Feb 24 2008Oscar LiveBlogging! (Part I)
8:00 - Now that I'm actually sitting down to watch this, I'm having some second thoughts. Catching the tail-end of the Barbara Walters Oscars special was a harsh reminder of the three-hour marathon of self-indulgent I've signed up for. And how long has Harrison Ford (her interviewee) worn an earring? Why?
8:03 - I'm glad they've started the show with Regis Philbin. Going right to Jon Stewart would probably be too jarring for older viewers. Best to start them off easy.
8:05 - Marion Cotillard was dressed as an albino mermaid then?
8:07 - God, I knew they'd have to make some cute joke about Javier Bardem's hair in No Country For Old Men. I can't wait until they ask Daniel Day-Lewis if he's going to be drinking a milkshake tonight.
8:12 - Mickey Rooney, still alive! And apparently decorated by the military.
8:14 - It was really sad when Jennifer Garner revealed Juno was the first time anyone had given her praise for a movie. Funny, but sad.
8:16 - Cameron Diaz once again proves she's the go-to-girl for the dissection of dark, complex characters.
8:17 - What was with the world's oldest fan (with home-decorated shirt) and the kids? Are they trying to work in elements of The Price is Right?
8:22 - I wish I'd been writing down all the times a shot made me think "they're still around?" I've already missed too many to start now.
8:26 - Regis clearly has a bet that he can find the least relevant people to talk to. His latest find: the stage.
8:27 - I'm so sick of Jack Nicholson's sunglasses. Either he's lost his eyes or he's constantly in a poker tournament. I guess we'll find out if he starts wearing a cowboy hat, too.
8:31 - What better way to introduce the Oscars than with an apocalyptic vision of a war-torn Hollywood, dominated by the very icons we once revered. Smart thinking giving Terminator the statuettes.
8:32 - Jon Stewart appeared to be delivered to the stage by a pneumatic tube, or some sort of giant cryo-chamber. I hope they keep that up throughout the night.
8:37 - Man. When the writer's strike ended, did Leno's writers immediately start on this material? The Norbit joke was pretty good though.
8:42 - Thank god Elizabeth won for Costume Design. I was starting to worry no one would ever recognize the brilliance in recreating old, giant dresses.
8:48 - This Oscars retrospective presents a pretty compelling thesis: if this is what we give you, why do you keep watching?
8:53 - I love stilted banter! (This won't be the last time I say this.)
8:54 - No surprise that Ratatouille won Best Animated Picture. Sort of a surprise when director Brad Bird started doing a long anecdote with voices.
8:58 - Once again, an obscure foreign film (La Vie en Rose) beats an American classic (Norbit). I guess the DVD box will just say "nominated" for an Oscar now.
Continued on Part II!
Reader Comments
1. clay - February 24, 2008 8:02 PM
Barbara Walters had a visible erection during that interview.
2. tylerdurden - February 24, 2008 8:02 PM
Man, I was stuck watching E! Thank God that's over. Gary Busey went crazy on Ryan Seacrest and Jennifer Garner though. Great stuff.
3. Zsa - February 24, 2008 8:03 PM
Yeah, what was up with Gary Busey? Did you see Jennifer Garner's face? hahaha
4. Zsa - February 24, 2008 8:05 PM
Oh, and Harrison Ford has worn an earring forever!!! I hate that thing. P.S. What is up with John Travolta's hair?
5. Adam - February 24, 2008 8:09 PM
Miley Cyrus' name is Destiny Miley Cyrus? For realsies?
6. Tiffany - February 24, 2008 8:09 PM
I wish I could be watching this on tv AND reading the commentary at the same time...unfortunately I'm stuck at work until 10 (ET)...good thing it only takes me 5 minutes to get home.
7. Greg - February 24, 2008 8:10 PM
Why is Hannah Montana there ?
8. Adam - February 24, 2008 8:15 PM
Daniel Day Lewis also wears earrings? And on both ears?
9. clay - February 24, 2008 8:16 PM
good god, cameron diaz, that was one insane rant about daniel day lewis.
