Sunday night’s “Oscars” were supposed to be different.  There was supposed to be some kind of “theatrical” quality to the show.But frankly, it was pretty run-of-the-mill, other than an “opening credits” scene, featuring first presenter REGINA KING walking into L.A.’s Union Station and onto the stage.

 

 

Also, it was a very small set, with basically just nominees in the house.

 

 

 

 

As threatened, winners were encouraged to spend a little more time yapping, and many of them did.  They also showed a lot fewer movie clips throughout the show . . . most notably during the Best Supporting Actor and Actress awards.

 

 

Legit highlights were few and far between, but for my money, TYLER PERRY won the night when he called on Americans to MEET IN THE MIDDLE while accepting the Humanitarian Award.

 

 

He said, quote, “I refuse to hate someone because they are Mexican or because they are black or white.  Or LGBTQ.  I refuse to hate someone because they are a police officer or because they are Asian.  I would hope we would refuse hate.

 

 

“And I want to take this . . . humanitarian award and dedicate it to anyone who wants to stand in the middle . . . Because that’s where healing, that’s where conversation happens, that’s where change happens.  It happens in the middle.

 

 

“Anyone who wants to meet me in the middle to refuse hate, to refuse blanket judgment, and to help lift someone’s feet off the ground, this one is for you, too.”

 

 

 

 

GLENN CLOSE provided the most viral moment of the night by shaking her ass to “Da Butt”.  It was during a bit where LIL REL HOWERY was quizzing people about Oscar-nominated songs.  (Here’s a longer clip.)

 

 

 

 

The unexpected charmer of the night was an elderly Korean actress named YUH-JUNG YOUN . . . who won Best Supporting Actress for “Minari”.

 

 

 

 

“Nomadland” was the big winner, with Best Picture, Best Actress for FRANCES MCDORMAND, and Best Director for CHLOÉ ZHAO. . . whose pigtails and lack of makeup may have been the standout look of the night.

 

 

 

 

ANTHONY HOPKINS won Best Actor for “The Father”, although he wasn’t there to collect . . . and DANIEL KALUUYA won Best Supporting Actor for “Judas and the Black Messiah”.

 

 

 

 

 

(Check out all the winners here.)