Are you forgetting Deborah Kerr?  Jane Wyman?  Betty Hutton?  OK, that last actress was just a personal favorite, but the other two were bigger stars than Pleshette and Ledger ever were (God love them both).  But there were a lot of omissions.  Robert Goulet?  Joey Bishop?  Alice Ghostley, Marcel Marceau?  Granted, they weren’t primarily movie stars, but neither was Richard Pryor and he got the "final spot" in last year’s montage.

By the way, when did they start including agents?

Not that I’m complaining, mind you – I for one wish everyone good health and long life.  But it seems that Hollywood didn’t lose really big celebrities last year.

Just an observation.  It was very touching puting Heath on last for the biggest applause, poor guy.

Regards,
Peter H.

Please, Academy – bring back Billy Crystal next year!

Regards,
Peter H.

I gotta go with Maher.

I did NOT enjoy the red carpet/pre-show for 30 minutes on the runway… I didn’t think JonStewart was even a tad funny -heck, for the 1st time in history, the show’s MC was more liberal than the Hollywood crowd assembled for the annual self-congratulatory ego-festival.  Stewart is really the most overrated, pompous windbag on the Left and he isn’t funny without his prepped, mid-drained and adoring studio audience.

The best moments, for me, came when they highlighted the 80 years of BestPicture flick awards and when Robert Boyle rec’d the honorary award –what a class act at 98.  He spoke of Hitchcock as "Hitch"… yeow, there’s a career and body of work.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0102327/

Speaking of design, Dan, did you think the set for the 80th Oscars looked stupid?  Tubes up, tubes down; late 20th C science chic with a reference to greek ruins or what?  Stupid.

And for the last time, I hope next year’s production company gets rid of BillConti’s horrible music contributions.  The guy makes elevator music more memorable (ugh).  BritneySpears has more talent at conducting.

Well, just spend tomorrow at an infanticide clinic. That should cheer you up.

Second, I always cheer for the people who make movies so magical who aren’t often celebrated in the way that actors are.  My favorite moment in all my years watching the awards was the best costume for Priscilla Queen of the Desert.  A well deserved award and the woman accepted the award wearing a dress made of American Express Gold cards (on display sometimes at Amex Corporate HQ in NYC).

The show is too long.  And this was a year was full of dark movies that weren’t very popular.  But these aren’t exactly happy times either.

And I love Jon Stewart.  He’s funny.  Relax and laugh a little.

This is the one reason why I’m glad the Oscars are on this year. these are the people who need the jobs. I couldn’t care less about the fashion designers and Jewelers, though I confess I love watching and commenting on the clothes.
Of the movies that Dan mentioned, I’ve seen La Vie en Rose and Lars. Juno is on my netflix list. But the others I have no interest in seeing, too much blood, gore and plain old vicious scenes of violence.

Oh and shave about half of the categories off the show too. Do we really care who the best caterer or port-o-john companies are?

Oh, I dearly hope so!  I want to see lots of bad outfits, stilted teleprompter readings, pompous acceptance speeches and almost unwatchable musical numbers.  And all of it in just under 4 hours.  Nothing brings Hollywood down from its pedestal of self-importance better than the wretched show they put on once a year to celebrate their industry.

Bring it on!