The 82nd Acadamy Awards. The Academy erected it's tent before Hollywoods top talent rolled into town. At rehearsals, when camera angles were the topic of conversation Charlize Theron let slip she wouldn't be wearing underwear, (that made two us, nothing worse then a VPL). And with out doubt Miss Theron and the other elite of Hollywoods cherished, nymph and zaftig beauties were the cynosure of many eyes.

The Oscars have an ability to draw the most composed of fans, journalists and news staff into frenzied shouts and celebrity cat calling. And once the first names begun to arrive, the hysteria began.

Some of the famous and weathered personalities fluttered by, for their celebrity is etched eternally. Then there were those that chose to take the time and deliquesce in the afternoon warmth. Matt Damon, Sandra Bullock, Mark Boal, Meryl Streep, taking final questions and smiling one last time, before moving inside the Kodak Theater on Hollywood to await the applause from their peers.

In one touching moment when Ryan Bingham and T Bone Burnett received the award for Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song). Ryan went on to say "I'd like to thank my wife Anna, I love you more than rainbows, baby." a touching testament on an afternoon that had the sun beaming through the gentle splatter of rain.

Few award shows seduce the minds and captivate the imagination like the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences or the Oscars. The attention to detail is meticulous. Nothing appears to be left to chance-- the layering of press seating, the multi-faceted stages and interview areas all laid out to maximize the light and acoustics. Shallow hedgerows in pretty planters separated the press picture men from the cream of tinsel town.

Bums were in seats by five-- at which point the excessively talented Alec Baldwin and perpetually funny Steven Martin took the stage to raise the curtain on the 82nd Academy Awards, just a typical wild night on Hollywood. The lights went down and the kapellmeister began the wild gesticulations that provoke a great night of theater.

Steve and Alec went tit for tat on the complimentary front. Poor Meryl Streep was on the receiving end of a litany of derogatory comments-- but showed the brilliantly paced, slow bleaching smile and excessive experience she has accrued over her years walking this marvelous red carpet, to know when to... just smile.

The night past without any major hits, and with the best producers in town all on the one night-- why wouldn't it. Big winners included the The Hurt Locker and as expected Avatar which was awarded for its visual effects. The one lesson we learnt from the Oscars is this, if you are not going to wear underwear-- keep it to the down low, there are microphones everywhere.

Story By Terry Winders
Lead Image: Djansezian/Getty