HOLLYWOOD -- As the debate continues over the pros and cons of this year's heavily trumpeted Oscar makeover, one thing's for sure:
It's time for Nagging Oscar Night Questions: 2009 Edition!
* One of the goals of the new organizers was to try to bring the big show in at the elusive three-hour mark. How close did they get?
According to our handy stopwatch, this year's Oscars clocked in at three hours and 23 minutes, which actually makes it about six minutes longer than the 2008 show, but at least it still comes in at almost half-an-hour shorter than the 2007 snore-fest. And preliminary ratings results show viewership up over last year's record lows, by an estimated 13%, but still well short of 2007 figures.
* Host Hugh Jackman commented on the international scope of this year's nominated performances, but how did U.S. homegrown talent ultimately fare?
Among the top eight categories, Americans could lay claim to all of two Oscars -- namely best actor Sean Penn and original screenwriter, Dustin Lance Black, both for Milk. All the other winners, including Kate Winslet, Penelope Cruz, the late Heath Ledger and Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle were born on foreign soil.
* During Penn's acceptance speech, he referred to seeing "signs of hatred as our cars drove in tonight." What did he mean?
He was likely referring to hate-spewing protesters from the Topeka, Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church, who, in addition to waving anti-gay signs along Hollywood Blvd., outside the Kodak Theatre, held up others reading, "Heath in Hell" and "Antichrist Obama."
* This year's ceremony boasted near-perfect nominee attendance, with the exception of Peter Gabriel, who wasn't on hand to perform his Oscar contender from Wall-E. Why?
Gabriel was upset that Oscar organizers took a sledgehammer to his song, Down to Earth, shrinking it down from its original six minutes to a mere 65 seconds, then squashing in between those two booming Slumdog songs. John Legend stood in for him, trying as best he could to be heard over all that drumming.
* Speaking of that undeniably catchy Oscar winner, what exactly does Jai Ho mean?
The morning after the Oscars, composer A.R. Rahman told Oprah it translates as, "May victory be yours," but other interpretations include "Praise be" and "Hallelujah."
* So how many times during Jennifer Aniston's presentation (with Jack Black) of the animated film nominees, did they cut to Brangelina for reaction shots?
Twice. Once during the animated feature segment and again during the presentation of the animated short nominations. Such restraint.
* And finally, did that sound-mixer guy extend his record Sunday night as Oscar's biggest loser?
Technically, yes, since none of the films that sound-mixing technician Kevin O'Connell worked on in 2008, including Space Chimps and The Ruins, ended up being nominated in the best sound categories. But that could change next year should O'Connell's current project--Michael Mann's star-studded Public Enemies -- snag those tech nominations, which would give the Susan Lucci of Sound the chance to extend his Academy Awards streak to a lifetime 0 for 21.
And Kate Winslet thought her win was a long time coming!
