Grouchy Oscar
It's not going to be a full-out Oscar diary. But here are some observations. I'll try to avoid the Larry King style, but who knows (If there's one film you've got to see, it's Gattaca!):

-- This via Craig: "I don't think Chicago won this much when Ditka was coaching them."
-- Steve Martin isn't doing too bad. Given everything, he's about on target. The writing could use some work (even with Bruce Vilanch and Dave Barry on the staff), but everything had to be sanitized for a general audience. Just imagine if Dennis Miller got his mitts on an Oscar gig.
-- So, the rule for presenting awards is you've got to be young, hot or a true legend? Would that be why Jim Broadbent got bumped off awarding Best Supporting Actress in place of Sean Connery, in Austin Powers getup. Dude, Keanu got to present an Oscar!
-- I got the Best Actor pick right. You've got four guys who already won for decent but not boffo performances. Then there's the guy in the Holocaust-themed film. Yup, you do the math. But more props to Adrien Brody for cutting off the music to play the talk about the war in the proper way.
-- On the other hand, I was not surprised to see Bowling for Columbine win and that Michael Moore would spout off his stuff like that during his speech. He did a great bait-and-switch tactic by bringing all of the documentary feature nominees up and then launching into his tired act about the "fictition" of duct tape and stolen elections. But from the reaction of the crowd, not all of Hollywood is liberal.
-- From one Michigander to another: I'm stunned but pleased to see Eminem win for Best Song. So we've got Oscar winners Michael Moore and Eminem? God help us all. As AML said, "Hell is freezing over." BTW, what was the temperature in Hell, Michigan, today?
-- The obit reel was filled with lots of stars, but thankfully no real disservices were done to the less than well-known dead. That's always a strange part about watching that part. Who's more "important" to get loud ovations and how many show up with the crowd whispering, "Who's that?"
-- The "instant replay" shots for the acting category winners seems a bit like overkill. Unless some cussed along the way, it's really just time filler.
-- I suppose Nicole Kidman was bound to win. It’s just too bad she doesn’t look as good as she used to. In fact, she looked a tad scary. Still, ditch Tom Cruise, win an Oscar. If that’s the case, where’s Mimi Rogers’ Oscar for playing Mrs. Kensington?
-- Another thought on back-to-back Oscar nominations, Nicole Kidman and Renee Zellweger both got nods this year and last. It actually seems a bit off. But hey, if Tom Hanks can go from Bosom Buddies to two-time Oscar winner, anything can happen.
-- OK, the roll call of past acting Oscar winners is pretty cool, but what’s up with “For Your Eyes Only” as the music? It’s hard to fathom some of the actors on stage with winning Oscars: George Kennedy? Mrs. Partridge? Cuba Gooding Jr.? (You realize in a few years, that’s going to be one of the oddest choices Oscar ever made.)
-- Yo, Ben! You were in awesome in “Phantoms” but what up with the shiny forehead?
-- Nice theatrics at the end by the Kirk and Michael Douglas. The Pianist got a bunch of momentum during the ceremony, but in the end, the inevitable came.
-- Holy cow, the damn thing ran on time! Hell is definitely freezing over.