On the heels of her “Saturday Night Live” hosting duties, her feature film “Date Night” with Steve Carrell (Blast review) debuted on top of the box office charts.

Here’s the weekend rundown:

1. Date Night, 20th Century Fox, $27,100,000
2. Clash Of The Titans, Warner Bros. $26,875,000
3. How To Train Your Dragon, Paramount, $25,350,000
4. Tyler Perry’s Why Did I Get Married Too, Lionsgate, $11,000,000
5. The Last Song, Disney, $10,018,000
6. Alice In Wonderland, Disney, $5,615,000 ($319,322,788 total)
7. Hot Tub Time Machine, MGM, $5,430,000
8. The Bounty Hunter, Sony, $4,300,000
9. Diary Of A Wimpy Kid , 20th Century Fox, $4,100,000
10. Letters To God, Vivendi, $1,250,000
11. Shutter Island, Paramount, $885,000 ($125,001,193 total)
12. Avatar, 20th Century Fox, $870,000 ($743,714,322 total)

Source: Rentrak

I feel like Justin Bieber scored some points yesterday. I wasn’t exactly sure if he was being put on Saturday Night Life to help himself or to help the show expand its audience to include every girl under age 20 in America.

The 16-year-old singer took the stage and took over some skits. He sand "Baby" and "U Smile.” He sounded good except for the rap part that’s usually done by Ludacris in the radio/studio versions of “Baby.” The choreography was a little overdone, but, hey, he’s a one-boy boy-band.

Tina Fey was her usual self, looking very at home on Saturday Night Live and delivering her comedic timing and some Weekend Update and even a Sarah Palin skit just for good measure.

So what do you say, Justin Bieber fans? Was his SNL performance dreamy? Does it makes you love him more and more? Leave some comments.

It is surprising that "Date Night" is the first time that Steve Carell and Tina Fey have teamed up. They just seem like one of those natural pairings that should have done five movies together by now. Despite the long wait, a solid script and great performances from Carell and Fey and a very game supporting cast make "Date Night" an auspicious beginning to what I hope is a long partnership.

Carell and Fey play Phil and Claire Foster, a married couple that has fallen into a bit of a rut. Their two young children take up most of their time and energy. They have their routine. There’s book club and date night, always at the same restaurant — the waiter even knows them by name. Phil and Claire are shaken when they learn their best friends are separating. Both wonder if they have let things get too stale.

Trying to shake things up, the two decide to switch it up and head into Manhattan for dinner at a swanky new seafood restaurant. When they are unable to get a table ("people make reservations months in advance" according to the snooty host), Phil impetuously makes the decision to steal another couple’s reservation. Phil’s seemingly innocent bit of reservation theft leads to a night full of mistaken identity and bizarre encounters. The Fosters are forced to tangle with dirty cops, mob bosses, burnouts (Mila Kunis, James Franco) and an always-shirtless security expert (Mark Wahlberg).

What makes the craziness work so well is that Phil and Claire are a grounded and realistic couple. Yes they have their problems, but they are realistic, not just manufactured plot points. Carell and Fey have a nice chemistry, and are just plain likable. That may sound simple, but they are simply delightful together. The movie has us rooting for Phil and Claire before they are even in danger.

The all-star supporting cast is used exceptionally well and are given actual characters to play. Wahlberg has a blast poking fun at himself as a former client of Claire’s who seems uninterested in wearing a shirt, much to Phil’s chagrin. And Kunis and Franco are hilarious as the couple whose reservation Phil and Claire stole. Their scene is the funniest in the movie.

Director Shawn Levy capably balances the comedy and action with the character work. And stages one of the more inventive and impressive car chases in recent years involving two cars stuck together. Perhaps most importantly, Levy seems very comfortable directing large, diverse casts and gives everyone their moment to shine while keep things moving at a brisk pace.

While "Date Night" is nothing particularly original, it shows how fresh old standards can be when done well.

For some reason, I get into the Emmys. I think it’s because I equate watching my favorite TV shows to watching my favorite sport teams. Let me explain.

For an entire TV season, you get into your TV show, get to know every character, watch every episode all while immersing yourself into the plot. Just like how every (football, baseball, basketball, pick one) pro sport season, you become immersed with your team and its players.

Then if someone dares to challenge the entertainment value of your show, or even has the nerve to say another show is better, you turn into a raving lunatic in its defense. With sports, it’s the same thing. I’m not sure who I’ve defended more this past decade: Tom Brady or Dr. Frasier Crane.

The Emmys are the Superbowl of your TV season (if your show is lucky to make it). A year’s worth of hard work comes down to a three hour show surrounded by much fanfare. In a way, it’s actually kind of exciting. Then once your show loses/wins, you complain/celebrate, and just like with sports, you move on.

So without further ado — here are Blast’s 2009 major category Emmy Predictions:

Outstanding Drama Series

Should Win: Mad Men or Breaking Bad, either would suffice

Could Win: Breaking Bad

Will Win: Mad Men

How in the hell does Big Love get nominated? If I wanted to watch a bunch of Mormons marry each other and flirt with incest, I would’ve moved to Utah ages ago. The only show I see with a slight chance of upsetting Mad Men is Breaking Bad. Also, I know you people love Lost (it’s very popular from what I’ve heard), but I don’t see that happening.

