Oscar

Yes, please Let Billy Crystal do his thing Sure, he may not be the hippiest host, but Crystal's an Oscar-host pro. He knows what he's doing and he's funny doing it. We're hoping for a classic Crystal opening monologue, hopefully one of those song medleys that humorously mentions the major nominees. Or a montage where he's inserted into films Crystal pierced and tattooed in a "Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" shout-out? Totally would work. More Muppets We hear Kermit and Miss Piggy are presenters, but why stop there?

I watched Sunday's Oscars hoping that this year they would be better. I have heard that viewers are decreasing yearly. It is no mystery why. The Oscars are supposed to be the entertainment industry's highest award, yet we are continually exposed to juvenile humor that would be more appropriate in a bar (if that). My prime example is the opening number in which host Seth MacFarlane sang about whose "boobs" have been seen in movies. As the Mr. MacFarlane pointed out, the show was being watched around the world by 1 billion people, and this is the best we can do?

On July 9, 2003, MR. OSCAR THOMAS ARMWOOD. On Tuesday, Mr. Armwood will lie in state at VAUGHN C. GREENE Funeral Services, 4905 York Road, where the family will receive friends from 11 to 11:30 A. M with services to follow. Inquiries to 410-433-7500.

Being snubbed might have been the best thing to happen to Ben Affleck. His film “Argo” took the best picture Oscar on Sunday night at the 85 th Academy Awards - more than a little solace, perhaps, for being snubbed in the directing category. Other marquee winners were Daniel Day-Lewis for lead actor for “Lincoln,” Jennifer Lawrence for lead actress for “Silver Linings Playbook,” and Ang Lee for director for “Life of Pi,” which won four Oscars, the most for any film.

On April 13, 2005, OSCAR ALEXANDER; beloved husband of Rebeca Alexander (nee Socolovsky); beloved father of Irwin J. Alexander of Los Angeles, CA, Oscar E. Alexander of Baltimore, MD and Daniel H. Alexander of Bronxville, NY; devoted father-in-law of Lynda Alexander and Francine Smith Alexander; devoted brother of the late Aaron, Jack, Ben, Bluma and Chaya. Services at SOL LEVINSON and BROS., INC., 8900 Reisterstown Road at Mt. Wilson Lane, on Friday, April 15 at 12 noon. Interment Beth Tfiloh Congregation Cemetery, 5800 Windsor Mill Road.

On Wednesday, June 9, 2004, OSCAR SHERER, loving husband of Elizabeth G. Sherer (nee Gomory). He is survived by his wife's children George Gavora and Kate Gavora and his wife's grandchildren Andrea and Michelle Gavora. Beloved brother of the late Regina Szell and Berta Kiraly. Devoted uncle of Edit Schreiber. Funeral Services and Interment at the Maryland Veterans Cemetery, Garrison Forest Road on Friday, June 11 at 10 A.M. Please omit flowers. Arrangements by SOL LEVINSON & BROS., Inc. 10

On January 11, 2004, OSCAR BERMAN, loving husband of the late Bessie Berman (nee Blumberg); adored brother of the late Lena Gamson, Barney Berman, Al Berman, Bess Kass, Jack Berman and Sara Bedford; beloved uncle of many generations of nieces and nephews. Services at SOL LEVINSON & BROS. INC., 8900 Reisterstown Road, at Mt. Wilson Lane, on Monday, January 12, at 2 P.M. Interment Hebrew Friendship Cemetery, 3600 E. Baltimore St. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be directed toHadassah, 3723 Old Court Road, Suite 205, (21208)

Inside * Help wanted: awards show host. Why the once-splashy job is one no one wants. Page 3. * Sun movie critic Michael Sragow picks his favorites for the big night. Page 5. And online * The Oscars aren't the only awards show this weekend. Read about the winners - and losers - of the Spirit Awards and the Razzies at baltimoresun.com/ movies * Sun TV critic David Zurawik reviews the Oscar telecasts' top moments as they happen Sunday night on his blog, baltimoresun.com/ zontv * Follow our instant Oscar updates and observations at twitter.

ABC's telecast of the Academy Awards Monday night drew slightly higher ratings than last year, with 744,000 added households tuning in, Nielsen Media Research reported yesterday.The program, which was dominated by "Dances With Wolves," registered a 28.4 rating (about 26.4 million homes) and a 48 percent share of the audience, compared to a 27.9 rating and identical 48 share last year.However, the Oscar show's diminishing audience share was well below those of the 1970s and early 1980s. In 1983, for instance, when "Gandhi" won, the telecast scored a 38 rating and 59 vTC share, with 31,654,000 homes tuned in.

