Here is how I imagine the lives of one half of the Academy voters:

After waking up and getting ready for the day, they get on their computers and read the morning headlines. Maybe they check their Facebook pages. On the way to work, they stop by coffee shops for lattes and capuccinos. Maybe they text people on their cell phones. At work, they joke about relevant things like the 'American Idol' auditions or the Arizona Cardinals making it to the Super Bowl. After work, they watch DVDs that they've received through their Netflix accounts. Then they upload some new songs -- by artists like The Ting Tings -- to their iPods (or Zunes). Finally, they go to sleep around 1 a.m.

Here is how I imagine the lives of the other half of the Academy voters:

After waking up and getting ready for the day, they complain about President Obama and how his charm will never match that of Silent Cal. Maybe they check their combovers. On the way to work, they ford rivers to get across. Maybe they die of cholera. At work, they write scrolls by feather quill and ink. They tell young sports fans that the greatest team to ever play football was the 1920 Akron Pros. After work, they rave about the Charleston and reminisce about afternoons at the nickelodeon. Finally, they go to sleep around 7 p.m.

For those of you who have made it through my long, fictitious, ultra-sarcastic rant: Congratulations. There was a point.

As the Best Supporting Actor nominations were announced, it appeared the Academy had taken a huge step. They nominated both Heath Ledger ("The Dark Knight") and Robert Downey Jr. ("Tropic Thunder") for their respective roles in a superhero film and a comedy. Alas, the Academy was recognizing outstanding work in mainstream film.

The young Dr. Jekyll had spoken.

As the rest of the nominations came up, however, the old guard provided us with one boring category after another. "The Dark Knight" did not get nominated for Best Picture or Best Director. But a mediocre film that takes place during the Holocaust slipped in. Once again, the Academy lifted it's collective nose at all things popular and honored a safe historical film. Seriously, Average Joe doesn't care about "The Reader."

Even worse, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" got 13 nominations. How did this clone of a film get 13 nods?

The old Mr. Hyde spoke louder.

It's unfortunate. Today, we are seeing integrity and creativity in non-traditional films, but they won't be recognized because Brad Pitt steps outside the box to don the digital face of an old man, or because Kate Winslet is overdue for an Oscar, or because Ron Howard directed another film.

But there is hope. The fact that Ledger and Downey Jr. got nominated is a sign that the Academy is turning a new leaf. Voters who are in tune with ingenuity in these modern times are finally being heard, even if it's in the lesser categories.

There is an identity crisis at the Academy and the stuffy snobs may lose their power over the next few years.

Be afraid, Mr. Hyde. Be very afraid.