the buzz log

Last wandering thoughts...and Search spikes...triggered by the 81st annual Academy Awards:

Presentation, People, Presentation

• Character actors opted for the old "fashion-inverse-to-talent" rule as Tilda Swinton (+1,242% up in searches) went mousy beige and Philip Seymour Hoffman (+326%) matched his tuxedo with a knit cap.
• Jennifer Aniston ended up being the evening's most popular presenter, according to searches. Nothing like having the camera pan twice to reaction shots from your ex and his current lady in the front row during your segment.
• Robert Pattinson brought tween cred to the fusty old Academy. His English accent makes the "Twilight" vamp that much more deliciously dangerous.
• Bringing up the delicate "age" question (in order of Web queries): How old is Jerry Lewis (82), Sophia Loren (74), Miley Cyrus (16) and Goldie Hawn (63)?
• No truth to the rumor that Jessica Biel's dress doubled as a towel dispenser backstage. Someone tell her beau Justin Timberlake, this is a wardrobe malfunction.

The Old Song-and-Dance

• How well did Hugh Jackman do? Enough to make the top 5 most-searched 2009 onstage hosts, and stimulate online investigations into his bio, films, wife, and how he looks in the buff.
• Natalie Portman likens co-presenter Ben Stiller's homage to Joaquin Phoenix as someone who works in a "Hasidic meth lab." Good idea... forget Phoenix's rap: Phoenix and Stiller either as the Hasidic Blues Brothers or a ZZ Top tribute band.
• Beyonce may have lip-synched, but she's too popular for Searches to care. Besides, they're busy looking up the lyrics to winning Oscar song, "Jai Ho."

 

Winners' (and Losers') Circle

• Angelina Jolie pulled in the most searches of any nominee, but disappointed a few when she didn't adopt the cast of "Slumdog Millionaire."
• Kate Winslet snapped her losing streak and snags most popular Oscar winner on the Web. Will Jackman watch her movie now?
• Most popular spouse? Husband: Matthew Broderick (to Sarah Jessica Parker). Wife Robin Wright Penn (to Sean Penn).
• Gone too soon: The memory of Heath Ledger evokes Web nostalgia for his old movies, former co-stars like Shannyn Sossamon and even the late James Dean.
• "Man on Wire" high-wire artist Philippe Petit balanced the Oscar for best documentary on his chin. Let's bring the Oscars to Vegas, baby!