Hurt Locker Wins!
Hurt Locker bypassed its chief rival, Avatar, for the final award of the evening, giving Kathryn Bigelow an even bigger anxiety attack and capping off the night with the lowest-grossing Best Picture in recent history.
"And the winner is… well, the time has come. Kathryn Bigelow!"
Presenter Barbra Streisand could not hold back her joy as she conferred the Best Director title on Kathryn Bigelow, the first woman to win the award. In her speech, Kathryn did not come across as a great female director, but simply a great director, thanking her cast and crew as well as the servicemen and women who inspired her film.
Jeff Bridges Dedicates His Oscar to His Family
It couldn't have happened to a nicer guy. Jeff Bridges cemented his reputation as the most likeable man in Hollywood with a rambling, touching speech thanking his showbiz parents and his wife.
Sandra Bullock: From Razzie to Oscar
It was quite a weekend for Sandra Bullock! On Saturday she was dishonored with a Razzie award for her cringe-worthy turn in All About Steve, and one night later she was bringing home her first Oscar for The Blind Side, beating out Meryl Streep and buzzy newcomer Gabourey Sidibe and giving a speech that was the epitome of grace. (Take note, Ms. Powell.)
Best Costume Winner Picks Up Third Oscar
Maybe it was a little tactless for Sandy Powell to act so unimpressed with her third Oscar. But the real question on everyone's minds: Where did she get that hat?
Is That Kanye in That Purple Dress?
Proving once again that the best speeches always come in the smaller categories, Music by Prudence director Roger Ross Williams—whose film won Best Documentary Short—was rudely interrupted during an acceptance speech by Elinor Burkett, his producer, shaking up an otherwise sleepy ceremony.
Mo'Nique Nabs the Gold
OK, maybe this race wasn't exactly a nail-biter, as Mo'Nique was pretty much a lock for Best Supporting Actress, but it was still gratifying to see her win for her gutsy portrayal of the mother to end all mothers in Precious.
The Oscars 2: Electric Boogaloo
Yes, that was interpretive dance accompanying those Oscar-nominated film scores. No, we don't know why.
What's Na'vi for "WTF"?
Avatar LARPers, meet your new god. To introduce the award for Best Makeup, Ben Stiller came out in full Avatar regalia, complete with a very improper proposition for James Cameron.
Liz Lemon and Tony Stark, Together at Last!
Thankfully, not every joke went down like a lead balloon. In an inspired bit of mismatched comedy, Robert Downey, Jr. and Tina Fey debated the roles of actors versus writers in Hollywood. Or, as Downey put it, "A collaboration between handsome, gifted people, and sickly little mole people."
John Hughes' The Tribute Club
The former teen stars of the late John Hughes' beloved filmography gathered on stage to pay tribute to the recently deceased director, led by ‘80s sweetheart Molly Ringwald.
Geoffrey Fletcher Becomes First African American to Win a Screeplay Oscar
The most touching speech was made by Geoffrey Fletcher—the first-ever African-American winner of a screenplay Oscar—whose deeply felt emotion didn't prevent him from giving a memorable, gracious speech.
A Very Tone-Deaf Opening
Hollywood often gets criticized for being run by white men, which is why it was such a a delight to see such a diverse set of nominees. Unfortunately, many of the jokes by hosts Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin relied on jabs at women, African-Americans, and other minorities.
Neil Patrick Harris Brings the Camp
After making the 2009 Tony and Emmy Awards infinitely more watchable than they had been in years, Neil Patrick Harris dropped by the Oscars to give the opening number a hilarious bit of razzle-dazzle.
The Oscars' Hall of Presidents
For reasons beyond understanding, the Academy opened the show with the acting nominees standing onstage like a bad Epcot exhibit. If it wasn't for Jeff Bridges' goofy smile, we probably would have stopped watching right here.
Catfight Averted!
Ryan Seacrest seemed to be angling for a red-carpet cat fight when he got Anna Kendrick and Mo'Nique together to talk about being nominated against each other for Best Supporting Actress. Thankfully, the two classy actresses took the high road. "For any of us to be walking on this carpet, including you, we're nothing but kids with grownup faces," Mo'Nique said. Well played.
Antonio Banderas' Mel Gibson Beard
It's hard to pinpoint the most awkward person in this red-carpet clip. Antonio Banderas and his Mel Gibson beard? Totally out-of-it Melanie Griffith? Or poor animated short film nominee Javier Recio Gracia, who is first ignored by the interviewers, then forced to admit to his crush on Scarlett Johansson?
Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Party
Thanks to TV Guide anchors asking about the party he threw for the Inglourious Basterds cast, America finally learned what's more annoying than Quentin Tarantino showing off his extensive knowledge of film history—Quentin Tarantino showing off his taste in music!
Steve Carell Tries to Take Down Anna Kendrick
What would we do without Steve Carell? Amid an avalanche of squirmy pre-show interviews and forced laughter, the Office star was genuinely funny and charming on the CW's red-carpet show.
Mariah-a-Go-Go
OK, fine, by Mariah/Seacrest red-carpet standards, this wasn't a total disaster. But it was hard not to cringe as the Precious costar basically gave herself a full-body patdown on camera.
Gabourey's Money Shot
Gabourey Sidibe is most decidedly not the shy, introverted character she plays in Precious. And in case you thought she was, witness her make Ryan Seacrest blush by comparing her dress to a NSFW moment.
Vera Farmiga: Jason Who?
When Ryan Seacrest asked Best Supporting Actress nominee Vera Farmiga who she was rooting for to win Best Director, she threw her support firmly behind Kathryn Bigelow—before remembering her own Up in the Air director, Jason Reitman, was also in the running. Awkward!
