Oscar Nods Lift Soccer Fans Hornby and Firth From Kitchen Nightmare

Oscar nominations for soccer fanatics Nick Hornby and Colin Firth came just after the pair had sunk into sports despair in Hornby's kitchen following a devastating loss by their beloved Arsenal to arch-rival Manchester United.

"You just presume you got thumped at home by Manchester United so what do we have with Oscar nominations? You were in the mindset that you lose everything," Hornby told Popcorn Biz. "We were just really p---- off about the football."

Hornby got a screenwriting nod for the brilliant coming of age flick "An Education," and Firth snagged a best actor nomination for his performance in the highly acclaimed "A Single Man." The pair worked together on the original "Fever Pitch." While a remake starring Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore was about a diehard Boston Red Sox fan, the original version was about an Arsenal devotee. Hornby wrote the book and first screenplay from personal experience.

Firth, Hornby and Hornby's wife Amanda Posey, an Arsenal fan and "An Education" producer, were together in the Hornbys' London kitchen commiserating over the 3-1 loss Jan. 30, just before they got word of the nominations.

 "I don't think I'll ever have three Oscar nominees in my kitchen again ever," laughed Hornby.

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