The 84th Academy Awards have now come and gone and I am sure the powers that be have already loaded the cash truck and parked in Billy Crystal’s driveway to lure him for Hosting duties for the 85th. Billy not only didn’t disappoint, he showed no rust, what an effortless job he did while at the same time proving how exceptional he really is.

The winners were pretty predictable, however Meryl Streep’s win for best Actress was somewhat surprising but you could never question when a talent like she wins. George Clooney not being crowned as best Actor was a pleasant surprise. Why he is put on such a pedestal in Hollywood is a question, it certainly is not for his acting ability or box office returns’ so for the Academy to not bestow the coveted prize on him was a pleasant relief.

Two events do stand out from the relentless coverage. Jennifer Lopez’s almost clothes malfunction was ridiculous. With all the handlers she has, and you know she has many, how could none of them have noticed that her nipple was peeking out? You know the tape on her dress was strategically placed to just show a hint, why? Most likely because someone with an ego like hers needed to get her name mentioned as much as possible to let everyone know that despite she is just a judge on a TV Game Show, she once acted in movies. Sacha Baron Cohen also known as “The Dictator”, what a brilliant marketing ploy. To show up on the Red Carpet in character to promote his movie was clever enough, but to dump the so-called ashes of the late Kim Jong 11 on Ryan Seacrest was a thing of beauty. Sacha knew that every outlet in the world would pick up on it and have it talked about for days…..smart man.

The Internet was a buzz as well. Twitter was working overtime with all the “real-time” posts including the very funny and cynical @TheGriper. Everyone was jumping in with their comments encompassing every conceivable aspect from clothes to exposed legs, from inside the Theater to the comfy chair in your den.

With Billy Crystal at the helm, the 84th Academy Awards broadcast was a huge success and an immeasurable improvement from last year. With Billy Crystal hopefully secured for next year, the 85th is one to look forward to.