We were so busy typing our little fingers to the nub that we barely had a chance to really assess what we thought of last night's Oscars telecast. One thing is certain, however, and that was that host Jon Stewart had a far more successful go at hosting, virtually eradicating any memories of Night of a Thousand Sweatpants, and other clunkers from his 2006 effort. A round-up of what critics are saying:
· "So it was good to see Jon Stewart being Jon Stewart. He is shaping up to be a dependable Oscar host for the post-Billy Crystal years. He's not musical, but he's versatile enough to swing smoothly between jokes about politics, Hollywood, new media, and, most importantly, hair." [Boston Globe]

· Only gently touching on the political humor that is his stock in trade, he did manage to later score with several amusing ad-libs. "That guy is so arrogant!" he complained about modest "Once" composer Glen Hansard. He did come perilously close to "Uma . . . Oprah" territory, however, with such bits as his tally of the pregnant stars in attendance. [THR]
· "It was a night for all the seams to show, and Stewart threaded them deftly. Stewart may be a Comedy Central 'niche' performer, but making Oscar-caliber movies has itself become a niche industry, and Hollywood is at odds with itself over new technology - reflected in the give-and-take between the content Stewart generated and the rest of the show." [baltimoresun.com]
· "Mr. Stewart used his second chance to play host at the Oscars as a do-over, trying to win back the audience he irritated his first time out, in 2006. The star of Comedy Central's "Daily Show" had a few amusing lines but clearly didn't have time to put together a polished and cogent monologue. A Yom Kippur joke about the film "Atonement" fell flat, as did his mockery of Dennis Hopper -- not so much unkind as passé: not many viewers remember Mr. Hopper's psychedelic years." [NY Times]
· "He had emerged on stage from under a giant lavatory paper tube. His unflashy dinner suit and proper bow tie (long black ties were the trend) declared that he was not going to try too hard to please. As the host of America's satirical Daily Show, he was certainly not going to let the studios forget their writers' grievances." [The Guardian]
· "Like many non-Hollywood hosts, Stewart does come across as a little aloof and apart, which is a risk. Still, if he lacks a natural rapport with the crowd, he does seem to recognize that his role is to keep them happy -- to tease gently, without drawing blood -- and to stay fast on his feet." [USA Today]
· "Two years ago, Stewart had struggled on his debut, with sketches falling flat and a number of lines bombing. But this time he was sparkling." [BBC]
· "Stewart, back for a second turn as host, was vastly improved from his 2006 appearance. He proved equal to the challenge posed by Oscarcast's quick turnaround. His crash-deadline material worked. And even when it didn't, he was genial, relaxed, and seemed utterly at home. His manner suggested that, before the show even started, the hard part was over: settling the strike." [CP]
· "On the bright side, host Jon Stewart pulled off an enjoyable 10-minute monologue (and that despite the writers' strike cutting into his preparation time). The best lines concerned politics. About the Hillary Clinton-Barack Obama race, Stewart quipped, 'Normally when you see a black man or a woman president, an asteroid is about to hit the Statue of Liberty.' The black members of the audience seemed to enjoy that joke a lot." [orlandosentinel.com]
· "Stewart also earned his keep by maintaining a playful, irreverent tone throughout the night, whether it was jesting about Cate Blanchett's versatility or watching "Lawrence of Arabia" on an iPhone screen. Should he welcome the headaches associated with the gig, it's hard to think of a current comedic talent better suited to such a thankless task." [Variety]

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