The Hitlist Live-Blogs the 84th Annual Academy Awards, The Pre-Show

4:02 - Danny: Hi, Kate! Have you seen a lot of the Red Carpet action so far? What do you think?

4:03 - K: Hey, Danny! I've watched just about ten minutes and I am already confused about all the screaming fans and ABC's apparent multitude of hosts. How about you?

4:05 - D: Wow, Octavia Spencer looks fantastic. Good thing she's definitely going to win...

4:06 - K: Agreed! She looks amazing. 

4:06 - D: I'm confused by all the hosts but most of the actors look good. Sweet that Jonah Hill bought his mom. I saw him tweeting in the middle of the night that he couldn't sleep, he was way too excited.

4:07 - K: Look at how lovely Maya Rudolph looks! I usually don't go too ape for Oscar fashion, but I am so impressed right now.

4:09 - D: Maya Rudolph looks INCREDIBLE, good for her for not wearing too much make-up. But Tim Gunn gets on my last nerve...

4:10 - D: Dear God, did you see that Sasha Baron Cohen is there as his "Dictator" character? Could anything be less funny or more obnoxious?

4:10 - K: A giant groan just went up at my Oscar party when he popped up.

4:13 - D: I HEART Jessica Chastain. But I'm not in love with that dress...

4:12 - K: For a second, I thought Jessica Chastain was Nicole Kidman, mainly thanks to that dress and that long hair. Not nuts about any of it, but she's so goregous. 

4:14 - D: Kate, who are YOU wearing?

4:15 - K: So nice of you to ask! I am currently wearing dark demin Gap 1969 jeans, a white tank, and a white tee from H&M. Super glam. What look are you sporting tonight?

4:16 - D:  I'm ALSO wearing The Gap, circa Marlee Matlin's Oscar win...

4:16 - K: It's an American classic!

4:18 - D: Yikes, I hope the actual awards show doesn't have this many commercials.

4:20 - K: Agreed! I'm, as ever, hoping for a brisk show.

4:20 - D: Oh my God, Grace Kelly's son, Prince Albert of Monaco! If only Grace were still around, was she not the most beautiful Oscar winner ever?

4:22 - K: Now that's someone who would bring some real class and gravitas to the event.

4:22 - D: Ha, good luck with the "brisk" part! Emma Stone looks pretty but all that red reminds me of Nancy Reagan. Is she Republican?

4:23 - K: I am not enamored of the bow, but I really love the rest of it.

4:24 - D: What do you think of Rooney Mara's dress, Kate? I'm undecided. But loved her "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo."

4:25 - K: Much like Stone, I like the bottom of it, but not so much the top. It's always halfsies on dresses with me.

4:26 - D: Are you excited about Billy Crystal? I bet he'll do a great job.

4:27- K: I think he'll be amusing, but safe. 

4:28 - D: I predicted that Meryl Streep would win, but I'm backtracking toward Viola Davis.

4:29 - K: I'd hate if Streep won for "The Iron Lady," she gives a predictably solid performance, but it's far from her best and far from the best of the year.

4:29 - D: Wow, Viola Davis looks totally different at every awards event. Absolutely stunning.

4:30 - K: She just cut it! What a fun way to mix it up.

4:30 - D: I would never begrudge Streep anything, but I sort of agree with you.

4:31 - D: I am a member of Team Michelle Williams but she doesn't stand a chance tonight.

4:31 - K: She's so lovely. She charmed everyone in the press tent at the Spirit Awards last night, including me.

4:32 - D: Yay, there's Captain von Trapp! Where are Julie Andrews and the children?

4:32 - K: Another stand-out from the Spirit Awards! What a lovely man, and what a lovely performance.

4:33 - D: "Mominees?" Oy...

4:33 - K: Mominees! And giant posters! Let's just get ready to cry now.

4:34 - D: Wow, Clooney's mom looks young. Good genes in that family!

4:34 - K: I just thought the same thing! Also, Oldman's mom, what a gem.

4:35 - D: I just teared up for the first time, God help me!

4:36 - K: Me, too! Oh, Melissa McCarthy is moving me.

4:39 - D: For a long time I thought McCarthy was going to win, but I'm sure it will be Octavia Spencer.

4:39 - K: Agreed.

4:40 - D: Kristin Wiig looks really nervous. Not that I can blame her.

4:41 - K: She and Mumolo look great. What a pair.

4:41 - D: Is that Tina Fey's real hair? She looks beautiful.

4:42 - K: I just looked up and saw it! WHOOA! Looks phenomenal.

4:43 - D: Colin Firth is very handsome. Is that his wife?

4:44 - K: It is! Very attractive couple.

4:44 - D: I miss the "Fashion Don'ts!" People are looking too good tonight. Yawn.

4:45 - K: Oh, it's still early.

4:45 - D: I love the "Modern Family" kid but he is EVERYWHERE...

