Oscar's highs and lows

No sophomore slump for Stewart

By Geoff Berkshire
Metromix

Jon Stewart excelled in his second attempt as Oscar host, declaring the evening Hollywood's "make-up sex" for the writers' strike. His fast and funny monologue spanned a range of topics—the strike, the depressing crop of best picture nominees, the Presidential race—and seemed to amuse everyone, except maybe Julie Christie. (She was probably laughing on the inside.)

He deserves bonus points for noting, "Even 'Norbit' got a nomination, which I think is great. Too often the Academy ignores movies that aren't good."