I admit it. I’m a geek. I can’t deny that Oscar night is one of the biggest nights of the year for me. It combines film and fashion, two of my primary interests, and when else can I indulge with so many pop culture personas in one place? I even play the predictions, usually doing fairly well (14 out of 24 right this year).

Thus declaring myself an official Oscar fanatic, it is safe to say that I’m familiar with most of the recent awards ceremonies, and this year’s was one of the best.

Jon Stewart brought his biting “The Daily Show” humor to the stage, making him an exceptional host, despite it being his first time presiding over the Oscars. Often even the best comedians struggle with the overwhelming silence that can fill the Kodak Theatre when their jokes fall flat.

Hollywood dearly loves laughing at itself, and not only did Stewart provide the usual running jokes about the stars and films themselves, but he also interjected sharp political comments in his monologues.

Vice President Dick Cheney and democracy bore the brunt of Stewart’s jokes, alongside Hollywood fare such as past Oscar hosts and “Brokeback Mountain,” presented in humorous montages. Stewart also introduced a series of farcical best-actress “commercials” done in political campaign ad style.

This fits Hollywood perfectly. It’s no new concept that the Oscars are just as much about politics as they are about quality of films. Sometimes they become a front to reward those whom the Academy snubbed last year. Take, for instance, Paul Giamatti, best supporting actor nominee for “Cinderella Man:” He’s nominated because he delivered a punchy performance, but he also lost the best actor award for “Sideways” last year, giving him another chance at the prize this year. Coincidence? I think not.

Politics or not, the show must go on, and it did with enthusiasm. Some of the highlights of the show were the comedic presenters. Ben Stiller is sure to shake up the stuffy Academy in some way, emerging on Sunday’s program in a bright green bodysuit as a “green screen” to make himself “invisible.” Will Ferrell and Steve Carell took their own crack at makeup – Ferrell appearing to have a bad and blotchy tan and Carell with feminine false eyelashes.

However, this year’s Oscars may have been, for the most part, fairly predictable – anyone who had read any critics’ commentaries knew who would win the acting categories.

There were only a few exceptions, including “Crash” stealing best picture from “Brokeback Mountain.”

“Crash” is an amazing film that has a powerful message, but who would’ve thought 10 months after its release it would still be in voters’ minds? On the other hand, who could have ever pictured “Legally Blonde” Reese Witherspoon as an Oscar winner?

Some new faces were definitely awarded and some old winners had to take a backseat. After Peter Jackson’s showing two years ago -13 Oscars is entirely too many for one person to take away in an evening – he finally had to keep his scruffy self in his seat this year, winning only a few awards.

The Oscars seem to have found a comfortable medium between extreme seriousness and undignified hilarity this year. Even the fashion seemed safely elegant – no Bj”rk swan dresses or Diane Keaton tuxedos. It was far from boring, but now who can Joan Rivers burn in her “Fashion Police” review?

– Jill Blackledge is a junior in English from Monroe.