Final countdown to Oscar Sunday

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STORY: With the familiar silhouette of the Oscar statute overlooking the red carpet, final preparations were made in anticipation of the entertainment industry's biggest night, the 85th Annual Academy Awards.

Last minute prep work was underway, even as lucky fans hit the bleachers for the best seats to see their favorite stars up-close and personal.

"This is a huge surprise," explained an excited Tom Bock, of Los Angeles. "We stayed at the "W" last night, which is a really cool place. To get here on the front row, it is just unbelievable."

Meanwhile, media crews from around their globe were busy filing pre Oscars stories ahead of the show.

The ceremony itself, hosted by Seth MacFarlane, promises bigger stars, more music and edgier comedy, when the most coveted awards in the movie industry are handed out during a glittering Academy Awards show.

Steven Spielberg's presidential movie "Lincoln" heads into Sunday's ceremony with a leading 12 nominations, followed by Ang Lee's shipwreck tale "Life of Pi" with 11, French Revolutionary musical "Les Miserables" and romantic comedy "Silver Linings Playbook" with eight apiece, and hostage drama "Argo" with seven.

The Oscar winners are chosen by some 5,800 movie industry professionals who are members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The Academy Awards ceremony, in its 85th year, will be broadcast live on ABC television in the United States, and to more than 225 other nations.