The Oscars went to the dogs this year, SlumDogs that is! The $15 million budget 'SlumDog Millionaire' was expected to be the top winner of the 2009 Academy Awards, and it took the top prize for Best Motion Picture of 2008. A badly-coiffed and fake-bearded Ben Stiller, mocking Joaquin Phoenix, joked about the low-budget movie saying, "the whole film was shot with a camera phone". Money not withstanding, the "little-film-that-could" won eight out of 10 nominations.  

From the couch, the three and a half hour 81st Annual Academy Awards were more than tolerable to watch.This year's production, intimate setting, multi-screen visual presentations and the Kodak theater itself looked magnificent and reminiscent of Hollywood's glory days.  Previous Oscar winners teamed-up on stage like All Stars of the trade, and presented top category winners with the golden statuette after delivering personalized tributes to each of the nominees. Anne Hathaway was visibly moved by presenter Shirley MaClain's words - a past Best Supporting actress Oscar-winner herself - as she told the young actress that she expected many more nominations for her to come after this one.

Hugh Jackman did a wonderful job as MC, multi-talented and a class act. After tonight, I will never think of him as Wolverine again. Hathaway also captivated the audience as she showcased her acting and singing versatility on stage in a number performed with Jackman. Is there nothing this girl can't do?

Not resisting temptation, cameras satisfied our curiosity when they cut to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie twice while Jeniffer Aniston was presenting awards. We were all thinking about Brangelina at that very moment anyway ...

The obvious lack of teens and adolescents (except for HSM) in this years batch of movies had my teen aged daughter scouting out the audience for a glimpse of any of her famous peers. She was instantly rewarded when she spotted Robert Pattinson - not a teen, but plays Edward Cullen in the teen film 'Twilight'- sitting behind Mikey Rourke (nominated  for Best Actor in 'The Wrestler'), as the camera focused on Rourke while Sir Ben Kingsley addressed him before announcing the winner for Best Supporting Actor.

In case you didn't tune in, the Oscar winners this year were: Best Supporting Actress, Penelope Cruz, Best Supporting Actor, the late Heath Ledger, Best Actor, Sean Penn, Best Actress, Kate Winslet, Best Director, Danny Boyle and Best Picture, 'SlumDog Millionaire'.

Watching the Academy awards show with my family was a special treat this time; restraint resulted in limited use of the three second delay, and for us, five generations of actors and actresses on stage all at once, from Sofia Loren to Haley Berry, was the take-my-breath-away moment of the evening.

We even thought the telecast was shorter than usual. Did it have fewer commercials, or was the show just that good?