COMING ATTRACTIONS

The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences will be serving croissants, Danish, orange juice and coffee when the media gather Wednesday at 5:30 a.m. to hear the Oscar nominees announced. But the new time--it used to be 9 a.m.--apparently convinced a handful of lazy reporters to sleep in this year. A spokesman said there have been “a couple of grumbles” and only about 270 reporters have confirmed for the event--down from last year’s 300. Live TV coverage will be greatly increased in the United States and worldwide. Anjelica Huston, Don Ameche and Academy President Robert Wise will start announcing nominees in eight principal categories no later than 5:37 a.m. (nominees in other categories will be listed in handout material), seen or heard live on the BBC, over the Voice of America, the network morning shows, foreign and local radio networks.