...Congrats to Reese Witherspoon!

Bottom line: I NEVER watch the Academy Awards show simply because it's boring. Although, if I were a celeb, then I watch them!

Jon Stewart was wonderful. He should be invited back.
I am most baffled by everyone kissing Reese Witherspoon's behind, calling her "sweet, genunine, impassioned..." First of all, if I have to hear this girl who came from an affluent family in Nashville say one more time that she "can't believe this is happening to a little girl from Tennessee," I am going to throw up. Nashville is a city based on the entertainment industry, and it's a decent-sized city; it's not like she's from Bugtussle or some under-privleged child from the ghetto. She is 30-years-old, not six...the little girl voice has got to stop. And her incessant yammering about how June Carter Cash was a real woman sounded like the ravings of a drunk. Genunine? Her speech is the same at every awards show. Sweet? She has insulted Tennesseans by insinuating they could never be successful. Impassioned? Try rote.

I think the critics giving Jon Stewart crummy reviews are WAY off base. I thought he was funny all night long.

The "In Memorium" (sp?) bits are usually one of my favorite parts of the show, but I was very VERY suprised to see that they skipped John Spencer. I know the majority of his work as been on Television, but I was still disapointed.

LOOOOOOOVED the Tomlin-Streep bit! It was the clear highlight of the night. That must've been fun for them. I liked Jon and thought he did OK, but just OK. Of course, a big part of the problem was the room he was playing to: full of people baffled by someone who isn't a clear sycophant.

Stewart was great. He spoke to me the TV watcher, not to the stupid audience. I used to hate how the hosts in the past to that. A lot of the show continues to be crap however. At some point they need to really shake the format up, not sure how I'd do it though.

"For those of you keeping score at home, Martin Scorsese, zero; Three 6 Mafia, one."
Genius!

I never watch the Oscars. I don't have anything against them, but I never really saw the point. I watched this year, however, cause Jon Stewart was the host. I remember in previous years that the Oscars would have montages, but I don't remember them being nearly so prevelent. I gather they were trying to put forth the idea that movies should be seen in theaters, but to prove it, they showed great old movies (which are only available on DVD), and showed them on a TV screen. It didn't really make me want to run out and see Shaggy Dog, or whatever is in theaters this week.

Lily Tomlin and Meryl Streep wer the high points for me...too funny. The political ads were great too.

I am tiring of hearing that Crash was an upset. It was the better movie. Brokeback was good, but there was no competition here when comparing the stories, casts, and the performances.

Jon had a tough assignment, and he came through. It was the right balance of reverence, sarcasm, and self-deprecation. I thought he nailed it right away from the cold open where he pointed out that he was the last choice (and it was a nice touch to see Letterman back on the Oscar telecast). His prepared bits showed the Daily Show snark ("Westerns not like Brokeback" montage, Election Ads), and I also liked some of his impromptu remarks -- "Coming up soon, our tribute to montages...", [Upon the exit of the 3-6 Mafia winning Best Song] "Why are those guys the happiest in the room? That's how you celebrate winning an Oscar!" I wouldn't be surprised if he's invited back next year.

One of my favorite moments of the night: the Altman introduction lovingly presented by Tomlin and Streep. It embodied an essential Altman take -- improvised, yet authentic and dense.

Jon was funny, but I have to say that my favorite part of the night was Clooney's acceptence speech. He's good looking, talented, and rich, and yet he salutes living outside of the conventional. I really can't explain it, but it made me feel good.

The fake ads were brilliant. And when Jon went on and on about how immoral everyone thinks Hollywood is, only to end with, "No joke, I just thought you should know what people are saying about you", Perfect, just perfect.