The lights are on. The stars are out. The red carpet is packed. It’s Oscars night, and I’m right in the middle of it all.
In fact, it’s my first time at the Oscars and so far, what can I say? Lights! Camera! Oscars!
9:07 PM: And with a dying phone, that’s a wrap from the 2013 Oscars. I can now say I’m no longer an Oscar virgin… And it feels oh so good! Until next year…
9:04 PM: If you had 3 hours and 34 minutes as tonight’s running time on your pool,congrats you’re a winner! I overshot it by 30 minutes. And missed about 80 percent of my picks. What can ya do?
8:59 PM: Crowd goes absolutely nuts for “Argo’s” win for Best Picture. Always been a huge Ben Affleck fan. Great speech. Emotional speech. Saw a few folks wiping their eyes. Bravo.
8:33 PM: It appears I’m sitting in the “Life of Pi” cheering section. The ladies behind me went nuts for Ang Lee’s big win. Turns out they’re the film’s publicists. Congrats to them.
8:21 PM: Hard to leave the star-studded action in the lobby — even Tommy Lee Jones was taking pictures with fans! But gotta get back to my seat for the night’s big awards! And what better way to come back then Quentin Tarantino winning for “Django Unchained.” Can always count on lively speech from Quentin.
7:56 PM: The show may still be going but the action is definitely at the lobby bar. Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux, Melissa McCarthy and Ben Falcone, director John Singleton, Jeremy Renner, Tim Burton, Helena Bonham Carter, Sally Field and even Tommy Lee Jones are all milling about. Melissa McCarthy has been delighting fans by taking picture after picture.
7:15 PM: Confused about the tie for Sound Editing? So was everyone at The Dolby. And of course the big question — how does that effect Oscar pools?!? Ya’ know, the important stuff to worry about
7:01 PM: Hugh Jackman and the cast of “Les Miserables” take the stage and someone actually shushes the lobby crowd. No one seems willing to be shushed.
6:55 PM: As Catherine Zeta-Jones’ “Chicago” performance begins, folk gather around the monitors in the lobby to stop and watch. Then, first note of Jennifer Hudson’s number from “Dream Girls” almost brings room to a standstill. Well, almost.
6:42 PM: Spotted at first floor lobby bar chatting away… Reese Witherspoon, Harvey Weinstein and more. Not together of course.
6:21 PM: They say the first floor lobby bar is the place to be. So up from my seat and off we go…
5:55 PM: If the Paul Rudd/Melissa McCarthy bit sounded like it bombed on TV, it was worse in person. Ouch.
5:35 PM: Captain Kirk! Can someone next to MovieMantz make sure he’s still breathing?!?
5:21PM: Hopefully the laughs are coming through on TV. The crowd inside the Dolby are loving every joke Seth MacFarlane throws out. I will admit I was a bit skeptical at first — and I’m a big “Family Guy” fan — but so far, he’s great.
5:03 PM: A gorgeous Kristen Stewart hobbles up behind me in a stunning gown — and crutches! No one seems to know why.
4:45 PM: “Star Trek” star Chris Pine zooms down the red carpet, but not before offering a wave and a smile for Access’ MovieMantz. They know each other well from press junkets.
4:44 PM: Likely Oscar winner Daniel Day Lewis hops off the press line to shake hands with fans in the overstuffed bleachers. Fans very happy to see the “Lincoln” star
4:21 PM: Rumor has it this could be one of longest Oscar shows in history — maybe over four hours. Wow.
4:13 PM: We arrive to the red carpet. I’ve covered a lot of events in my day, but this is surreal. The energy is amazing. I could go on and on, but a very large man is telling me to start heading down the carpet. Away I go…
2:56 PM: Tux is on. Ticket in hand. Hop in the car. Grab Access Hollywood’s movie guru extraordinaire Scott Mantz and it’s off we go!
11:26 AM: It’s Oscar day and I’m feeling like a kid at Christmas. I’m heading to my first Oscars! Almost time to start puttin’ on the tux…
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