(Cross-posted at SteveSilver.net)

8:30- We start with a Dustin Hoffman-narrated clips package. I like this- especially since last year's didn't have one of these.

8:37- Rock's monologue. Pretty mid-level, and not raunchy or "controversial" at all, although the "Fahrenheit 9/11"/"what if there were a movie out that said how much you suck at your job" joke was pretty funny.

8:39- "Denzel's a fine actor, so he wouldn't make 'Pootie Tang.'" In fact, "Pootie Tang" was better than anything Denzel's done in the past 15 years.

8:43- Halle Berry is the first presenter -following a Rock 'Catwoman' joke- and looks GREAT. It's Art Direction, and "Aviator" wins.

8:47: Rock says Renee Zellweger "put on 25 pounds to play Bridget Jones, and will soon put on 80 pounds to play Deacon Jones." I bet anyone a thousand dollars that line was originally "Star Jones" before they made Rock change it. Best Supporting Actor is Morgan Freeman- which is good, because he deserved it. They chose the best clip in the movie for him, too.

8:51: After Freeman's speech, the theme from "Star Trek: The Next Generation" plays for no apparent reason.

8:55: During the Robin Williams routine about botox and plastic surgery, the director makes a point of not panning to any actresses for reaction. Then, his "gay cartoon characters" bit goes on about 2 minutes longer than necessary. "The Incredibles," deservedly, wins for Best Animation Feature.

9:01: They're actually giving out awards out in the audience to save time. One of the Best Makeup winners for "Lemony Snicket" thanks someone named "Medusa."

9:05: If Beyonce's performance proves anything, it's that she's MUCH better at non-English singing than J.Lo is. And that goes for English singing as well.

9:09: It's unrelated, but WABC's "He Is the Champion" promo for gay weatherman Sam Champion is one of the funnier things I've ever seen.

9:10: The camera catches some dude handing something to Rock. Oops. "From the Kodak Theater to the Magic Johnson Theater": it's like a bad Jay Leno bit, where Rock makes fun of people who only like stupid movies. But Albert Brooks singing the praises "White Chicks" was a nice touch.

9:17: The Costume Design award is co-presented by the animated designer from "The Incredibles." Cute, but not as funny as when Beavis & Butt-head assisted Letterman at the Emmys that time.

9:19: Rock mocks Tim Robbins for "boring us to death with his politics." Yea, Robbins sounded like a paranoid schizophrenic on Bill Maher last night. Best Supporting Actress is... Cate Blanchett. I never liked her- she all but ruined "The Life Aquatic"- but I grant that she was great as Kate.