About 150 British Academy of Film and Television Arts types turned out for a screening of the hit Abba film, "Mamma Mia," at the Writers Guild Theater last week. The buzz at the screener was just how, shall we say (ahem) not exactly tonal, Pierce Brosnan's singing was. Everyone adored Meryl Streep (who knew she could sing and dance so wildly at 59?) and they even liked the comic relief from Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard. But Brosnan's slack-jawed warbling was another matter.

Our theory is that they loved him as James Bond (though they think Daniel Craig is pretty good too) and they couldn't fathom James Bond in a musical. Truly shaken and not stirred.

For the record, the Brits applauded the musical (we think that all British, international squabbling notwithstanding, are Abba fans in secret).