Well, there there were a few risque gowns, but from what I’ve seen online, there were also some stunning ones.? Probably that had to do with women like Halle Berry wearing them.? I mean, women like Halle could wear sackcloth and look good.? Well, considering Helena Bonham Carter’s attire, maybe not.? Still, more class than some other years.? But the emcee?? Hmmm.

Not being a “Family Guy” fan, Seth McFarlane is not my hero and he lived up to his status on Sunday.? While he can sing better than most, if not all, previous hosts, “We Saw Your B—-” is hardly an Academy Awards-worthy song.? His jokes, though tempered to non-existent as the night wore (and bore) on, were offensive at best.? But isn’t that what should be expected from Seth?? Does humor have to be coarse to be funny?? Bob Hope may have had old, tired jokes as the years piled up, but he had class, a way of delivering what you knew was coming in a way that got a laugh.

Women’s, Jewish and family-oriented organizations hated the show.? But it had its highest ratings since 2007.? Why?? From my aerie in the Sierra Nevada Foothills (and from my online reading), I see two reasons.? First, the nominees for best picture were mostly big successes on the silver screen.? Second, we’ve come to love watching jerks be jerks.? That includes emcees.? Offensive is good.? So expect more of the same in the future, because nothing matters but the ratings.

That’s my take on the the awards ceremony named after Margaret Herrick’s Uncle Oscar.