Oscars 2013: Hollywood Boulevard undergoing transformation

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Crews set up for the Oscars on Hollywood Boulevard on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013.

A sign shows Oscar look-alike trophies on sale for $5 at a gift shop in Hollywood.

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movie news, celebrity, academy awards, hollywood, hollywood wrap

By Christina Salvo and George Pennacchio

HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Hollywood's biggest night is less than a week away. Preparations are under way for the Oscars, as Hollywood Boulevard is being transformed.

It's a lot of heavy lifting before Hollywood's heavy hitters are ready to wow the world on the red carpet this Sunday.

With Hollywood Boulevard blocked off, officers are keeping a close watch on security. Many others are turning their eyes to the sky.

"It looks like the rain is going to come in overnight and hopefully clear out by tomorrow," said Academy COO Ric Robertson.

Umbrellas were the accessory of choice, but no extra rain tents will be put up other than the one that is always put up just in case. Extra crews were brought early in the morning, working to beat the rain and ensure it doesn't delay setup.

"We were ahead of schedule anyway," Robertson said. "We can weather it tonight without trouble. The carpet's not down yet."

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Just a few steps from the red carpet, a set of bleachers are set up where some very lucky fans will get to sit just feet away from the stars. Officials say 20,000 people from all over the world applied, but only 700 fans were picked to be one of this year's "bleacher creatures."

Something brand new this year is the name of the theater. It is now the Dolby Theatre. Last year, Kodak lost its naming rights right before the Oscars.

With Oscar Sunday just days away, play the My Picks game to choose who you think will win in each award category.

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The My Picks experience will live on Oscar.com, the Oscars App, Facebook, ABCNews.com, OTRC.com and GMA.Yahoo.com. Play My Picks right now!

Have a smart phone or tablet? Download the free official Oscars app to get news and updates about the show. It's available for Apple, Android and Kindle devices.

Get the full list of 2013 Oscar nominees

The Oscars will air live on ABC7 on Feb. 24.

Oscar Sunday lineup: