March 7th, 2010: Oscar Night!

Since the Vancouver Winter Olympics run from February 12th – 28th next year, the Oscar schedule is shifting forward two weeks for 2010 giving us all 14 more days to savor the anxiety anticipation. Although it’s only being touted as a one-year arrangement, the more spacious range of dates will provide an interesting opportunity to try on some sanity for size. Let’s hope it feels like a good fit. The key dates:

• Tuesday, December 1, 2009: Official Screen Credits forms due
• Monday, December 28, 2009: Nominations ballots mailed
• Saturday, January 23, 2010: Nominations polls close 5 p.m. PT
• Tuesday, February 2, 2010: Nominations announced 5:30 a.m. PT, Samuel Goldwyn Theater
• Wednesday, February 10, 2010: Final ballots mailed
• Monday, February 15, 2010: Nominees Luncheon
• Saturday, February 20, 2010: Scientific and Technical Achievement Awards presentation
• Tuesday, March 2, 2010: Final polls close 5 p.m. PT
• Sunday, March 7, 2010: 82nd Annual Academy Awards presentation

No word yet on the date when it’s officially ok to start talking about “locks” without sounding unhinged.