114 comments

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  Tom Watson

  2 years ago

  The penguins were cheesy - my 9-year-old immediately said "those aren't the real voices."
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• 

  AlFromChicago

  2 years ago

  Looking forward to your take on stuff! My only prediction: time till Ellen DeGeneres makes an Oprah joke: 12 minutes.
  
  Check out all the conversation and stories here: http://www.buzztracker.com/category/academy_awards
  reply
• 

  Tom Watson

  2 years ago

  That's not a red carpet, that's a red lawn....
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• 

  Tom Watson

  2 years ago

  I just looked - 8:30 - we get red carpet tape till then...
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• 

  Shayera

  2 years ago

  I have to say, the interviews are all really awful today.
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• 

  Blue Girl

  2 years ago

  This pre-show stinks! Doesn't it? It's hard to make something out of it.
  
  Thanks, guys for showing up!
  
  AlFromChicago? 12 minutes? Hmmmm. Let's see. Why was Oprah just in the news? Oh, an O'Reilly thing. Probably won't mention that.
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• 

  Tom Watson

  2 years ago

  Helen Mirren ...rrrrrr! OK, finally the lame pre-game is over.
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• 

  Cary Grant

  2 years ago

  That was worst red carpet line show possible....finally, the curtain goes up and there is the wonderful Peter O'Toole. Oh Petah!
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• 

  Jim Tourtelott

  2 years ago

  The interviews are generally dreadful, but the back to back interviews with Kate Winslet and Helen Mirren remind me of something Wolcott commented on a couple of weeks ago, the English ability to speak in complete, fully-formed sentences. (Granted, however, that Dame Helen seemed wedded to the word "extraordinary.")
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• 

  Cary Grant

  2 years ago

  Dame Helen IS extrawwwwwdinry - as they say.
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• 

  Tom Watson

  2 years ago

  Right, are they going to begin the show?
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• 

  stephen Manzi

  2 years ago

  This opening sequence is intolerable. I stopped watching Disc Two of Season Three of "Taxi" for this?
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  Tom Watson

  2 years ago

  Was cool seeing Clint Eastwood sitting with Peter O'Toole - and realizing they're about the same age.
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• 

  Jim Tourtelott

  2 years ago

  Errol Morris directed that miserable opening? And wanted that fact announced?
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• 

  Cary Grant

  2 years ago

  The full-on flop sweat for ole Ellen, it seems....the red velvet's gotta suffer.
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• 

  steverino

  2 years ago

  How long 'til Abigail gets a tattoo, shaves her head, and fights with acustody battle with her ex?
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• 

  Cary Grant

  2 years ago

  Al Gore - bigger hand than Leo DiCaprio...saving the world.
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• 

  steverino

  2 years ago

  Worst opening ever?
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• 

  Jim Tourtelott

  2 years ago

  "America did vote for him" was an at least modestly funny line, which made it stand out in the wilderness of this monologue.
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• 

  steverino

  2 years ago

  Horrible growth on Nicole's right shoulder...probably could be fixed by painful surgery.
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• 

  Tom Watson

  2 years ago

  Worst.
  Bond.
  Ever.
  
  What a stiff!
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• 

  Tom Watson

  2 years ago

  Hate to disagree BG, I give her a 2! I was missing Uma-Oprah-Oprah-Uma
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• 

  Jim Tourtelott

  2 years ago

  Kidman's gorgeous, BG. But why does she have a red velvet noose around her neck?
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• 

  steverino

  2 years ago

  Don LaFontaine more entertianing than Ellen.
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• 

  Tom Watson

  2 years ago

  The iPhone ad was easily the best thing yet...masterful.
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• 

  Cary Grant

  2 years ago

  A comedian at the Oscars - very good. Alcoholic clown. "I thought I'd get to have dinner with Jeremy Irons." Indeed, line of the night.
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• 

  steverino

  2 years ago

  Terrific shot of the steadycam guys - most entertaining set piece of the night so far.
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• 

  Kevin Wolf

  2 years ago

  Aw, Blue Girl, I'm just glad ta see ya on the job. I can't see the show but the whole opening is clear in my mind already, thanks to your commentary. I'm not going to be able to keep up, but I'll follow as much as I can before bedtime.
  
