Billy Crystal as Oscars Host: Hot or Not?

The Oscars ceremony has much to prove tonight ... like will the masses tune in to see a blockbuster-free field, and will Billy Crystal draw any laughs at his ninth go-round? The opening montage was pretty hilarious, complete with a George Clooney-on-Crystal kiss, a Justin Bieber appearance (to help you get the 18- to 24-year-old demo, the singer explained to the host), and an amazing segue from The Help's poo pie into Bridesmaid's infamous bathroom scene. Then, the best of the on-stage jokes:

• "We're here at the beautiful Chapter 11 theater..."
• "Nothing can take a sting out of the world's economic problems like watching millionaires hand each other gold statues."
• Then he sings, but the music is so loud it's kind of hard to hear what he's saying.
• "Please welcome a recurring dream of mine: Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Lopez."
• "A dark knight, an American psycho, a charismatic crack addict. You'll get to choose one on Super Tuesday."

(More Academy Awards stories.)