Well, once again The Oscars were too long, but hey, it wouldn't be the Oscars if it didn't run over. Ellen DeGeneres was okay as the host (Why did I know that you would dance Ellen?) I think she was basically her usual self. Her shining moment was that great photo bit with Clint Eastwood and Steven Spielberg "for her MySpace page." Very funny. I also laughed when she started vacuuming around Gwyneth Paltrow and Penelope Cruz (the feathers! the feathers!)
The Fug Girls kept making fun of them, but I really liked the dancers from The Pilobolus Dance Theater. And, I actually didn't mind Jack Nicholson's new cue ball, but it looks like it was just for a movie.
As Spielberg snapped Ellen with Clint Eastwood, I kept thinking about the seat filler sitting next to Beyonce's dad, Matthew Knowles. He witnessed such a great moment!
You know his email box BLEW UP after that! He'll be telling his grandkids about that one.
Did you hear that Jennifer Hudson scours the internet for her red carpet photos? Now that's keeping it real. She also got a bouquet of yellow roses from fellow Chicago native Common ("Jennifer, you're such a beautiful example of what a pure artist is. So gifted and vibrant. I appreciate your humility and strength. I am proud of you, we are proud of you, and I know God is proud of you. Keep shining. Love Common.") Nice...
People are so invested in an alleged rivalry between Jennifer and Beyonce. Whatever... Beyonce has been around for a decade or so - I'm sure she'll be fine. At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is the next project. In fact, I read something very interesting somewhere recently - some salient advice for Jennifer Hudson. The person suggested that she more or less go the Billy Bob Thornton route and not worry about big roles in big movies. Instead, concentrate on quality roles in independent films with good writers and directors. This way, she gets to hone - and prove - her acting chops and she can show that her Oscar wasn't a fluke. And naturally, the album has to be hot. I wonder who her songwriters are?
Getting back to the show, like most people, I knew it was Martin Scorcese's night when the "original Three Amigos" took the stage. So so happy for him. Years ago, Spike Lee used to have workshops/seminars for aspiring writers/actors/directors at LIU in Brooklyn. This was during the Do The Right Thing period and quite a few luminaries came through - Denzel Washington, Robert DeNiro and Martin Scorcese. Imagine spending a Saturday listening to these guys talking about their craft and answering your questions? That would never happen today for thirty bucks! Hats off to you Spike. Those Saturdays are the reasons I still have a soft spot for Marty Scorcese today - along with his overall genius, natch.
Is Al Gore the coolest ex-vice president ever? Well, he's the only one with an Oscar. Jerry Seinfeld quipped to the ex-VP, "Man, global warming has to be the hardest way to win an Oscar." Speaking of Inconvenient Truths - Nora Ephron on the recent Clinton-Obama contretemps. Here's my little prediction: if we see Al Gore suddenly losing weight and a tad less accessible, he's running for president. Look for the pressure to increase on him if he picks up the Nobel Peace Prize. It is still very early yet - not that we'd know that from recent news coverage.
Did you hear that guests were greeted backstage before (and during) the show by uniformed waiters serving champagne, cranberry-colored cocktails and bottles of Evian with straws?
I would love to attend an actual Oscar ceremony one day. If I don't, that's okay - as long as I can go to the Vanity Fair party! Clearly this was the place to be. In fact, it has grown so much, it has long overshadowed the traditional Governor's Ball and Elton John has even had to scale back his AIDS benefit/party.
Oprah and Forest. Hmmm, wouldn't they be great doing a movie together? Somebody get me a Zora Neale Hurston novel!
Queen Elizabeth will probably invite Helen Mirren to tea. If that doesn't work out, I'll bet Jamie Foxx and Vince Vaughn will take her out for a drink - right after they give Will Ferrell, John C. Reilly and Jack Black the smackdown!
Watch and Listen
* Oscar "Thank You Cam" via Oscars.com. Winners finish their speeches backstage. Excellent idea Ms. Ziskin. I'll bet this is a new tradition.
* Hudson, Whitaker and Scorcese bathe in Oscar glory via People.com.
* Why Oscar Loves a Biography via NPR's Day to Day.
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