Last night, the Academy proved once and for all it has absolutely no heart. After nominating 10-year-old Abigail Breslin and septegenarian Peter O'Toole, it denied both actors the pleasure of that dastardly little gold man.

Breslin was up for Best Supporting Actress for her role as the hopeful, naive, would-be beauty queen Olive Hoover in Little Miss Sunshine. O'Toole was up for Best Actor for his role (rumored to be based largely on himself) as an older man chasing a very young girl in Venus. It was Breslin's first nomination, and O'Toole's eighth.

Although the oscar® in both cases went to the favorites, you'd think the Academy could have some, perhaps, oh I don't know--soul. Yes, there were obviously several very strong performances in each category. And no, you don't want to ignore their work. But why bother nominating an elementary school-aged child and a frail old man if you're not going to give them the damn thing?

Hopefully the loss won't sour little Breslin on the business in the future. But as for O'Toole--he is obviously at the end of his career, AND has been nominated (and lost) 7 times before. It is a wonder he didn't perish right there during the ceremony.