Another Oscars has come and gone, and in the day that it happened it feels like I aged about 8 years. So why don't we start off with...

It's not the length of the boat, it's the motion in the ocean Whoopi Goldberg wasn't kidding when, during her opening monologue, she noted that we were going to be together for a while. For those of you who had the good sense to go to bed, the show ran about 4 hours, give or take. Mostly take.

The problem I have thinking back on the show is that I'm not sure where they could make serious time savings. But, as a public service, here's what I'm thinking:

Ditch the pre-game ABC, apparently feeling pressure from E! and other cable outfits that had the idea to work the red carpet before the show started, instituted their own show about 5 years ago. That leaden affair, featuring Geena Davis, has devolved into a pointlest yakfest left in the hands of Chris Connelly, Leeza Gibbons, and newcomer Ananda Lewis. It's a case of subtraction by addition if ever there was, as Connelly and Gibbons ask the typical Access Hollywood level questions, while Lewis added nothing. At least on E!, you had the cattiness subtext to all of Joan Rivers' "interviews".

Anyway, by doing this, ABC can start the show closer to 8 pm Eastern, and hold on to more audience later in the program.

Do something with the commercials Two ideas that Laura DeVeau dropped on me this morning: either move the ads to an "intermission" block, or have some sort of advertising on screen during the ceremony. I prefer the latter; consider a small banner along the bottom of the screen, changing every so often for a new sponsor. Soccer does something like this, and David Letterman once did a commerical break-free show doing something very similar.

I can see some arguing that it "cheapens" the broadcast, but (a) it's the Oscars, not the Nobel Prizes, and (b) it wouldn't be any less cheap looking than Cameron Diaz or Gwyneth Paltrow. Heck, they could do two tiers of ads: one for the on-screen during ceremony ads, and standard ads held during, say, a once per hour 5 minute break. That may even generate more ad revenue if priced right and hyped correctly.

Less special stuff It's a hard point to make when last night's "special stuff" included honorary awards to Sidney Poitier and Robert Redford, and a rare Woody Allen sighting, but a more judicious use of the special bits may still be needed. The intro and outro bits about actors' favorite movies (or the first movie that got them interested in film) was nice but not strictly necessary. And in the case of having Catherine Deneuve and Britney Spears go back to back, the unintentional comedy was appreciated but not required.

Oh yeah, Cirque du Soleil. Five pointless minutes added, as far as I could tell, to give seat fillers a chance to work. Must be a union thing.

Halie and Denzel Yes, historic. Surprising? Not so much. Consider Denzel: up against two actors who generate very mixed feelings (Sean Penn and Russell Crowe), an actor not many people have heard of in a movie not many people saw (Tom Wilkinson) and an actor who may still be in the process of being taken seriously (Will Smith). Denzel also had the help that at least three of these folks had to work with other folks who were nominated, while he was the clear central figure of his movie (you could even argue that Denzel's ability brought Ethan Hawke up to Oscar caliber, which is something to say).

Halie Berry had some similar help. Renee Zellweger was nominated for a comedy, which rarely produces a best lead award. Judi Dench was nominated for a movie that apparently enough people saw to give Jim Broadbent an award, but didn't motivate voters to cast one her way. That and I think people may be getting a little sick of seeing her name on the ballot.

Nicole Kidman was the clear people's choice, but was nominated for the wrong film. She should have been nominated for The Others; her win for Moulin Rouge at the Golden Globes was (a) in the separate comedy/musical category, and (b) was the Golden Globes, which can differ greatly with Oscar (remember Evita?).

Sissy Spacek peaked too early, winning the Golden Globe, but losing to Berry at the SAG Awards. So for all her hyperventilating, Berry should have had a better idea that she was going to take the prize. But I suppose she figured it wasn't likely given that Monster's Ball wasn't widely seen, and the race issue to boot.

Fashion I don't care. I will make remarks (Sharon Stone can't pull off the dress she wore anymore), but mostly find the whole fashion aspect kind of dull. Everyone's in earth tones? Doesn't matter to me. They could all go naked for all I care. :P

Randy Newman Finally won after 16 nominations, all for songs that sound the same and are about friendship. "We're a couple of friends/ And we'll be together right to the end/ We do things together/ In all sorts of weather/ But then something happens/ And there's stuff in the middle/ But at the end/ We're still friends."

Better him than another Diane Warren power ballad, I suppose.

Anything else? Not really. Whoopi was OK, about as Whoopi as she usually is. I'd like to see Steve Martin come back. Billy Crystal is the popular choice, but I like Martin's dry humor. Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson's bit before the costume awards was perhaps the funniest presentation of the night. Perhaps we can get them to unseat Bruce Vilanch and the usual writers and inject some new blood into the show. Of course, I'd like to see David Letterman come back, but I know that's not going to happen.

Speaking of Dave, I was taken back a bit when Halie Berry thanked Oprah Winfrey for her role-modeling. The less Oprah the better, I think (and not just in her personal weight battle)