The Oscars

James Franco's dealing with a friendlier wave in Hollywood these days -- not a backlash from Oscar voters ... just the kind under his surfboard.

The 'Disaster Artist' star caught some waves Monday with his girlfriend, Isabel Pakzad, in Venice. James was hanging ten on the same day this year's Oscar nominees posed for their group photo.

James showed zero signs of FOMO.

James, of course, won a Golden Globe and a Critics' Choice Award for Best Actor, but got the cold shoulder from the Motion Picture Academy amid multiple accusations of sexual misconduct.

Kobe Bryant got the All-Star treatment at the Oscars lunch on Monday -- getting the prime front row seat for the official group photo ... despite the fact he towers over EVERYONE there!

He's in front of huge stars like Margot Robbie, Saoirse Ronan, Mary J. Blige, Kumail Nanjiani, Guillermo del Toro, Laura Dern ... EVEN MERYL FRICKIN' STREEP!

Then again, she's been in like 50 Oscars lunch photos ... so, maybe they wanted to switch it up.

The Mamba's been nominated for Best Animated Short for "Dear Basketball" -- and he's clearly enjoying everything that goes along with being a nominee ... including free lunch!

Casey Affleck is backing out of presenting at the upcoming Academy Awards ... TMZ has learned.

The Academy tells us ... Affleck notified them he won't be presenting the Best Actress award at the Oscars on March 4, which is traditionally always presented by the Best Actor winner from the previous year.

According to our sources ... Casey has a lot of respect for the Oscars, and doesn't want the Best Actress category to be about him presenting. We're told he wants the attention to be focused on the nominees ... and doesn't want his presence to impact the winner's special moment.

As you'll recall ... Casey won at the 2017 Oscars for his role in "Manchester by the Sea," despite controversy surrounding past allegations of sexual harassment against him.

Byron Scott is ecstatic his old teammate Kobe Bryant was nominated for an Oscar -- and tells TMZ Sports he hopes people celebrate Mamba because people deserve 2nd chances in life.

Questions have been raised about how Kobe will be received at the Academy Awards on March 4 by a Hollywood crowd that's been cracking down on stars accused of sexual misconduct.

Obviously, Kobe has sexual misconduct allegations of his own in his past -- but Scott says he hopes people are able to forgive Kobe and let him move forward with his life.

Utah Senator Orrin Hatch is down with Ronald Reagan receiving a posthumous Oscar, but he concedes it would be an uphill battle.

We got the Republican Senator Tuesday on Capitol Hill and he thinks Reagan's CV is Oscar-worthy -- movie star, SAG President and Prez of the U.S.

There's a petition being circulated asking the Academy to honor Reagan -- as the only Academy member to become Prez.

The Senator -- who's retiring this year -- admits it's a tough road to hoe for any conservative to get love from members of the Academy.

BTW ... when Reagan first ran for Governor of California, his opponent campaigned against Reagan using his movie, "Bedtime for Bonzo" -- where Reagan chummed up to a chimp -- to argue he was unqualified.

James Franco's still getting by with a little help from his friends after Hollywood snubbed him for an Oscar nomination.

Franco did lunch with Jeff Garlin Tuesday at Joan's on Third. Based on their bro hug as they left, we'd say the "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and 'Goldbergs' star was supporting James ... hours after he, shockingly, did NOT get an Oscar nomination.

We're guessing the sexual assault allegations against Franco also came up over the meal, since it's pretty clear that's what swayed Motion Picture Academy voters.

A friend in need ...

James Franco getting shut out at the Oscars may have a simple explanation -- Academy voters are buying his accuser's story that he's been a sexual predator ... this according to Gloria Allred.

Gloria -- who btw never mentions James by name -- tells TMZ ...this is not a criminal case where people get a presumption of innocence. She says Academy voters can conclude whatever they want based on whatever evidence they believe.

Kobe Bryant was just nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film for his movie, "Dear Basketball" ... but it begs the question, Time's Up?

In a time where huge Hollywood stars are crushing people like Aziz Ansari, James Franco and others ... ya gotta remember, Kobe was formally charged with raping a woman back in 2003.

Remember, Bryant admitted having sex with a 19-year-old hotel staffer in Eagle, Colorado -- but insisted it was consensual.

By his account, things went south when Kobe asked the woman if he could ejaculate in her face during the sexual encounter. Kobe claims the woman denied his request and he stopped cold. The woman clearly saw things differently.

When approached by police, Kobe asked the cops if he could pay her off to make the situation go away.

Kobe was charged with sexual assault -- but the case was dropped when the accuser stopped cooperating with prosecutors. At the time, she claimed she was receiving hate mail and death threats.

She filed a civil suit against Kobe, which he later settled. There are reports he paid around $5 million, though Kobe claimed he never paid her a dime.

