Blogging Oscar, 7:48 p.m.

Great opening sequence -- Errol Morris' artfully arranged snippets of Oscar nominees -- and genuinely amusing (and self-effacingly low-key) opening monologue by host Ellen DeGeneres. (Loved the coupling of "loser" Jennifer Hudson and "winner" Al Gore for a very funny -- and conspicuously well-received -- punchline.) But I'm sorry to see that Nikki Finke may have been right -- looks like the Supporting Actor awards will come later in the program.