Brian Lairn on WNYC, and we're going to talk more about the Oscars now, some of the politics at the Oscars and just a lot about the films and what kind of a year this has been as reflected by

major motion pictures. Hollywood's biggest night, obviously, delivering plenty of memorable

moments, some expected, some surprising, and Nora, as you probably know by now, is the

night's big winner, taking best picture and best director for Sean Baker, while

Mikey Madison scored best actress for her breakout performance. And one unlikely New York City

neighborhood got a shout out, not usually where films are made in New York. And notable Conan

O'Brien made his Oscars hosting debut,

and as always there were a few speeches that went beyond the usual thank-yus into political territory.

And with us to break it all down and hear a few clips and maybe take a few phone calls from you,

Dana Stevens, film critic at Slate and a co-host of the Slate Culture Gab Fest, that podcast,

and the author of Camer Man, Buster Keaton, The Dawn of Cinema, and the invention of the 20th century.

Hey, Dana, welcome back to WNYC.

Hey, it's so great to be here. I always love doing your show.

So what did you think? Did you like the Oscars as a TV show last night?

You know, I really did. In fact, I think that my primary experience of it was just as a nice spectacle and some very welcome, mostly escapist entertainment.

And I usually find the Oscars telecast to be somewhat excruciatingly long

and to have some sort of moments that are hard to sit through. But I have to say, maybe I'm just

really welcoming a break in the grim news. But I had a lot of fun during the show last night.

How about you listeners? What did you think of the show as

a tv show what did you think of any of the winners surprised or not two one two four three three

w nyc four three three nine six nine two call or text with dana stevens and yeah nora took home

top prize continuing a strong

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