Anyone wanna tell me WHAT THE DIFFERENCE IS?

The Academy Awards are the oscars.

The Academy Awards are considered more prestigious than the Golen Globes.

The Golden Globes are nominated and selected by the Hollywood Foreign Press, which, by the way, most people don't really know who they are. They're a group of reporters from around the world, but are a pretty mysterious bunch. The Golden Globe Awards have been given out only for about the past 55 or 56 years now. Some people believe that Golden Globe awards can be bought - in the sense that Tom Cruise arranged to have his picture taken individually with all of the members and he won that year. One year an actress, I think it was Sharon Stone, wrote personal thank you notes to every member and she won again. These awards are not that important, but all the stars go there because it's a fun show.

The Academy Awards are voted on by the members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which is compromised of experts in all areas of motion pictures (actors, directors, cameramen, producers, makeup artists... etc). To get in you have to be nominated by two members. Once you're in, you're in for life. The Academy Awards are turning 76 years old this year, and have had the nickname 'Oscar' ever since Bette Davis received hers and remarked on how much it resembled her former husband ;) The Oscar is the highest award you can receive for achievement in motion pictures.