And the Oscar Goes To ...

By LillyKat
PTR Staff Writer

Should it come as any real surprise this year's Oscar ceremony was the least watched … like, ever?

No.

Heck, they didn't even know they were going to have the ceremony complete with actors until about two weeks ago, which is when the writers strike came to an end. True, some could blame lingering effects of the strike for the dive in ratings (as in, viewers have made other arrangements to entertain themselves). Or, perhaps it was the fact that several of the nominees this year were practically unheard of and/or not your usual Oscar blockbuster/landslide/overwhelming group of favorites. For the record, I did not see any of the nominated films, and I confess reading the names of some of the nominees read more like attendees at a United Nations convention.

Other Points of Amusing Interest:

Stage Fright: Who would’ve thought Grey's Anatomy's Katherine Heigl would look like she was going to faint for presenting the award for Best Makeup? Complete fear/deer-in-headlights/OMG-what-am-I-doing expression. Weird. Is it really that difficult to be a presenter (especially when 15-year-old Miley Cyrus walks up and does her presentation like a pro)? Strange moment for Heigl.

And the Award for the Least Interested Winner(s) Goes to … Joel and Ethan Coen. Could these two look any less interested in winning for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Picture for No Country for Old Men? Geez, did we wake you guys or something? Was the Academy keeping you from an appointment? Compared to the incredibly moving speeches of Best Actress Winner Marion Cotillard, and Best Song winners Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, the Coens looked like they were passing kidney stones and/or couldn’t be bothered to say anything of substance. If it was supposed to be some sort of We’re-shocked-don’t-know-what-to-say vibe, it didn’t come off that way to this viewer. Rather, it seemed almost arrogant and/or like the whole thing was a complete waste of their time. Kind of a shame considering how many people never get to the Oscars let alone win. More than once. Go back to your corner in the sandbox, Coens. Sheesh.

Got Jack?: What would an Oscar ceremony be without Jack Nicholson in his usual customary front row spot? It just isn’t the Oscars without Jack somewhere in the building. I. Love. Jack. And he was even in the vicinity of the other beloved "Jack" (that would be Captain Jack Sparrow ... the always ingenius Johnny Depp).

B-T-L: The Honorary Oscar this year went to 98-year-old production designer Robert Boyle. With the writers strike illuminating the whole above-the-line / below-the-line divide in Hollywood, it was nice to see the Academy (whether on purpose or not) acknowledge what is considered a below-the-line crew person instead of the usual above-the-line director, actor, producer, etc.

Preggers Gone Wild: Is it just me, or is every actress in Hollywood pregnant? Is there a pregnancy virus going around that the rest of us don't know about? Kudos to host John Stewart’s “And the Baby Goes to …” skit, which put Jessica Alba, Cate Blanchett and Nicole Kidman in the running for who will give birth first (Blanchett looks to be the winner of that contest).

First Time Dibs: How cool was it to have Diablo Cody – a former stripper and blogger – win for writing Juno (her first screenplay ever)? This is the side of Hollywood that I still love: dreams can some true to those who are still willing to have - and follow - them. There actually were a lot of “firsts” in this year's ceremony, and I love firsts. People are so genuinely shocked, and you just can’t help but cheer for the fact they won.

Finally, a Suitable Billy Crystal Replacement: I liked Ellen. I liked Whoopi. I didn’t like Dave … but I have to say (and not being a Daily Show addict) Jon Stewart is pretty entertaining. I don't envy the task of having to make a room full of some of the most difficult people in the world laugh and poke fun at themselves. Stewart is a pretty good master at this. As was Crystal.

Fashion Report: Sorry, folks. This viewer doesn't care who is wearing what or why. You'll have to check out those other blogs for a rundown on dresses, shoes, jewelry and the like. I will say that several actresses (Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Garner, Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett) had some sort of sloppy hair pulled back off the face/neck thing going. Were they just having a really bad Lilly Rush hair day, or was that in this year? Hmmmm ....

You can get a rundown on all the winners and proceedings over at Oscars.org and Oscars.com.