  And, yeah, though I didn't even see it, your coverage and the comment thread make it clear that the start of the show was, ummm, not so good.
  
  Good luck to Ellen, though.
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• 

  Shayera

  2 years ago

  I'm so wrong. I loved that. It's my crazy enjoyment of Jack Black. There's no rhyme or reason why. I just do.
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• 

  Tom Watson

  2 years ago

  Well, that was a moderately funny and decently written number - for an Oscar-critic, that's a rave.
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• 

  Shayera

  2 years ago

  Crap. Pan's Labyrinth is going to win everything. It freaked me out so badly.
  I was hoping Water would win Best Foreign Film.
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• 

  Jim Tourtelott

  2 years ago

  The comic bit actually did work, which I had strong doubts about when it began.
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• 

  steverino

  2 years ago

  The Danish Poet WAS great! Deserved to win.
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• 

  Tom Watson

  2 years ago

  Kids - cute. Like little movie stars, they are.
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• 

  Tom Watson

  2 years ago

  Might I point out that Claire Helene nailed it yesterday - and I quote:
  "I will be surprised if this hilarious musical send up of musicals and the Arab-Israeli conflict won’t take home the award."
  Bam!
  Now THAT's a newcritic.
  reply
• 

  Fred Wilson

  2 years ago

  the best moment for me was M Ward's "Here Comes The Sun" in a Cadillac ad. that was the best cadillac ad I ever saw.
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• 

  Jim Tourtelott

  2 years ago

  The director of West Bank Story's speech was a small study in how to do it right. He made the obligatory thank yous, the theme statement, and the pitch for short films all in full sentences that he had clearly thought out and written down before, and was therefore able to get on and off without a moment of dead air or fake surprise.
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• 

  b tween

  2 years ago

  Man, I just walked in the door and haven't even turned the TV on. But the looks of these comments, seems like I don't have to!
  I'm really rooting for Scorcese. Me and 300million other people, but still.
  He's due.
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• 

  Tom Watson

  2 years ago

  Alan Arkin killed me in the original In Laws.
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• 

  Jim Tourtelott

  2 years ago

  So the annoying interpretive dance isn't by bad Pilobolus imitators. Hmmm.
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• 

  steverino

  2 years ago

  How did JT and Randy Newman get so old while I've stayed so young?
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• 

  Jason Chervokas

  2 years ago

  I must have missed something. When did Johnny Carson stop hosting the oscars?
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  Tom Watson

  2 years ago

  The great thing about the "annoying interpretive dance" is that's quick and easy to digest...a good lesson for this show.
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  Cary Grant

  2 years ago

  Al Gore - what incredible comedic timing. Wow.
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• 

  Jason Chervokas

  2 years ago

  Why can't they ever get creative w/ a host. The academy members are a bunch of wusses. I can think of dozens of hosts who are funnier, more charming, and more likely to get me to turn on a show consisting of 4 hours of the rich and famous congratulating themselves...how about James Lipton? or Bill O'Reilly? or Dave Chapelle (oh wait, he probably wouldn't have shown up...)
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• 

  b tween

  2 years ago

  I read his lips, he definitely said "it is my intention to begin my run for president of the United States".
  Really. He did.
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• 

  Jim Tourtelott

  2 years ago

  How do you "go green" in a ceremony most of the participants in which arrived by stretch limo? Or did they have Ed Begley, Jr. fetch all the nominees to the red carpet in his Prius?
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  b tween

  2 years ago

  And we just missed Jerry Seinfeld picking his nose. **just** missed it.
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• 

  Cary Grant

  2 years ago

  Wow - Cameron Diaz. Hair darker. Face wider. Eyes sparklier. Earrings flashier.
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• 

  b tween

  2 years ago

  The Mrs. says: look, they put peter o'toole right up front. He's like the reigning old guy now...
  I say what about Sean Connery? He should get Reigning Old Guy.
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  M.A. Peel

  2 years ago

  Cagney in Boy Meets Girl--funniest movie ever about writers, costarring Pat O'Brien! Glad to see it in the montage
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  steverino

  2 years ago

  Makes me wonder...whatever happened to Peter Scolari?
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  Tom Watson

  2 years ago

  A writer wrestling with words - before our very eyes - rescued by a couple of actors. As Manzi says, that was awkward!
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  Jim Tourtelott

  2 years ago

  Actually, BG, that's just the first time you've noticed that the old, fat, bald guy is Jack. It took me a while to convince myself as well.
  
