I spent last night with a naked man.  He's tall, has rock hard abs, not too much hair, very little personality and he is covered in solid gold.  I am talking about the Oscar.  The statue they give the winners of the Academy Award.  What did you think I was talking about?  Get your mind out of the gutter. 

Last night was Academy Award night.  I didn't exactly stay awake for all of it, but who can resist the Oscars.  I can't.  It's long, it's boring, it's predictable, BUT I have to watch it.   I love the dresses, the glamour, the moving speeches and the bad production numbers.  This year's show did not disappoint on any of the above counts.

Red Red Red

It seems like they sent out a memo this year; "wear red dresses, girls!"  Red was everywhere.  Mylie Cyrus, Katherine Heigl, Heidi Klum and Anne Hathaway all wore red - and looked stunning.  There were several folks there representin' for The Broadway.  There was Laura Linney (about to open in Les Liaisons Dangereuses on B'way) looking lovely in eggplant.  Jennifer Garner (recently in Cyrano) stunning in a black "mermaid-type" dress and MAJOR bling (there was a lot of mermaid dressing on the red carpet - perhaps inspired by the new B'way show).   Stage goddess Helen Mirren was there (the dress was a bit matronly).  Jessica Alba (who flirted with B'way this year - remember Speed-the-Plow) wearing maternity couture (she was very hush hush about how many months pregnant she was and when she was due...why?).   Another B'way vet, Sean (Puffy) Combs was shilling his Raisin in the Sun movie that airs tonight (with Phylicia Rashad and Audra McDonald).  Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls) looked FIERCE in a white Grecian tunic-type dress.  Yowza!  The Amy's looked awesome.  Amy Ryan (Streetcar Named Desire) looking gorgeous in blue/gray and Amy Adams (while not technically a B'way baby (yet) she sang and danced like a pro in Enchanted, which makes her an honorary member) she looked smokin' in dark green.  No real freak show dresses.  I am sure that Rebecca Miller (Arthur's daughter and Daniel Day Lewis' wife) will get a few hits for her gigantic bejeweled flower in the middle of her dress - that was a real standout for me - what was she possibly thinking? 

What Was That?

The red carpet was pretty bland except for the crazy Gary Busey.  As Ryan Seacrest tried to talk to Garner and Linney, Gary Busey started screaming something at Ryan and then busted into the interview, hugged Linney and then kissed Garner on the neck.  Yikes.   Seacrest was VERY scared.  It was buh-zarre!

Is It Over Yet?

The show is always so gosh darn LONG!  Ugh.  Even with DVR it last FOREVER.  Here are some hi-lights and low-lights.

Low: I love Amy Adams but she might want to fire the person that didn't stop her from singing "Happy Working Song"on the telecast.  She was smart enough to make them cut the cirque du soleil acrobats, but the whole thing was weird and boring.

Hi: Javier Bardem winning the Best Supporting Actor trophy for No Country for Old Men and thanking his mother in Spanish.

Hi: Sweeney Todd winning for Best Art Direction.  Go Sweeney!

Hi & Low: Tilda Swinton (looking a bit like David Bowie in a black velvet sack) taking the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Michael Clayton.  She rocks.  Great actress.  Great speech (comparing the statue's ass to her agents ass).  Great hair.  Bad dress.

Hi: Kristin Chenoweth's musical number.  She looked like a goddess and she sang like one too.  The staging for the number actually worked.  KC scored some major points.

Hi:  The kids from Once (Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova) singing their sweet, simple song.  Lovely movie.  Lovely song.  Lovely moment.  (Even better was when they won and the band didn't let Marketa speak and then John Stewart brought her out after the commercial to make her speech.  Bravo John!)

Hi:  John Stewart.  He was clever, funny, and totally respectful all night long.  The WiFi joke was very funny and the Gaydolf Titler joke brought the house down.  Runners Up - Seth Rogen (Knocked Up) and Jonah Hill (Superbad) presenting.  The battle of who was Halle Berry...deliciously funny.

Low:  Katherine Heigl all weird and nervous; reading poorly from the teleprompter.  She might not be asked back to do that next year???

Low:  Me going to bed early.  I couldn't help it.  It is soooooo long.  I made it further than I thought I would, but I finally had to bail.  Hey, I could have lied to you.  Listed the rest of the winners (a No Country for Old Men sweep - zzzz) and pretended that I watched to the bitter end.  I respect you too much to do that.  I respect you too darn much! 

That is my wrap up of the Oscars.  It was important night, but there are still a ton of things happening on the rialto and I want to make sure I keep you up to date.  Here are a few quick hits for you on this lovely Post-Oscar Monday.  Take a look...

Raisins Tonight

Check out the new movie of Raisin in the Sun, airing tonight on ABC at 8:00pm.  The movie brings together the cast of the recent Broadway production; Sean Combs, Phylicia Rashad (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof), Audra McDonald (110 in the Shade) and Sanaa Lathan.  Kenny Leon reprises his directing duties for the film.  I saw this show on B'way and it rocked.  I am really excited to see this new filmed version. 

Oprah Exits Bway

The Color Purple ended its Broadway run last night.  The hit musical based on the novel by Alice Walker closed at the Broadway Theater after 30 previews and 910 performances.  The original star of the show was LaChanze (who won a Tony for her performance).  She was then replaced by Fantasia (who wowed the audience and critics).  The show was produced by mega star Oprah Winfrey making her first foray into B'way producing.  It seems like she conquered the rialto, quite nicely!  What will she take on next?

Dead or Alive?

Don't start writing the obit for the play Is He Dead? quite yet.  The show has been advertising "Final Weeks" for the past few days, but it turns out that this may have been just an advertising ploy.  Producers announced that there is NO closing notice and that tickets are on sale until June 1st, 2008.  So, if you haven't seen it yet - go check out the show and Norbert Leo Butz's much hailed performance.

That's it for today.  Have a great Monday and I will...

~ See You On The Aisle