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Nina Garcia has just proclaimed Michelle Williams' orange Louis Vuitton ensemble her fave of the evening. But could I put in a plug for Gwyneth Paltrow's very classy white Tom Ford dress? The height of carpet courture.

5:07 p.m.

Ah, now here's a debate we can get down with: Christopher Plummer is opining that Cosmo, his Jack Russell terrier co-star in "Beginners," is better than Uggie, the Jack Russell terrier in "The Artist." In my mind, both are just breath-taking but discuss among yourselves.

5:05 p.m.

Uh, oh, Tim Gunn thinks Cameron Diaz is also "breath-taking" but not as "as always" or even "always." Someone tell Tim to find a new phrase? Any phrase will do.

4:55 p.m.

Boy, the ever-grizzled Nick Nolte just isn't playing along with this whole red carpet thing. He looks like he'd rather be at the beach having a beer. Come to think of it, not a bad idea. And Milla Jovovich is soooo jealous. Tim Gunn just called Penelope Cruz "always breath-taking" with such enthusiasm that I think it trumps Jovovich's "breath-taking -- as always."

4:40 p.m.

Best fashion line of the day. Asked by Tim Gunn why she chose a Caroline Hererra, Tina Fey replies, "Because they wouldn't let me wear bike shorts and a fanny pack."

4:30 p.m.

Well, Sacha Baron Cohen is in the house -- and in character from his new film "The Dictator" -- after apparently winning his little tussle with the Academy over whether he could come in costume. He also arrives with two very shapely guards and carrying Kim Il Jong's ashes (well, probably not but ...). He promptly dumps the ashes on Ryan Seacrest and haven't we all wanted to do that one time or another during "American Idol." I'm sure the Academy bosses are thrilled and highly amused.

4:20 p.m.

Uh, just who we were dying to see on Oscar day: Prince Albert of Monaco is on the red carpet and getting airtime. And, ooops, Nina Garcia is now trying to overturn the review of Rooney Mara's look. She's positively drooling about the Givenchy and the hair. The referees have gone to back to the review booth.

4:15 p.m.

Upon further review, the initial ruling on the red carpet that Rooney Mara is looking good in white Givenchy has been overturned. With the hair, just too severe. But Tim Gunn has just described Milla Jovovich as "breath-taking -- as always" in her silver-white Elie Saab. She says she wanted a structured look, "sort of like the bride of Oscar." Gunn is still recovering his breath as we go to commercial.

4:05 p.m.

Ah, time for the big guns. ABC has now switched to Tim Gunn and Nina Garcia (doubt she'll be as wicked as she can be on "Project Runway") And Gunn's first interview: Maya Rudolph and the topic seems to be support garments. Well, OK, then ...

3: 50 p.m.

The fashion commentators seem positively stunned that Michelle Williams dared to wear red Louis Vuitton on the red carpet (uh, guys, it's actually orange) and that Rooney Mara is wearing white Givenchy -- again (she wore the designer at other awards ceremony).

3:42 p.m.

George Clooney taking his shot at the interview line. He opines -- in that very smooth Clooney way -- that his hardest decision was what tux to wear. (Come on folks, that can be tough -- if you're George Clooney.) And he suggests that when the best Oscar is handed out, "you're going to be hearing someone speaking French." Classic Clooney.

3:35 p.m.

Speaking of being surprised to be there, another supporting actress Jessica Chastain comes off as sweet and unpretentious doing the interview line on the red carpet. She even brough her grandmother. Of course, she's also attracting a lot of attention with a stunning Alexander McQueen outfit.

3:30 p.m.

You have to love Melissa McCarthy, who came out of nowhere to score a best supporting actress nomination for "Bridesmaids" (still can't believe the movie was nominated but the Academy seems positively allergic to comedy). She seems positively stunned to be on the red carpet. Of course, the fashion commentators are stunned -- stunned, I say -- about how good she looks in her finery.

"Hey, honey, this is the way you dress a plus-sized body," says one.

Really? OK.

3:15 p.m.

ABC has turned the Oscars into an all-day event, not far removed from the never-ending pre-game (and post-game) coverage of the Super Bowl. There has been Oscar filler on since 12:30 with red carpet coverage getting started at 3 with the arrival of actors and actresses who never get any airtime unless they arrived early. But now the big names and nominees are in the house.