Last night was Oscar night at the "Kodak Theater", which had to be called the "Hollywood and Highland Center," because, it seems, Kodak has now fallen onto hard times and can no longer pay the requisite fees to have its name mentioned on national television.
Too bad!  Things are tough all over.  Guess the gubment wouldn't give 'em a bail-out! 
Anyway, as usual, I stayed up to watch the whole dreary thing, all three hours of bleary-eyed television viewing as the "beautiful people"passed out the gold-plated statuettes to a bunch of people I never heard of and will probably never hear from again.  Even if I did, I wouldn't remember them.  Sorry, Martin!  Those are the facts of my life....not yours.

Most were not even from the good old USA! 
There were the two Frenchmen associated with "The Artist", a silent film that I have not seen nor do I plan to see.  How stupid is that....a silent film wins "Best Picture" for Michel Hazanavicius and"Best Actor" for Jean Dujardin .  Never heard of either of them.  Have barely heard of the movie.
A Canadian wins "Best Supporting Actor".  That would be Christopher Plummer for "Beginners";  The guy is 82-years-old!  Sounds more like the "end" than the "beginning" to me.  Wasn't he in "The Sound of Music"?
Octavia Spencer from Alabama took home the "Best Supporting Actress" award for "The Help."   You may not think Alabama is a foreign country; but I'll bet Ms. Spencer, a black woman,  could convince you differently.
There was one moment that made the whole three boring hours worth it for me, however.   When Meryl Streep won her third Oscar for "The Iron Lady"; After 29 years and seventeen nominations, it was about time! She previously had won for "Sophie's Choice" and "Kramer vs. Kramer".
This woman gives a great performance every time she graces the screen.
Now, I want to see her get one more to tie Katherine Hepburn.  She should be in the same category as Kate.   Kate didn't begin to get the nominations Meryl has had, however.