Why Are There Only Two Oscar Nominees For Best Original Song?

The Muppets: Leap-frogging other Best Original Song candidates.

Just as The Artist is heavily favored to win the Oscar for Best Picture this year, "Man Or Muppet"–from the Disney film The Muppets–is a near-lock for Best Original Song.

Though the latter is a fantastic ditty penned by Bret McKenzie, who makes up one half of the comedy duo Flight of the Conchords, its odds are good for a reason independent of musical merit: there's only one other nominee. That's right, "Man Or Muppet" and "Real ...