now, now, elaine. if you stayed for the credits at the end of a film occasionally you might begin to know some of the names they are thanking :)

anyway, the Oscars are all about the biz.  it’s political for sure.  but one must thank one’s agent for so many reasons (doesn’t hurt to give directors and production companies the heads up on who to schmooze at the Governor’s Ball).  the awards are voted on by peers and given to peers.  consider it a swanky awards banquet for the media business that outsiders get to watch

OMG, I have NEVER forgotten that performance in "Starting Over."  When you sang Better Than Ever… well, it simply set the gold standard for total commitment.  Burt Reynolds’ reaction was priceless.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAEm-ZnDuzk 

I’m with Tinka on the overly busy graphics.  I had to physically move inches in front of the TV to even see the names and images during the "in memoriam" segment.  It was stressful instead of moving.  The nonstop panning camera moving across the tiny viewing area which was additionally obscured by animations.  The director was either directing for the live audience or for a cinema-sized screen, certainly not for television.  I had the same issue with those smoky blue overlays that obscured the images of the costumes and production design.  I’d much rather see the actual production photos than a bunch of animated overlays.

Production numbers were too long.  Video tributes were too long.  Jackman was ho hum.  (I don’t get why they think he’s such a great song and dance man.  His voice is just so-so.)  But where the Oscars shined was in the wonderful actor tributes before each of the Best Actor/Actress and Supporting categories.  What an inspired idea!  Every "loser" left the telecast with a gift.  The sentiments of another respect thespian, that will surely ring within their memories for the rest of their careers.  Lovely.  Regardless of the technicalities and humdrum production, it was an elegant affair.  And that was so nice to see again after the last decade of "edgy," self-deprecating material.

I recall how everyone questioned Mia Farrow’s sanity when she began accumulating her 14 children many years ago.  Then, after Woody Allen took up with Soon-Yi , Mia was recast by the media as the nurturing, long-suffering Earth Mother.  It’s all spin and perception.

Granted,  Ms. Suleman’s demeanor may seem untraditional, and her challenges ahead, mind-boggling.  But just watch a couple of episodes of Wife Swap on ABC and you’ll be witness to Americans living the weirdest existences and raising their children in the most whack-a-doodle manners.  The fascinating reveal is that we often learn that it is the oddballs who live the happiest lives.