Jai Ho!!!  I just finished watching the Oscars and this was the best broadcast I’ve seen in a while.  As usual it ran long, but the pacing was good, so I didn’t feel it.  I’m happy for “Slumdog Millionaire” because I think that it was the best film I had seen from 2008 (though, I can’t say I saw the other nominated movies).  Huge Jackman was an excellent host.  It was nice having a person who could actually “entertain” rather than some comedian who only knows how to tell snarky jokes that fail half the time.

I must make an admission — I’m on “Team Angelina” (I never liked “Friends” or Jennifer Aniston that much and I was crushed when Brad Pitt married Aniston.  I was so happy when Angelina stepped in and turned Brad into a respectable guy) but tonight, I did feel very bad for Jennifer Aniston who had to present just a few feet from “Brangelina.”  I couldn’t tell whether she was really upset or whether that was part of the “character” she was supposed to play with Jack Black.  The show’s director cut the broadcast in a way to make it seem as though Aniston was upset by Brangelina.  Brangelina on the other hand looked like royalty as usual … sigh …  I really love seeing “Brangelina” happy with each other and their kids … so well… that’s pretty much the extent of my Hollywood star worship — Jai Ho!  Brangelina!

Anyhow, during the whole Aniston episode, I decided to Twitter and I saw that there was an Oscars Twitter event so I decided to “join” in.  It’s interesting how your mind can trick you into thinking that you are watching with a bunch of other people while  communicating into the ether and reading what others are sending into the ether.  The Tweets about Aniston were HILARIOUS.  The fact that people identify themselves as being on “Team Aniston” or “Team Angelina” is too much …, but that’s the way it is (my Mom’s on “Team Angelina” too.  Both of us like how Angelina the crazy goth girl has grown into a women who is a skilled actor, humanitarian, mother, and wife (I personally think she and Pitt have a sealed marriage — how else could they adopt from other countries??? )  But I digress … anyhow, I Twittered from my iPhone.  It was a fun experience that made up for my husband’s quick departure from fright before the ceremony even began.  He couldn’t make it past the Red Carpet pre-show, …, though he did come down to see the Best Picture announcement.

As for for the format change of the show, I did like the presentation of the awards for the actors and actresses.  It was nice to have past winners each say what amounted to a toast for each of the nominees.  It really did reinforce the feeling that it is an honor to be nominated.

Disappointments — mainly that “The Dark Knight” and “Wall-E” were not nominated for best picture.  I think those movies resonated more with the general public than some of the other movies nominated … but I guess that’s not what the Oscars are all about.

Well, I’ve rambled enough … Jai Ho, everyone!!!  (gotta download that one on iTunes tomorrow :-0 )