...

The few and far in between highlights are not even worth mentioning considering none of them came during the actual award-competition itself. Okay, well, I'll mention them. Hugh Jackman was admittedly fun. So was Steve Martin. Will Smith's quip about action movies and having "fans" was also nice. Jack Black calling out DreamWorks-Pixar was priceless. Ben Stiller playing Phoenix, the previous-winner lineups, and the final reel--the one featuring best-picture nominees/winners both old and new, were all pleasant things to see on what was ultimately a bland, uninspiring, and utterly frivolous night.

And well, as for the actual winners, the Ledger family was a tragic thing to see regardless of the superb job they did taking it all in stride. Sean Penn did his best to make up for the steal of what was rightfully Mickey Rourke's by giving a pretty decent speech. It was nice to see Christopher Nolan smile, for once, when Richard King accepted the Oscar for Sound Editing. Milk writer Dustin Lance Black made a good case on Prop 8, sadly a little too late. And it was indeed a nice thing to see Kate Winslet win. There was a feeling of fulfillment, or relief, or just something special that came along with it. More power to her.

Other than that, well, as my friend texted me before the show, "You look nervous, is it the Oscars? Wanna know how I got 'em?"

It's a funny world we live in.