I got a phone call from a friend who needed info about public high schools so I missed a bit a few minutes of the show.

That's okay.

My friends in Kingston are getting a decent picture (thanks to our Skype transmission). They are grateful for our technological efforts but are quite unimpressed with this year's show.

Could they be more grateful?

The medley of songs from Oscar winning musicals is fun: Beyonce Knowles singing "Top Hat." She even did a few notes of "At Last," which she sang for Obama and Michelle;s first dance at one of the inauguration balls.

"I'm sort of surprised at how good Hugh Jackman is," Hugh just said.

Oh, no: it's the High School musical stars. That can't ruin Beyonce in red looking so leggy, busty, and gorgeous.

They're ending the medley with Mama Mia, I wonder if Meryl Streep is going to get up and sing…

How could they not have Meryl Streep join them? She's sitting right there.

And now Beyonce singing Somewhere Over the Rainbow while Jackman sings Somwhere from West Side Story.

"The musical is back," Jackman exclaims.

Baz Luhrmann, who directed Moulin Rouge, Strictly Ballroom, Australia, Romeo + Juliet directed that number. Oh. that's why it was good. Baz Luhrmann is so cool.

The Aussies are really making this a decent Oscar show.