Outstanding Comedy Series

Should Win: The Office

Could Win: Nothing “" it’ll be 30 Rock

Will Win: 30 Rock

Family Guy’s inclusion was relatively puzzling. If you’re going to give an animated sitcom an honorary nomination (which is what it is), why not pick The Simpsons or South Park? Or did Stewie get to them too? Anyway, the only thing surer than a 30 Rock victory is it getting beat in the ratings by Dancing with America’s Next Top Chef, or whatever Fox is putting on these days Thursday nights at 9:30.

Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series

Should Win: Hugh Laurie, House M.D.

Could Win: Bryan Cranston, Breaking Bad

Will Win: Hugh Laurie, House M.D.

Hugh is getting a lot of buzz and rightfully so. Four straight years of nominations and nothing? PEOPLE. HE’S FROM ENGLAND AND GREGORY HOUSE IS FROM AMERICA. Alright, sorry but I think that’s kind of impressive. But then again the dad from Malcolm in the Middle playing a meth dealing, crime addict is pretty impressive too. I think Hugh gets his due, but with this category there’s always a surprise. I mean Simon Baker could win this thing on his smile alone.

Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series

Should Win: Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

Could Win: Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock

Will Win: Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory

I have to admit, I’m extremely bias when it comes to this category. The Big Bang Theory is my favorite thing on TV right now (other than repeats of The Three Stooges). That being said, bias aside I still think he’s the best in this category. If you haven’t seen the show, I recommend it for Parsons alone. However, do not be shocked to see the Emmy voters go for the familiar in Baldwin. Steve Carrell has an outside shot. The other three guys have as much of a shot as the original three stooges themselves.

Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series

Should Win: Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men

Could Win: Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer

Will Win: Glenn Close, Damages

Again I’ll admit, my should win is purely out of bias (but then again isn’t that what we always do with predictions?). I love Elisabeth Moss’ role of Peggy Olsen, it’s a complex, subtle character with underlying emotions. Glenn Close is a heavy favorite to repeat here. She would be a deserving winner, even though I’d like to see some fresh blood in there. Even though the Closer yearn for the days of My Own Worst Enemy, Kyra Sedgwick has an outside possibility.

Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series

Should Win: Tina Fey, 30 Rock

Could Win: Toni Collette, United States of Tara

Will Win: Tina Fey, 30 Rock

I’m sensing a strong likelihood of another Tina Fey triple (Comedy Series, Comedy Actress and Comedy Writing). While I do think Ms. Fey is really funny, I hope she doesn’t turn into a Jeremy Piven or something and win every year. Toni Collette and Christina Applegate are really good in much more challenging roles. I mean, Tina Fey is essentially playing an exaggerated version of herself. That being said, I think she deserves the nod.

The remains

For the smaller categories, I’m predicting Neil Patrick Harris, Kristin Wiig, Michael Emerson, Chandra Wilson, The Amazing Race and who the hell cares about Reality Host? Oh and I predict Harris will be 800 times funnier and more clever than last year’s host quintet of Reality Show Hosts.

Enjoy the Emmys! Leave your own predictions in the comments section below!

Tina Fey won an Emmy Award on Saturday as the best guest actress in a comedy for her hilarious impersonations of Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live.”

Is Tina Fey an Emmy winner? You betcha. Fey received an Emmy Award on Saturday for her impersonation of Republican vice presidential contender Sarah Palin on “Saturday Night Live.”

Accepting the award, Fey thanked producer Lorne Michaels and her parents, “lifelong Republicans, for their patience.”

Fey’s award was the “Creative Arts” for technical and other achievements portion of the Primetime Emmys. Fey is also up for best actress in a comedy for “30 Rock” during next Sunday’s Emmy Awards Ceremony.

According to the Associated Press, Justin Timberlake won best guest actor in a comedy series, also for “SNL.” Michael J. Fox won the guest actor award in a drama for his appearance on “Rescue Me,” and Ellen Burstyn won the drama guest award for “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”

The two-hour “pre Emmy” ceremony was hosted by Kathy Griffin. The AP reported a shorter version of the ceremony airs Friday on E! at 1 p.m.

Anyone who knows anything about the work of Japanese anime master Hayao Miyazaki knows “My Neighbor Totoro,” his magical early piece about imagination, hope and resourcefulness in times of struggle. “Totoro” still remains my favorite of Miyazaki’s films. The animation may not be as sophisticated as “Howl’s Moving Castle” or “Spirited Away,” but it’s knowledge about the inner lives of children, and it’s simple elegant story arc make it a masterpiece of children’s film.

How lovely, then, to see “Ponyo,” Miyazaki’s latest film that works in the same vein as “Totoro.” Drawn with shades of Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Little Mermaid,” the title character is a goldfish/mermaid kept hostage in a bubble on the ocean floor by her misanthropic father (voiced by Liam Neesan), whose job is to keep the ocean’s life in balance. She makes her escape and rides a jellyfish to the ocean’s surface where she meets and falls in love with a small boy, Sosuke. Her escape, however, causes a massive shift in the moon’s pull on the ocean tides.