William Goldenberg, who won the Editing Oscar for "Argo," faced perhaps his closest competition from an editor he knew well -- himself. Goldenberg was also nominated for "Zero Dark Thirty" (with Dylan Tichenor), a rare double nomination for a single person. Director Steven Soderbergh was once similarly conflicted, nominated for both "Traffic" and "Erin Brockovich" in 2001; he won for "Traffic. " Backstage, Goldenberg didn't seem too upset about losing to himself, or exultant over beating himself.

To find the inspiration behind the actors, actresses and others who hoisted Oscars last night, look no further than the works in your nearest library, bookstore or e-reader. The big winners were drawn from characters in adaptations that ranged from a mid-19th Century novel to modern magazine articles. It's another sign that the lifeblood of the movie industry is not glitz and glamour, but rather the imagination of an author toiling alone at a kitchen table. Here is a look at some notable winners, and the works that led to the movie.  -- Director: Ang Lee for "Life of Pi," from the Yann Martel novel about spirituality.

Former Baltimorean Craig Strydom intentionally attended the 85th Academy Awards wearing his father-in-law's tuxedo, the one with the tiny tear in one leg. The music journalist chose not to mend the small rip. He figured it would keep him grounded if the film that his work inspired, "Searching for Sugar Man," didn't win an Oscar. He needn't have worried. The fairy tale story that began in the mid-1990s in Strydom's native South Africa captured the top prize Sunday night for best documentary.

Stacy Keibler's appearance Sunday evening on the arm of George Clooney confirmed two things: 1. They're still an item; 2. She still adheres to a serious fitness routine. Keibler wore a beaded Naeem Khan gown and, according to Us Weekly, Giuseppe Zanotti shoes, Lorraine Schwartz jewels and a Tiffany & Co bag. The sophisticated, silver-and-black dress and her short, softly waved hair evoked a '20s flapper mood, far removed from the metallic gold, strapless gown she wore last year.

Fresh off becoming the first director since 1990 to helm a Best Picture winner without being nominated himself, Ben Affleck swore that's not a distinction he loses sleep over. "I'm not going to spend a lot of time second-guessing" the academy, he said, clutching the Oscar he'd just won as a producer for "Argo. " After all, he noted, academy voters did give him an Oscar, just not one for directing. Still, the normally self-effacing Affleck promised, people might see some changes in him, now that he's a two-time Oscar winner (he'd previously shared a screenwriting award with pal Matt Damon for "Good Will Hunting")

Tweets from @baltimoresun staff

We're about 10 minutes from the start pf the 85th Academy Awards -- hope you've made the final adjustments on your Oscar betting pool. Here are a few observations from Oscar's red carpet, surely one of Earth's most fascinating (not to mention fashionable) places. The award for for first celebrity to arrive goes to Kristen Chenoweth, one of the hosts of the Oscar pre-show (it was fun to watch her be so flabbergasted that Anne Hathaway actually guessed that the mystery object she was so zealously guarding was Dorothy's ruby slippers from 'The Wizard of Oz")

"Everything is up on the screen." That's Mo'Nique, explaining why she hasn't decamped to Hollywood to woo those who hold her Oscar dreams, whatever they might be, in their hands. How audacious of her. How refreshing. Though the award gods have been thundering in anger for weeks now, she has won a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award; and on Tuesday, she picked up an Oscar nomination for supporting actress for her performance in "Precious" despite her unwillingness to wade into the fray.

Quentin Tarantino, Hollywood's reigning enfant terrible, seems to have some fans in the motion picture academy -- and in the pressroom. Tarantino's win, his second (he also won for "Pulp Fiction"), was a bit of a surprise, as it bested pre-Oscar favorites "Amour" and "Zero Dark Thirty. " But his win in the Original Screenplay category suggests the academy is becoming fond of Tarantino's brand of outrageousness. And the backstage pressroom's reaction -- a collective gasp followed by some heartfelt applause -- suggests cinema scribes feel likewise.

Quentin Tarantino, Hollywood's reigning enfant terrible, seems to have some fans in the motion picture academy -- and in the pressroom. Tarantino's win, his second (he also won for "Pulp Fiction"), was a bit of a surprise, as it bested pre-Oscar favorites "Amour" and "Zero Dark Thirty. " But his win in the Original Screenplay category suggests the academy is becoming fond of Tarantino's brand of outrageousness. And the backstage pressroom's reaction -- a collective gasp followed by some heartfelt applause -- suggests cinema scribes feel likewise.

Christoph Waltz, fresh off winning one of the most competetive Oscar categories in recent memory -- all five Supporting Actor nominees were previous Oscar winners -- was admittedly caught off guard when he heard his name called from the Oscar stage. Asked how he felt about winning his second Supprting Actor Oscar in three years, Waltz said simply, "Guess. " Then, he paid tribute to the competition. "I was on a list with the greatest actors around," he said backstage. "How do you think someone feels when his name is called in that context?"