Missed it ,don't have cable or satellite! Oh poor me!
2. Thankfully, Academy Awards Livens Up
Bill Condon and Laurence Mark, first-time producers of the 81st Annual Academy Awards, were nervous about the declining ratings trend of previous Oscar telecasts.
They decided rather than go with the usual comedic-type hosts of the past such as Steve Martin, Billy Crystal and Jon Stewart, they would tap a guy who was People magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive,” Hugh Jackman.
After all the fingernail biting about an Australian thespian emceeing the Oscars, it turned out that Jackman gave the Academy something it sorely needed — a dose of class.
The actor used his song and dance talents to open the show with a spoof about having to entertain on a budget because of economic cutbacks. Using cheesy props and some very funny lyrics, he touched upon all of the films nominated for major awards.
Anne Hathaway, who participated in the skit with Jackman, proved that in addition to being a terrific actress she can carry a tune and is ready for “Dancing with the Stars.”
This was the Oscars the way they used to be — family oriented, entertaining, and generally apolitical.
Penelope Cruz won the Best Supporting Actress award for “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.”
Heath Ledger won the posthumous Best Supporting Actor award for his portrayal of the Joker in “The Dark Knight.”
Kate Winslet, after five previous losses, won her first Oscar for Best Actress in “The Reader.” She played a vile and notably unattractive Nazi war criminal, which pretty much guaranteed her a win this time out.
Her chief opponent, Meryl Streep, was on her 15th nomination and would have picked up her third statue had she won.
The Best Actor Oscar went to Sean Penn for “Milk,” invoking the Tom Hanks “Philadelphia” precedent and snubbing Mickey Rourke’s superior performance in “The Wrestler.” Penn couldn’t resist launching a political attack on backers of California’s Proposition 8, ruining the good feel that the show had up to that point.
Fortunately, things swung back around when “Slumdog Millionaire” took the Best Picture Oscar.
There was even a nice touch at the end as credits rolled and the audience was treated to previews of coming attractions of potential 2009 Oscar nominees.
Kudos to the Academy for listening to viewers and giving the public a good show.
it was there for all to see. remember the homosexual screenwriter or whatever who burned his pro-mormon, pro-conservative parents at the stake? did you forget that? and the pro-obama snips? then the penn diatribe, which you mention. there's plenty 'o political manure at oscars...you just have to admit it. hugh jackman wasn't that funny or that great. what movie has he been in or great achievement to be mc for the oscars? he ain't all that and a bag of chips. you see "australia"???? lol...that's the "ishtar" of the 2000's. it's a good thing "the x-men" comic book characters are out there or 'ol hugh might be showing his weenie for playgirl for a paycheck. Yes, Mick got screwed over his nomination. He should've cracked a steel chair over piss-ant Penn's face, then put him in a figure 4 leglock until Sean handed over that statue.
Ah, one more reason to not buy into the mainstream cable tv. I just rent movies or buy,but of course many movies these days glorify this twisted sick mentality, one can almost tell by what actors are in these movies which will have some morally perverted agenda. The sicko Sean Penn for one!
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Kudos to the Academy Awards this year! 
