I watched 20 minutes
Oscars® away! I told many a folk that I had little interest in the Academy Awards this year. Wonderful films and actors had not been nominated because, once again, Hollywood has an agenda that often differs with the public's tastes. Several news stories preceding the event made this clear (Google 'em yourself).
But I did tune in for about 20 minutes because the opening bits are usually worth watching. Host Jon Stewart's film clip introduction honoring past hosts was funny but not exceptional and it was clear that his acerbic and cerebral wit was lost on the crowd. Then again, they seemed to be rather humorless and stuck up whenever I tuned in for a peek. Thusly I can't see him coming back unless they can't talk Billy Crystal into returning. He was good and I'd like to see him host again but Hollywood may have other ideas.
A part I wish I had seen (but I was watching the destruction of science as we know it in The Core) was the win by Nick Park and Aardman Studios for Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Here's one time Hollywood did recognize excellence rather than just hand the award to Tim Burton. The Aardman team has won the Oscar® in the shorts category with W&G before, but this is a first for feature-length animated film with the world-famous duo.
Parting kudos to IMDb again for having the fastest Web coverage of the event. Hollywood may want to shut down this site because it was almost better than watching the broadcast.
Parting anger to the Academy for failure to include Don Knotts in the memorial footage. I'm not surprised, but I am upset. The wholesome is often shunned in Hollywood, but this was downright rude.