10. Ana - February 24, 2008 8:17 PM
Samantha Harris is a moron. She couldn't do it on Dancing With the Stairs and she certainly can't do it on the red carpet. Why do they keep on hiring her? I think Amy Adams is well aware that billion starts with a B.
11. Ana - February 24, 2008 8:18 PM
Dancing with the Stars, not Stairs
12. Tiffany - February 24, 2008 8:22 PM
Daniel Day-Lewis looks like a pirate. A sexy, Irish pirate in a weird tux. Tilda Swinton just gives me the creeps.
Where's Johnny?
13. Zsa - February 24, 2008 8:24 PM
"Thank you. It's great to be here. So much fun." Hillary Swank is so interesting.
14. Greg - February 24, 2008 8:25 PM
Ellen Page is so hot
15. dude - February 24, 2008 8:27 PM
I SAW UP THAT CHICKS DRESS. WWWAAAAA WWWWWAAAA BEAVER BABY!
16. Zsa - February 24, 2008 8:28 PM
How is it that Jack Nicholson always gets the same seat?
17. Tiffany - February 24, 2008 8:29 PM
I'm just playing the odds here, but I bet "Enchanted" will win something for Best Original Song.
18. Zsa - February 24, 2008 8:32 PM
Wait - that was their intro for the 80th anniversary?
19. Bobeyo - February 24, 2008 8:33 PM
Funny how the intro had a lot of cool old movies in it, none of which ever came close to winning an Oscar.
20. Zsa - February 24, 2008 8:38 PM
Why is Dennis Hopper there?
21. Adam - February 24, 2008 8:40 PM
Wesley Snipes in the audience? Isn't he wanted for tax evasion?
22. Tiffany - February 24, 2008 8:42 PM
Snipes was acquitted.
The Rock is there too. WTF.
23. Bobeyo - February 24, 2008 8:46 PM
And it's a victory for Elizabeth the Golden Age. Those poofy dresses will do it every time.
24. Oscar - February 24, 2008 8:47 PM
ooooooooh oh. George Clooney thought his "hi ya guys" would get some kinda laughter!
25. Zsa - February 24, 2008 8:48 PM
The Rock is there to present! I can't wait to see that!
26. Zsa - February 24, 2008 8:52 PM
Was the iPhone plug really necessary?
27. Tiffany - February 24, 2008 8:55 PM
I can't believe I've been sitting here for an hour and they've only given out one award.
I'm wearing my Darth Vader socks and everything.
28. Oscar - February 24, 2008 8:57 PM
"I love stilted banter! "
It's like part of the official Oscar Drinking Game
29. lookatthatdudeshair - February 24, 2008 8:58 PM
OH MHY GOD DIDIARCHIBALD HAS THE SWEETEst FUCKING HAIR EVAR! AND HIS VOICE. HOLY SHIT AWEOSME>
30. g - February 24, 2008 8:58 PM
is that Avril Lavergnes grandfather ?
31. Elliot - February 24, 2008 9:02 PM
Happy Working Song?
come on.
32. tylerdurden - February 24, 2008 9:02 PM
Shut up singing. You suck.
33. Bobeyo - February 24, 2008 9:04 PM
After that gross ad of the kid eating (zoomed way in on the foot slopping in and out of the condiments and into his mouth) while he acted like a retard has caused me to officially boycott McDonalds... again.
34. Greg - February 24, 2008 9:08 PM
Oh My! No more"Rock" ? How will we all know who he is now ?
35. Oscar - February 24, 2008 9:09 PM
were on part II blog post now btw
36. bonho - February 25, 2008 3:12 AM
I believe that Harrison Ford pierced his ear on his 50th birthday, to prove he still had street cred or something. Didn't work.
37. rrrrgh - February 28, 2008 4:37 AM
Did anyone else catch Jack Nicholson calling Tommy Lee Jones "Harvey." Did he think he was Harvey Keitel? The Regis corrected him and Jack was all awkward.
38. sully - February 21, 2009 2:10 PM
@37
He called him Harvey because he played Harvey Dent in Batman Forever.