Buddy B at the 88th Annual Academy Awards

Chris Rock rocked the Oscars as host tonight. Firstly, there were so many beautifully tasteful and classy frocks on the red carpet.

The presenters this year represented diversity, an apology to its lack of black nominees, obviously. Rock had a lot to say on the subject, keeping it comic. "Welcome to the White People's Choice Award!"

I wasn't thrilled by The Revenant's Best Actor win, though DiCaprio did get an opportunity to criticize climate deniers, much to the obvious pleasure of presenter Joe Biden.Biden was an eloquent presenter, announcing Lady Gaga's Award nomination for her hard-hitting song about rape, "Till It Happens to You" from The Hunting Ground. I was disappointed it didn't win.

Mad Max: Fury Road swept the technical awards and picked up six Oscars.

I was hoping that Cate would win the Best Actress nom; instead, it went to Brie Larson for Room which was, indeed, another fine performance. Spotlight, a very worthwhile film, won for Best Picture.

All in all, a very satisfying Oscar night. Even with no Meryl Streep in sight!

The Seth MacFarlane Show!

The venue: My friend Kevin's apartment downstairs. The menu: Champagne, fresh guacamole and baked, unsalted chips (to make it seem more West Coast), fresh jumbo shrimp with cocktail sauce, cheese and salami slices, M&Ms . Yes, once again, last night was Oscar night in New York (a/k/a The Gay Man's Superbowl)!

Well, there was an awfully long red carpet time from 6:30, when we started watching on tv. We switched from Piers Morgan (who I have a thing for) on CNN to pygmy hosts, Kristin Chenoweth and Jess Cagle, on ABC.  I'm not quite 5'6" myself, so I say that with fondness. When the petite Chenoweth stood next to Adele (again looking oddly like an overstuffed chair, this time black with deco sparkles), I prayed Britain's big gal wouldn't topple over on our vivacious munchkin.

Then there was the Oscars' own official 1/2-hour red carpet presentation. Red carpets are like foreplay. But red carpet time is also the time we all become fashionistas as we ogle the gowns, always a fetishistic point of glamor at the Academy Awards.

I liked a lot of last night's frocks: Reese, Jennifer Lawrence (winner for Best Actress), Amy Adams all looked smashing. Jane Fonda was yummy in yellow. Sally Field not so much in red.  Jennifer Aniston arrived with the same look, different boyfriend.

Anne Hathaway was given short shrift by Piers on CNN for someone more interesting. Her gown & necklace? Ewwwww! She did, however, snag the Best Supporting Actress Award by night's end. Dustin Hoffman arrived with hair that appeared to be made up of laundry lint while Daniel Day-Lewis, who walked away with the Best Actor Oscar (presented by Meryl Streep in a tin-foil gown), deserved a Best Hair Style award as well.

Renee Zelweger was a mess in her dress, but nothing looks good on someone who squints more than a pirate! 

Once host Seth MacFarlane came onstage, inside the (Friends of) Dorothy Chandler Pavilion  to officially introduce the Academy Awards, I surrendered to his charms; tall, dark and clean-cut good looks; humor and talent. He was truly the star of the evening and a revelation. His dialogue with William Shatner as Cpt James T. Kirk may have run on a bit too long but I forgave him his indulgences as he proved to be a wonderful song and dance man as well as a comic. Who knew? He was Hollywood's secret weapon, and he even had L.A.'s Gay Men's Chorus backing him up!

I had sweet dreams after last night's Oscars. Piers, Seth,  Daniel Day-Lewis' hair and Channing Tatum!

But, in a night where musicals were a big focus, the divas truly ruled! Shirley Bassey -- introduced by Bond Girl Halle Berry -- was magnificent in a taut face and golden gown, as she belted out "Goldfinger" as if she were singing for her life. Adele sang "Skyfall" wonderfully, and was such a sweetie-pie, tearful while receiving the Best Original Song award. Jennifer Hudson was also sensational, singing "And I Am Telling You" from Dreamgirls in the musicals tribute portion of the show.

And then there was Barbra. In the I-See-Dead-People portion of the show (that egregiously left out Phyllis Diller) hosted by George Clooney, Babs sang "The Way We Were," honoring Marvin Hamlisch. She appeared to be wearing Adele's gown, which perhaps explains why it was falling from her shoulders as she tried to top Dame Bassey's performance. She did not quite succeed.

Hello, Hello, Lady Gaga, Lady Gaga!

"Just heard my duet 'Hello, Hello' with Elton is up for nomination at the Oscars! Gnomeo & Juliet is such a beautiful film. I'm so happy!!" Lady Gaga informed via Facebook on Tuesday night. (Note double exclamation points; that really, really is happy, happy, hello, hello!!) She then added for our edification: "Sipping tea in Japan with Haus." [Haus of Gaga, her creative team according to Gagapedia, I believe she means.] "Feeling so grateful. We sold about 1 million albums a month worldwide since the release of BORN THIS WAY."

"Up for nomination" means the song is now on the Oscar short list; not yet a nominee. The final nominations will be announced January 24 and the Oscars will take place on February 26, 2012, at the Kodak Theatre, in L.A.

As a number of songs from "The Muppets" are also in the running, I wouldn't expect to find Lady Gaga, Lady Happy wearing Muppets as clothing again, at least not prior to February 26. Not in public, anyhow. Especially since Her Gagaciousness was cut from the final edit of their film.

MTV on-line added, in their coverage of this announcement, "The busy holiday season caps off an even busier year for Lady Gaga, who happened to be MTV News' Top Newsmaker of 2011. She tirelessly released singles, videos, personas, a chart-topping album (Born This Way) and scooped up awards at seemingly every show from the Grammys to the VMAs. She was also #5 on our list of Best Artists of 2011, and her disco empowerment track 'Born This Way' snagged the #5 spot on the Best Songs of 2011 list as well."

Frankly, I'd say the song has a good shot at getting the final nod. Check out the link to hear it, below.

("Disco empowerment track," did MTV say? I like the sound of that!)