I'm a bit angry Topsy Turby got best makeup over Fat Bastard! Sure his chicken eating/sex scene was disgusting...but ya gotta admit the makeup was far superior to Topsy.

I enjoy Phil Collins' music, but I grow really tired of Disney getting the best original song award every year...especially when "Blame Canada" was nominated! Trey Parker and Matt Stone keep getting shafted by the Academy and the MPAA. Anyone remember the "NC-17" rating on "Orgazmo"? That should've been an R rating in every sense of the term. (At least Robin Williams made a nice show of the song.)

Finally, when oh when will the Academy devote a mere couple of minutes to the technical achievement awards. They don't even bother to quickly run through them! Yet they'll go on and on and on and on and on with their montages, dragging the show out to a solid FOUR HOURS so they can sell more commercial time.

That's not true. Had Lucas made a film which had even SLIGHTLY rekindled the flame which burnt so brightly by the first two films (and to a lesser extent, the third) he would have been up there all night and NO-ONE would be looking at him as if he is a has-been.

Congrats to the Matrix and all the Aussies that made it possible.

Personally, I wasn't wrapped in the Matrix, but I'd sit through it another twenty times before I sat through The Phantom Shit another once.

And did anyone else notice Cher's eyes kinda bugging out as she opened that envelope? Thought 'Blame Canada' had actually won it there for a split second until she said "Phil Collins"...

And i am glad Matrix swept all its categories!

Things that worked.

I thought Billy Crystal was great as usual. Yea, the shtick is getting old; but it's a great shtick! I actually liked the two announcers. Peter Coyote was transparent and I enjoyed the peek backstage.

I thought the show made use of the video wall in the most effective way that I have ever seen. I used to set those up and let me tell you, The represented 5 days work by a couple of very talented technicians, to set up. Then, I am sure there was a week of rehearsal. It also represented at least a week of programming time, if not longer. Then, of course, they flew the walls. There was a credit for TI/DLP at the end of the broadcast. They did the big screen, but who did the video walls?

I liked the way they brought all the song acts on in one set. The curtain moved back and forth until Blame Canada when they used the whole set.

Things that didn't work.

So they eliminated the dance number! What was that tribute to Music in Film number? It looked like a colossal waste of time to me. It wasn't very good and only scratched the surface of the topic. And let's stitch the whole thing together with mindless plinking at the piano. Ray Charles is one of the greatest performers ever, but he looked a little sad up there. Let it be said that I dislike medleys, anyway.

There were some dead spots when they came back from commercials. I don't know how you fix that, but it stood out.

And what was that about standing in the center mike, then crossing the stage to get out of the way of the screen, and ending up at a different mike? The presenters were obviously body miked and they didn't need the center mike. I would have stood the presenter at the edge of the screen and stopped all this movement on stage.

Every year I here about how long the telecast was. I don’t care, I like it long.

Disappointments

I wanted Richard Farnsworth to win best actor. I wanted Genghis Blues to win best documentary. Congar Ol Adnar from Genghis Blues was there in person. He would have been a mind blowing, musical guest.

Delights

Hilary Swank was the best actress. Michael Cain was very gracious. I liked that the Matrix was given everything it was nominated for. I like that everybody thanked the Warchowski Brohters, who are great and will be great again if Matrix 2 & 3 don't sink them.

Dresses

Selma Hyak was great as usual. Hilary Swank looked very feminine. Charlize Therone was stunning, as was Nichole Kidman. What dresses stood out in your mind?

Did anyone get a look at what Matt and Trey were wearing? Nice send up to bad fashion!

My name is Ian Price; I'm the projectionist and I will be your host.

You will not see me for the rest of the show. I will be lounging in the booth with my fellow projectionist while all these stars are sweating it out on stage. Now here is Charlize Therone to give an oscar to the Projectionist of the Year.

I exit while giving Charlize a pat on the back side.

"The nominees are;

Brad Miller, for inventing Film-Guard.

Joe Redifer, for using his aserbic wit to make the manufactures do better.

Erika Helgren, for putting up with Joe and advancing the art of projection.

Aaron Siesmore, for making the oldest, most beat-up equipment in the world, continue to work.

And Gordon McLeod for running the realy big film.

I wonder if it was a concious decision by ABC or unconcious not to show them.

My buddy Congar ol Adnar was there as well. He is the Tuvan throat singer from Genghis Blues. I only saw him in the corner of one of E!'s shots. His outfit was more colorful than most.

After that russian won for best animated short, The Old Man and the Sea, they should have said, "OK lets watch it now."

Or with interactive TV they should say, "The winner's film will now play on Channel 602 on your DSS machine. We will give you five minutes to set your Replay."