Well, the endless pre-show to the pre-show is over, the almost-as- long pre-show will wrap up shortly, and then, what we’ve all been waiting for, the endless actual show. Life doesn’t get much better than this, right?

(By the way, I’ve long lobbied KIRO to make me a full-time arts and entertaiment reporter/critic but if E!’s coverage is any indication, maybe I should be careful what I wish for. When the E! host started interviewing the dogs and dog handlers from the movie MARLEY AND ME and then threw to a canned piece proclaiming THE NOTEBOOK Hollywood’s greatest romantic coupling, something in me snapped. I may love movies, but the red carpet is just not my scene.)

And now, just a few last minute observations. Yesterday’s INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS held a couple of surprises. Melissa Leo’s win over Anne Hathaway may improve her odds just a hair, if Meryl and Kate split the frontrunner’s vote. (Not likely, but still…) And Mickey Rourke’s win over Sean Penn makes me think he has an even better shot that I did. (I’m staying with Sean, but I’m thinking it would be almost an upset now.)

Okay, show’s about to begin. It’s supposed to be a completely re-imagined Oscar show. We’ll see.