This whole Hollywood Star, Walk of Fame phenomenon amuses me. Almost every time I hear about a name being added, I'm surprised that they haven't been added yet, or that some other people have gotten a star first. Granted this is partially because people are often added during their pique celebrity times, rather than for their overall accomplishments. I mean, here is news from Variety that Bernardo Bertolucci is getting a star, although someone like Kirstie Alley already has one for her involvement in motion pictures. It is certainly not a flawless system.

Nevertheless, the Italian director is finally getting his star for LA residents and tourist to trample on, joining the likes of other big Italian names like Sophia Loren and Rudolf Valentino. The star will be unveiled in front of Mann's Chinese Theater on February 19th, concurrently with the LA Italia pre-Oscars Italian cinema showcase (running February 17-23). Along with the star, a tribute is planned that will screen his rare 1968 documentary La via del petrolio as well as a restored print of his 1970 film, The Spider's Stratagem. I wonder what finally got him on the list. Was it his latest film, the sexy Eva Green-starring The Dreamers? Or, was it the realization that the man behind the 9-Oscar-winning The Last Emperor didn't have a star yet? Whatever the reason, congratulations, Bertolucci!

What perfect timing, after 68 years, for the Munchkins of Oz to get their very own star on Hollywood Boulevard. This is the time of year when most of us would watch The Wizard of Oz on television. Of course, this year it doesn't seem to be airing on Thanksgiving. Why this is, I don't know, but in honor of the diminutive actors who appear in the film as Munchkins, I think we should make an effort to watch it anyway (maybe you own it, or can rent it from somewhere?). The Munchkin's star was unveiled in a ceremony Tuesday, attended by seven of the nine surviving actors (there were 124 Munchkins total). They included lollipop guild member Jerry Maren, town crier Mickey Carroll, sleepyhead Margaret Pellegrini, main trumpeter Karl Slover, soldier Clarence Swensen and coroner Meinhardt Raabe, who certifies that the Wicked Witch of the East is dead. Apparently the Munchkins received their star thanks to Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Mickey Rooney and Chicago movie theater owner Ted Bulthaup, who began its campaign.

This certainly isn't the first time a group of people received a star, nor is it the first time characters have gotten one. Honestly, though, I could have sworn the Munchkins already had one. In fact, that's the same response Bulthaup had when he found out. It actually makes me wonder how many significant people and characters aren't among the thousands who have their own star. Guess what? Bert Lahr (aka The Cowardly Lion) doesn't have one. Nor does Toto, at least according to Wikipedia's list. Who else, non Oz-related, could be absent from the Walk of Fame?