Hard to believe the Academy Awards telecast is upon us so soon. The show's producers are boasting that there will be scores of young stars, especially young men. Wouldn't count on too many surprises and think we could have a pretty traditional Oscar evening. Over the last several weeks, I have shared my preferences and asked my readers to vote on their choices. So here goes with my predictions, my readers choices and who will win.

BEST PICTURE: My choice would be "The Hurt Locker." Those voting on the davidmixner.com poll made it a virtual tie between "Avatar" and "The Hurt Locker". In the end, I think "Hurt Locker" will barely edge the new fantasy world of Pandora. .

BEST DIRECTOR: There is no question in my mind or the voters in the poll that Kathryn Bigelow will win this big time. She will be the first female director ever to win the 'golden boy' and she deserves it.

BEST ACTOR: This could be the upset of the evening with favorite Jeff Bridges losing to Colin Firth. The voters in the poll overwhelmingly chose Firth with Morgan Freeman and George Clooney tying for second. My personal choice (and maybe my heart) belongs to young Jeremy Renner. I going to say this is Colin Firth's night.

BEST ACTRESS: Again the early frontrunner Sandra Bullock might be blind sided by Meryl Streep. Bullock, who is my favorite, placed a distant second to Meryl Streep in the davidmixner.com poll. Going to predict that Streep will walk away with her second Oscar after 15 nominations!

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Everyone is in agreement with a clean sweep for Mo'Nique!

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: The mean Nazi (is there any other kind?) from "Inglorious Basterds", Christoph Waltz, wins hands down.

BEST ORGINAL SCREENPLAY: Should and will win is Mark Boal of "The Hurt Locker".

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY: Could be a close contest between Geoffrey Fletcher of "Precious" and Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner for "Up in the Air". The tragic "Precious" should win but bet 'Hollywood royalty prevails and Reitman and Turner take home the boy.