That’s a little bit of the plot at least. But there’s so much more to this gentle, elegantly-drawn little fable. Miyazaki used several different forms of drawn animation, from commercial anime style (cue giant sparkling eyes during heartfelt moments) to more classic storybook drawings. He treats the scenes on land with as much care and gravitas as his dramatic ocean scenes; never have I wanted ramen more than when Sosuke’s mother (voiced by the always terrific Tina Fey) made it for the two young heroes on a cold rainy night. And there are very few animated scenes in recent history that can match the sheer force of the scene in which Ponyo dances across tidal waves made of giant fish, her stubby feet and arms akimbo, and a look of fierce and simple joy on her face.

Miyazaki also wisely downplays the environmental “message” of the film. Neesan’s character occasionally rants about the mess humans make in the oceans, but the implication is that the world is far stronger than us and still, in the end, has the upper hand. Far more important is the relationship between the two young characters, a friendship based on mutual loneliness and simple love of the world around them. Miyazaki understands children more than any other director I’m aware of. The intelligence of his imagination is truly something to behold.

SAN DIEGO — For the past 40 years, Comic-Con International has showcased celebrities and television veterans from Angelina Jolie to Joss Whedon. So it is a surprise to many that filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki of the beloved animations “Princess Mononoke” and “My Neighbor Totoro” has never made an appearance at Comic-Con. In fact, the elusive filmmaker didn’t even attend the Academy Awards ceremony when he won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature for “Spirited Away” (“Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi”) in 2003.

Miyazaki's attendance at Comic-Con meant attendees finally got to ask questions and gain insight into what inspires this gifted animator (Blast staff photo/Conception Allen)

When the news was made official that Miyazaki planned an appearance to promote the American release of the film “Ponyo” (“Gake no ue no Ponyo”) fans of his films rejoiced all over the world. This also meant attendees would finally get to ask questions and gain insight into what inspires this gifted animator, whose beautiful sketches and storyboards have attracted the attention of Disney’s John Lasseter. Disney is producing and distributing the film worldwide.

Ponyo is a fantastic story full of magic and drama told through the view of Ponyo, a mermaid who leaves home and becomes marooned on shore without help until a young boy named Sosuke saves her. What gradually unravels is a love story full of lush imagery.

On Friday, audiences were greeted with an elaborate clip from the film which points to Miyazaki’s imaginative scope using color, movement and pace. In what is best described as a roaring undulant sea, shifting into shapes of large gigantic fish, a girl (named Ponyo) rides atop the crests effortlessly and freely. It is surreal, stark and beautiful. Alongside this image are a woman and child racing away from the threatening sea in a small vehicle. Audiences can feel the intensity as the waters tower and crash closely behind them.

It will be a memorable scene that American audiences will enjoy, especially when we hear it paired with the voice talents of Tina Fey, Liam Neeson, Frankie Jonas, Cate Blanchett and Betty White for the English version of the film.

Ponyo is a more traditional animated feature, not done in 3D or with computer graphics. When Lasseter was asked about the future of 2D and its relationship with rise of 3D animation, he said: “I’m always inspired by new technology. (We’re) the studio that completed the first animated film, and what I think is important is to let the filmmakers really understand the technology of what you can and can’t do with it.”

During the exclusive press round-table meeting, Blast asked Miyazaki about the nature elements in “Ponyo” and what else we’ll see in the film.

“The way nature and environment has been reflected in ‘Ponyo’ is that I thought Ponyo’s natural strength was connected to the sea and the ocean — the strength that the sea and ocean have,” Miyazaki said. “In many ways, if you look down deep, the strength of people is connected to nature and the depth of nature. And so, that is why when Ponyo comes to the land. She uses the strength of the sea to come. It’s not really a film that has environmental issues or ecological issues in it as much as the strength and the power of nature that I have conveyed.”

Miyazaki isn’t trying to make a statement about Global Warming or about the environment or politics. His film simply reminds us about the beauty of nature and the power of man’s own inner spirit — and that the two can be beautifully combined.

This combination of art, science, film and animation makes it fitting that Miyazaki has been given Comic-Con’s Ink Pot Award, one of the highest honors a guest can receive at this event.

Funnyman Will Ferrell returned to Saturday Night Live during the intro of one of SNL’s special Thursday updates.

We stood beside Tina Fey’s Gov. Sarah Palin, making it the only time the two most highly-rated SNL parodies of all time appeared together. SNL regular Darrell Hammond’s reluctant John McCain later appeared in skit, where Farrell’s GW endorses McCain/Palin.

SNL has generated some of its highest ratings of all time during the 2008 presidential election.

There was also a hilarious Fred Armisen impersonation of CNN’s John King and his super-touchscreen-computerized-election-map

One word: accurate.

Two words: comedic timing.

Tina Fey did another spot-on impression of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live. We watched it, live, and loved it, live.

SNL also parodied Friday night’s presidential debate, but it didn’t get very good reviews.

But for putting this together (they even got the flag lapel pins or lack their of correct) in less than a day, I give props.