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Steven Rea live-blogs the 83rd annual Academy Awards

Live blogging on Franco and Hathaway, the winners, the losers, the cool and the lame as the 83rd Oscars try not to run on and on and on.

Well, this is what passes for a surprise: "The King's Speech's" Tom Hooper wins best director over "The Social Network's" David Fincher... and the best picture goes to "The King's Speech." It's a wrap!

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"I have a feeling that my career's just peaked." -- Colin Firth, in classic British self-deprecating mode.

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Natalie Portman blubbers with true emotion as she thanks her "team" and her hair and makeup people. Ah, Hollywood.

Did Jennifer Hudson just introduce Gwyneth Paltrow as "country music's newest star?" Look out, Taylor Swift!

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As many of you know, when I'm not reviewing movies or putting vintage photos on the Tumblr Rides A Bike, I'm known in some circle as Mr. Fashion. Well here's Mr. Fashion's one Oscar comment: To "If I Rise" singer Florence Welch: If you have red hair, do not wear a red dress.

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Luke Matheny, the sole American in the live-action short contest, wins, and charms with his "should have got a haircut" line and his "Mom did the craft services line." The NYU film school grad prompts James Franco to give one of his many alma maters a shoutout: "NYU -- what's up!"

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Quick, give Franco a 5-Hour Energy shot! Looks like he's nodding off. (Me too.)

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Randy Newman -- 20 Oscar nominations?!! That's a long way from kicking a tin can down the street.

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Did Christian "Red Beard" Bale just forget his "wonderful wife's" name? Just asking. Please, Oscar God, a surprise…. I'm happy to see my predictions go out the window. Give the best actress to Kidman, just to shake things up!

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Aaron Sorkin and David Seidler, winners of best adapted screenplay and best original screenplay, respectively, demonstrate that there is actually something to this writing business. Never let Melissa Leo loose again without a script!

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Just wondering: Is it a bad omen for supporting actor nominee Mark Ruffalo that the animated short nominee "The Gruffalo" lost?

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Melissa Leo shows off her actress prowess by acting surprised to win.

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Oscar-winner-designate Natalie Portman revives the 1920s expression "the bee's knees" during her red carpet interview. If that's not the cat's whiskers!

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Anne Hathaway's dance of the Brown Duck -- yes.

Anne Hathaway's Toy Story 3 lesbian joke ("Where's the dad?") -- no.

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True Grit's cinematographer Roger Deakins now an 8 time Oscar-nominee. Sigh. Better luck next time.

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Welcome Oscar watchers! I'll be live blogging (as opposed to dead blogging, which is the premise of a new J-horror flick) starting tonight around 8pm when the ceremonies begin. Stay tuned, and feel free to add your comments to the mix.