Yes, it was too long. It's always too long. I loved it anyway and was smiling a lot during the telecast.

I thought Ellen did a great hosting job, funny and classy. I hope she does it again.

Favorite winner: Alan Arkin, 38 years after his first nomination.

Favorite winner: Helen Mirren, classy and elegant in her glorious dress.

Favorite winner: Martin Scorsese — finally! "Could you double check the envelope?" he asked. The idea to have as the Best Director presenters Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola was inspired.

As were the production numbers: the cool Hollywood Film Chorale Sound Effects Choir; the cooler than cool Pilobus modern dance troupe from Connecticut with their shadow show; the gospel choir in the aisles at the beginning of the telecast; and the writers' and classic foreign language films montages.

Good moments: the Al and Leo show, Al Gore and Leonardo DiCaprio talking about global warming and Gore's fake almost presidential announcement; Abilgail Breslin and Jaden Smith presenting the "shorts" awards; the directors three presenting the award to Scorsese; and Ellen having Spielberg take a photo of her and Clint Eastwood.

Best Dressed: Helen Mirren, Queen Latifah, Abilgail Breslin, Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Hudson (without the bolero), Penelope Cruz, J Lo, Cate Blanchett.

Worst dressed: I agree with Cojo: a rare miss for Nicole Kidman in way too much red.

Nominess for worst everything:

→ Jerry Seinfeld
→ too long speeches/too little correctly timed orchestra playoff
→ too long nominated songs
→ too long telecast
→ inane/ignorant red carpet interviewers and

→ the winner, by a landslde, Jack Nicolson. Year after year, tedious, tiresome, an OGNA (oh, god, not again).

I understand why hosts and the cameras like to go to him — he makes good faces. But enough already. Somebody please pay him to sit somewhere where he can't be found. At the Lakers games too.