First update: Ellen deGeneres was born for the host role. She's terrific. (amend that, she got a little tiresome after a while.) Best line (paraphrase): Jennifer Hudson was on American Idol and America didn't vote for her yet she's here nominated for an Oscar. And Al Gore, America voted for him and he's here. The crowd loved it.

Nicole Kidman's dress looks good from the front where you can hardly see that big bow.

DeGeneres over and over praised the diversity of the nominees -- it's so international and multi-cultural this year. I wonder if Tom Tancredo is throwing up.

Update 2: Best supporting actor: Alan Arkin, Little Miss Sunshine.

The Al Gore segment was good. Melissa Etheridge sang her song from Inconvenient Truth. Leonardo diCaprio and Al Gore came out. Leo asked Al if had a major announcement to make. Just as he started to make one, the music came on signaling their time was up and off stage they went, laughing and patting each other on the back. (You can view it here.)

Update 3: William Monaghan and The Departed wins for best adapted screenplay.

Newsie at Daily Kos has a good fashion roundup.

Jennifer Hudson for best supporting actress in Dream Girls -- even though I wasn't swooned by Babel, I thought both nominees in that category, Adriana Barraza and Rinko Kikuchi were deserving of the award.

Update 4: Inconvenient Truth wins. Al Gore gets a standing ovation. Think Progress has the video.

Babel wins for best original score. Little Miss Sunshine beats Babel and The Queen for best original screenplay.

Update 5: Best musical segment -- Dream Girls and particularly Beyonce -- by miles. She was amazing.

Melissa Etheridge beats the three Dream Girls songs to win for her Inconvenient Truth song. [You Tube video here] She thanks her wife and Al Gore. She says it's not about being red or blue, it's about being green. Pretty big upset for Dream Girls.

Best editing: The Departed -- a woman editor.

Jodi Foster (with fabulous hair)is presenting the obits for those who died this year.

Helen Mirren wins Best Actress, no surprise there. She looks terrific by the way. So elegant.

Forest Whitaker wins Best Actor for the Last King of Scotland. Very heartfelt speech.

Update 6: Scorsese wins Best Director for The Departed. Finally. That man is so overdue. A standing ovation, "Could you double check the envelope?" Congrats, Marty.

Update 7: Best picture -- Diane Keaton rocks as a presenter, she's just the coolest and very sexy looking. She's presenting with a bald Jack Nicholson.

The Departed wins it. Excellent ending to a mostly boring show. Diane has her arm around Jack, Marty is looking on from the wings.

And that's a wrap.