Published on March 6, 2006 By averjoe In Entertainment
I watched the Oscars last night. I must give Jon Stewart credit for keeping the jokes and humorous bits coming. Usually after the host does the opening there is very little humor left or expressed in the program. It was different this time.

Jon Stewart who is the host of the funniest talk show that is based on the Tonight Show format showed some of his talent last night.

It amazes me that a person with his talent cannot find a home on regular broadcast television with its larger than basic cable audience. Theoretically, he should do very well on one of the major channels with his only serious challenge coming from Conan (not to minimize Jay Leno whose jokes in his opening dialogue have improved over the last couple of months, David Lettermen or the up and coming Kimmel).

They definitely needed Stewart this year with all those Oscar nominated movies that were not that popular with the general public. I do not know what the ratings were, but they probably will be low based on the movies nominated this year.

I haven’t seen any of the movies nominated in the top categories, but I do intend on seeing many of them on DVD. I especially want to see “Syriana” and “Good Night, And Good Luck”.

No, it is not because of George Clooney although because of the growing body of impressive works (starting with Three Kings, B grade) he is highly recognizable and respected as an actor by me now.

Anyway, there were funny moments throughout the Oscar telecast last night and it wasn’t only Jon who provided or orchestrated it. There was Ben Stiller and others who made the broadcast funny and more palatable.

I enjoyed Jon Stewart better than Chris Rock or Billy Crystal and it is pretty difficult to beat Billy Crystal at this Oscar hosting stuff.

Passing: Two actors who have starred in programs that I watched a lot while growing up (although the programs were in repeat broadcast even when I was a kid old enough to watch and understand the programs) passed away this past week. Don Knots who I recall from The Andy Griffith Show and “The Incredible Mr. Limbet” (1964, C grade) and Darren McGavin who I mainly recall from “The Night Stalker” (1971, a made for TV scary and funny movie) and “A Christmas Story” (1983, A grade).

Both will be missed.

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