Here's what one writer was seeing from his vantage point inside the Kodak Theatre at the 81st Academy Awards, balcony box 6.

* Hugh Jackman comes out to work the crowd during a commercial break. He reads a note he said he just received from his wife: "Baby, you're doing great, and I'm hungry." The host then takes a plate of cookies into the crowd and hands one to his wife - and anyone else in the audience feeling famished. Revolutionary Road director Sam Mendes takes a chocolate cookie.

* Brangelina break! Brad Pitt takes Angelina Jolie by the hand and the duo scoot out of the theater after the post-production trophies are dispensed. The couple aren't back by the time Eddie Murphy arrives to present Jerry Lewis with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, replaced by two young female seat fillers.

* The mood is expectedly somber when Heath Ledger is announced as the best supporting actor. Just like the previous award recipients, there's a countdown on a monitor when the Ledger family take the stage to accept the Oscar on the late actor's behalf, but - unlike the previous winners - there's no "PLEASE WRAP UP" flashing on the screen when the 45 seconds are over.

* Tough crowd. The over-the-top musical number about, uh, musicals starred Jackman, Beyonce, Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Amanda Seyfried, Dominic Cooper and a tuxedoed chorus. It elicits hearty applause but - unlike Jackman's first performance - no standing ovation. During the break, while the chorus shuffles out, the audience in the mezzanine applaud specifically for them.

* What an arm! An eager Brad Pitt effortlessly tosses Hugh Jackman his cane.

* Ben Stiller's Joaquin Phoenix impression while presenting the cinematography award leaves the room divided. Some laugh. Others seem uncomfortable. Frank Langella is despondent for an entirely different reason. He tries sneaking back to his seat while the show is still happening but encounters a seat filler. The Frost/Nixon star kneels in the aisle until they can swap.

* Kate Winslet is chatting with Meryl Streep on the other side of the theater during another commercial break. "Ten seconds back," a stage director yells overhead. Uh oh. Winslet rushes back to her seat next to her husband, director Sam Mendes, which is occupied by a seat filler. The blonde substitute lunges up and switches places with The Reader and Revolutionary Road actress.

* During a commercial break, Jackman introduces a montage created by Capote director Bennett Miller featuring everyday folks - sprinkled with a few celebrities like Hugh Hefner, Michael Stipe and Sarah Silverman - discussing the best picture nominees. Jackman said the video was cut from the live show because of time.

* What do the winners see after they accept their trophy? A large monitor that immediately begins counting down from 45 seconds with a black background and large white numbers. At the 10-second mark, the background changes to yellow and the numbers become black. Once the countdown has finished, the background goes red and the screen flashes "PLEASE WRAP UP."

* Brad Pitt can't stay seated. While Angelina Jolie and Tajari P. Henson hold court in their front-row seats before the show, Pitt keeps hopping up to mingle with people, such as fellow best actor nominee Frank Langella. On the other side of the theater, Josh Brolin leads wife Diane Lane to their seats.

* "Winner's Walk," the direct backstage path from the stage to the press room, is lined with large portraits of past Oscar winners making their acceptance speeches as well as a special feature: an open bar.