The Oscars: my recap

Before I begin, let me say this: I don't particularly like award shows. Generally, I think they're a waste of time. I'll check out a bit of the MTV Video Music Awards to watch who's performing, and I'll flip back and forth between the Oscars and a Law & Order re-run. But other than that, I can't be bothered. Award shows are some of the worst reality TV programs out there.

This year is different. My TV was on channel 7 by 8pm and my butt was on the couch. The reason? Chris Rock. The man is hysterical. The opening monologue did not disappoint.

Other Oscar observations...
The commercials during the Oscars were SO much better than the commercials during the Super Bowl! The very first Olay Regenerist commercial was superb -- the class reunion bit. It was so clever, I actually want to buy whatever super-moisturizer they're selling, if only as a way to reward the company for selecting an ad agency that delivered.

Props to Pepsi on the Spartacus commercial. Again, clever. And the dancing cans commercial near the end of the program was funny, too.

I don't even remember Budweiser's Super Bowl commercial (it's been a long time since the days of the great Bud Bowls), but the Clydesdale snowball fight was worth noting. Even the Cedric the Entertainer dance commercial was good. (And I can barely stand the ubiquitous Cedric.)

The GM/OnStar commercials impressed me. Even McDonald's "sharing" commercial was notable.

But back to the award show itself...
Beyonce. Why? No, really. Why? Isn't she overexposed enough? And three performances?! I guess one performance (in French, no less) wasn't enough. I don't get it -- was every other singer in town busy tonight?

Scarlett Johansson: You are not a princess. Please remove the tiara. Thank you.