4:46 - K: I just growled at the TV when Dujardin showed up. Lovely man, still reeling from his win over Michael Shannon at the Spirit Awards last night.

4:46 - D: Jean Dujardin can barely get a word out. Oh-la-la.

4:47 - D: Agreed, Kate, I loved "The Artist" but it should have been banned from the Spirit Awards. Come on, already!

4:47 - K: The press tent was pretty much in agreement that he should not have won over Shannon. Also? Dead silence when "The Artist" won Best Feature - and that was a loud, involved press tent.

4:49 - D: Don't even get me started on all the great indies that went completely ignored this awards season.

4:50 - K: Interestingly, Lauren Ambrose was nominated for a Lead Female Spirit Award last night for a film that no one I know has seen.

4:51 - D: I haven't seen it either--but I love Lauren Ambrose.

4:52 - K: She's also really fun in "Sleepwalk With Me," a Sundance flick from this year based on comedian Mike Birbiglia's book (he stars as a version of himself).

4:52 - D: Oy, Jennifer Lopez looks like an award statuette!

4:53 - K: Consensus at my Oscar party: why is she here?

4:53 - D: Yikes, why does Nick Nolte suddenly look 100?

4:53 - K: Gasps up at the party! People thought it was a sleep-deprived Anthony Hopkins!

4:56 - D: Va-va-voom on Penelope Cruz. Was she in any movies this year?

4:56 - K: I know she's filming "Nero Fiddled" right now. Not wild about the hair.

4:58 - D: And if you're Penelope Cruz, forgive me, how about some cleavage? (Sorry!) She has a sort of Grace Kelly thing going on with that look.

4:58 - K: It's an old-fashioned look, for sure. She could do better! We know she can!

4:59 - D: Wait, I just threw up a little in my mouth with that commercial for "The Bachelor." He's giving her a copy of that stupid necklace from "Titanic?" Yeesh.

5:00 - K: They need any gimmick they can get!

5:01 - D: Cameron Diaz should be banned from the red carpet after that "Bad Teacher" film this year.

5:02 - K: I have never been a big Diaz fan, but she gets a pass from me forever for "There's Something About Mary."

5:03 - D: I love Jason Segal's earnestness. He seems really happy to be in the movies!

5:04 - K: Me, too! He also really does love the Muppets, so I am so glad he got to make that film.

5:04 - D: What's with Bradley Cooper's mustache?

5:04 - K: What is this dark room that Jess Cagle is interviewing people in? So many questions!

5:05 - D: Gwyneth Paltrow can't look bad but no on the hair.

5:05 - K: I also don't get why she's wearing just one earring.

5:07 - D: Glenn Close looks great! My wife is groaning, she can't stand her.

5:12 - K: Oh, Brad Pitt, cut the hair.

5:07 - K: Not into the dress and jacket, but her hair and makeup are stunning.

5:07 - D: I think Jess is interviewing people from the Jimmy Kimmel studios across the street. The question is...why?

5:08 - K: Oh, "Hunger Games" commercial! Danny, did you read the books?

5:09 - D: No, but I want to. My daughter is explaining the plot to me right now. I hope the movies are good.

5:09 - K: The books are solid. My understanding is that they have changed a number of minor plot points for the film, which I hope doesn't get in my way of enjoying them.

5:12 - K: Oh, the hair, Brad!

5:13 - D: Cut your hair, Brad Pitt!

5:13 - K: Hair-hating jinx!

5:14 - D: What? Sandra Bullock looks like she's just stepping out to go to Trader Joe's...

5:14 - K: "It's called sexy times tonight!" I think Bullock is having a stress breakdown from being back at the Oscars.

5:17 - D: This pre-show is a little long...and awkward!

5:17 - K: Props to everyone who just announced that they are rooting for their own films.

5:19 - K: Look at that "John Carter" commercial with a quote from my Film School Rejects boss, Neil Miller! Woo!

5:20 - D: But wasn't it weird that Maya Rudolph was rooting for Octavia and not Melissa?

5:21 - K: Oh, wow, yes, good point. Oops!

5:22 - D: Wow, Natalie Portman looks gorgeous! I can almost forget her performance as Queen Amidala!

5:22 - K: Back to the dark room with Jess Cagle!

5:24 - D: What did you think of the Tom Hanks movie? I didn't love it.

5:24 - K: Oh, I really didn't like it. Found it tone-deaf.

5:24 - D: Brian Grazer needs to go easy on the hair gel.

5:24 - K: And that very, very large bow tie!

5:25 - D: They're reduced to interviewing Don Mischner? START THE SHOW!

5:26 - K: The man looks like a real-life Muppet. Charming.

5:27 - D: Whew, that's over! See you at our live-blog of the main show, Kate!

5:27 - K: I am still catching my breath!

Join us over at the main show portion of our live-blog - right here.