  Note that the worst speech of the evening so far is by the screenwriter.
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  Tom Watson

  2 years ago

  Arkin and Nicholson are like two bald book-ends stage right and stage left - it's distracting during the crowd shots. Who's who?
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  steverino

  2 years ago

  Someone kill that bat that's attacking Anne Hathaway's breasts!
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  Ed Asner

  2 years ago

  Macao.
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  steverino

  2 years ago

  Ooooh - the SUBDUED Tom Cruise. The makeover begins.
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  Tom Watson

  2 years ago

  Valium works.
  Who said that tonight?
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  Shayera

  2 years ago

  It's not just me, right? The whole telecast has been kind of dull?
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  Jim Tourtelott

  2 years ago

  Will somebody please read a telegram from the National Liberation Front?
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• 

  Blue Girl

  2 years ago

  Shayera! It's a goody goody snooze fest! We need some action. I'm dying up there! Dying, I tell ya!
  How can I be snarky when people aren't being snark-worthy?
  Dang!
  I need something. God, all I've had is the Valium Guy so far.
  That's it!
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• 

  Shayera

  2 years ago

  BG, I so agree with you.
  By the way, I'm totally going to run with: "Al Gore announced his run and was cut off by the orchestra." So now he has to run.
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  Tom Watson

  2 years ago

  I was briefly hopeful with Cruise - not noooooo!
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  Shayera

  2 years ago

  Tom Cruise behaved himself! It's shocking! What have we fallen to if we can't even count on Tom Cruise to be nutty.
  So sad.
  At least the Pirates boys were a little funny.
  Ken Watanabe is gorgeous.
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  steverino

  2 years ago

  Woo hoo - they're applauding the concept of "subtitles"!!!
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  Shayera

  2 years ago

  I am so "whatevs" on Jennifer Hudson.
  I'm so surprised at the Foreign Film win. Although he did win at the Indies yesterday, too. Just shows to go ya.
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  Jim Tourtelott

  2 years ago

  Why does Jennifer Hudson think God made her win?
  
  Does she imagine God sitting there saying, "Hmm. I can ruin the night for Jennifer Holiday, Abigail Breslin, and Diana Ross in one fell swoop?"
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  Tom Watson

  2 years ago

  God didn't want the little kid to win, it was obvious.
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  M.A. Peel

  2 years ago

  Jerry--blowing Ellen out of the water. Maybe next year's host?
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  Tom Watson

  2 years ago

  Sorry Blue Girl - we're only goin' on the material they're giving us.
  A safe, boring Oscarcast, alas....not like the movies themselves. And now we have to sit through Celine...er....I mean enjoy this world premiere.
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  Jim Tourtelott

  2 years ago

  Yessirree--it isn't really tedious, mediocre dreck until you bring on Celine.
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  Shayera

  2 years ago

  You're doing a great jog BG. It's just this year is boring. It's all too pompous and full of itself.
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  Tom Watson

  2 years ago

  Wow - Clint Eastwood ... translator!
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  Jim Tourtelott

  2 years ago

  It's good to know Clint didn't waste all those years on spaghetti Western sets.
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  Tom Watson

  2 years ago

  BG, here's why on Jack:
  
  Nicholson and co-star Morgan Freeman are filming director Rob Reiner's film "The Bucket List," a buddy comedy/drama about two terminally ill men who flee a cancer ward to complete a list of things they want to do before they die. It is scheduled for release in November.
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  Jim Tourtelott

  2 years ago

  You're doing fine, BG. You just have too little to work with. The Grammies were more fun.
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  Shayera

  2 years ago

  She should have worn that dress all night. Instead of that brown thing.
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  Shayera

  2 years ago

  Well, #8 is from the original Star Wars.
  Which is my favorite movie of all time.
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  steverino

  2 years ago

  Blue Girl, you've done a terrific job. Nothing to work with here. I think we'll all look back at 2007 as the year we finally realized what a load of crap the Oscars really are.
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  M.A. Peel

  2 years ago

  It's 11:30, and all the major awards are still to come. WHo is producing this mess?
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  Tom Watson