Kobe later released an apology saying, "I want to apologize directly to the young woman involved in this incident. I want to apologize to her for my behavior that night and for the consequences she has suffered in the past year."

Kobe added this part ... which sounds a lot like Aziz's explanation:

"Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did. After months of reviewing discovery, listening to her attorney, and even her testimony in person, I now understand how she feels that she did not consent to this encounter."

So, the big question ... how will Hollywood react if Kobe wins?

James Franco was not nominated for an Oscar, and there isn't a shadow of a doubt the reason is that 5 women have accused him of sexual misconduct.

It's a stunning statement ... Franco won the Golden Globe and the Critics' Choice Awards for Best Actor. The voting was partially completed before the allegations surfaced but obviously there were enough outstanding votes afterward to make a difference.

Here's what's interesting ... Kobe Bryant was nominated for Best Animated Short for "Dear Basketball." As you know, in 2003, Kobe was charged with raping a woman in Eagle, Colorado ... something he denied, claiming it was consensual. The case was dropped after the alleged victim refused to cooperate. Kobe settled a civil suit with the woman for a reported $5 million.

James Franco tried riding out the storm on a surfboard Monday -- but it didn't work ... 'cause he wiped out a day later.

Paps got James Monday in Malibu surfing with some pals, and he actually seemed pretty chipper ... but his mood probably changed Tuesday after missing out on a Best Actor nomination.

Lots of folks are claiming snub, especially since he won a Golden Globe and Critics' Choice Award -- he was also nominated for a SAG Award.

Looks like those accusations were simply too much for the Academy ... bummer, dude.

Keegan-Michael Key was laughing, but we hope he was dead serious -- he wants Jordan Peele to return to acting for a "Key & Peele" reunion.

We got the funny man Monday at LAX where Keegan beamed with pride about Jordan, who just nabbed 2 Oscar nominations for "Get Out." We also asked Keegan about what Jordan said a couple days ago -- he's joining Sir Daniel Day-Lewis and quitting acting.

Not so fast ... says Keegan, who definitely looks like he's holding his breath for an iconic "Key & Peele" reunion which sadly ended after just 5 seasons.

#FingersCrossed

Voting members for award shows should factor in sexual harassment accusations in determining whether an actor wins an Oscar, SAG Award, Golden Globe, etc. ... according to attorney Gloria Allred.

There's a fierce argument about bestowing actors accused of sexual misdeeds with an award, even if they're the best in their category. Allred thinks it's not just about acting.

James Franco is up for a SAG this weekend for his role in "The Disaster Artist" after several women came forward and accused him of sexual misconduct. He skipped out on the Critics' Choice Awards after winning a Golden Globe, but he's planning on being at Sunday's SAGs.

Greta Gerwig's critically-acclaimed "Lady Bird" -- which she wrote and directed -- figures to be an Oscar darling, but it's already a huge winner at her alma mater.

Greta's former high school, St. Francis Catholic High School in Sacramento, CA -- where the movie is based -- is totally stoked about Gerwig's success and not afraid to show it.

Sources close to the situation tell us Greta's parents heard the school was buzzing about "Lady Bird," so they delivered movie posters to the school and pins for the students to wear.

We're told if Greta or her movie get nominated for the Academy Awards -- which is more than likely -- the school plans to have an Oscars watch party for the big night and cheer her on.

"Moonlight" star Jharrel Jerome is fearful ... in the world of Donald Trump, black-themed movies may not stand a chance at the Oscars.

We got Jharrel Thursday at Salt Lake City International Airport and he seemed disheartened at the chances of "Get Out" winning ANYTHING at the Oscars ... and it sounds like he blames it on Trump and the worsening racial tensions in the last year.

"Get Out" was shut out at the Golden Globes and he worries Jordan Peele's film may suffer in the current climate.

Sharon Osbourne was true to form Wednesday night ... blasting people who think James Franco should hide in shame on Oscar night.

We got "The Talk" co-host in WeHo leaving Craig's with fellow talker Julie Chen, and Sharon was incredulous that Franco is taking heat for allegedly pushing his then-girlfriend's head into his lap with his exposed penis.

Sharon thinks James is great -- what he did is what people do in relationships, and anyone who disagrees is ridiculous.

Casey Affleck should be banned from presenting the Best Actress Oscar this year because he's been accused of sexual harassment ... so says "Orange Is the New Black" star Lea DeLaria.

We got Lea at LAX Tuesday and asked her if Casey -- who last year won an Oscar for Best Actor in "Manchester by the Sea" -- should be allowed to present this year, given his sexual misconduct history and the #MeToo movement in full effect.

Casey, of course, was sued by 2 women in 2010 for sexual harassment and the cases were settled out of court for an undisclosed amount. And with that in mind ... Lea says Casey shouldn't be presenting Oscars this year.