  2 years ago

  Gone with the wind
  Godfather
  On the waterfront
  Wizard of oz
  Casablanca
  Dirty harry
  Sunset blvd???
  Star wars
  Dunno!!!
  Taxi driver
  
  damn! 8-9 of 10
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  Jim Tourtelott

  2 years ago

  "Go ahead, make my day" is Magnum Force, not Dirty Harry. And the one Tom didn't know is Bette Davis as Margo Channing in All About Eve.
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  Jim Tourtelott

  2 years ago

  The "Dirty Harry" catchphrase was the long speech about a .44 Magnum that climaxes with "Do I feel lucky today? Well, do you, punk?"
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  Shayera

  2 years ago

  8 minutes over and still 5 awards to go.
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  Tom Watson

  2 years ago

  dang.
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  b tween

  2 years ago

  Sorry, but I can't see things like the Beyonce/JHudson number without thinking of my Over the Top Symptoms.
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  Shayera

  2 years ago

  There's no such thing as an unsexy picture of Viggo Mortensen! Love him!
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  Tom Watson

  2 years ago

  It's 11:42 and they're doing film editing??!! If i doze off, please don't kill me...
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  Mythiot

  2 years ago

  1. Gone With The Wind
  2. The Godfather
  3. On The Waterfront
  4. The Wizard Of Oz
  5. Casablanca
  6. Sudden Impact
  7. Sunset Boulevard
  8. Star Wars
  9. All About Eve
  10. Taxi Driver
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  Jim Tourtelott

  2 years ago

  Mythiot's right---Sudden Impact, not Magnum Force. That was "A man's got to know his limitations." And apparently I don't.
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  Shayera

  2 years ago

  Philip Seymour Hoffman couldn't comb his hair?
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  Tom Watson

  2 years ago

  Here comes Helen Mirren...
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  Tom Watson

  2 years ago

  Best acceptance speech....oh, she's so brilliant.
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  Jim Tourtelott

  2 years ago

  A nice, concise speech that ends with the loyal toast, which is also the title of her movie. That, boys and girls, is how you do this.
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  Tom Watson

  2 years ago

  Oh exactly, it was rehearsed, in character, and brief. Leads very UK newscast tomorrow...
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  b tween

  2 years ago

  Indeed there went Helen Mirren, and man she looked good.
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  Shayera

  2 years ago

  Well deserved and about time. Scorcese
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  b tween

  2 years ago

  Yeah Scorcese. I mean, great! but duh. If they hadn't the academy would have had even less credibility than it has now.
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  Tom Watson

  2 years ago

  Well, Scorcese was certainly expected - a nice flick, not up to Goodfellas standards, but a great cast, well-used. A little over-long perhaps. Like his speech.
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  Shayera

  2 years ago

  Diane Keaton doesn't have gloves on! Alert the media!
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  Tom Watson

  2 years ago

  Our little poll predict the Departed.
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  Tom Watson

  2 years ago

  And the pollsters were right.
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  Tom Watson

  2 years ago

  ...and thanks to Blue Girl!
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  Jim Tourtelott

  2 years ago

  Thanks, BG, and the rest of y'all. Without you, that would just have been four hours of my life that I'll never get back.
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  Shayera

  2 years ago

  BG you did a great job!
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  b tween

  2 years ago

  yeah! great job BG!
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  Kevin Wolf

  2 years ago

  BG, I just couldn't stay awake and follow along last night. I also have no access to TV.
  
  I didn't read the paper or look for the winners until I could fire up the PC this morning and read this first. I laughed out loud at your blogging and the comments. Too bad it sounds like the Oscar show was deathly dull.
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  john from toronto

  2 years ago

  As they said on the Toronto station of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation the Oscars are all about the money, and are the world's longest /biggest infomercial
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  Claire

  2 years ago

  Hey BG, I'm sorry I didn't show up! I was at my parents' and the computer room doesn't have a tv in it. I almost got off my butt to go comment about the shorts (go me on both accounts!), but there was a 60 lb dog who thinks he's a lap dog sitting on me... and I'm lazy. Great job, though. I hated the preshow, and most of the dresses. What's with the blah colors? I hated the intro and the stupid interpretive dances. If you had nixed those we would have ended at a more decent hour!
  reply
• 

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  1 year ago

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