AND THE OSCAR GOES TO MARTIN SCORSESE AND THE DEPARTED

Jennifer Hudson and Alan Arkin won Oscars for Best Supporting Actor.

A dapper George Clooney joked that he was drinking backstage with Al Gore and Jack Nicholson and confirmed Gore would not be running for president before announcing the winner for best supporting actress. The Oscar went to Jennifer Hudson completing her award winning streak as Effie for Dreamgirls.

Teary-eyed and emotional Jennifer who began singing gospel in the church choir in Chicago thanked the original Broadway dream girl in her acceptance speech.

“Phew, I didn’t think I was gonna win. But wow if my grandmother was here to see me now. She was my biggest inspiration for everything because she was a singer and she had the passion for it but she never had the chance. And that was the thing that pushed me forward to continue but I’m so grateful to have my mother here celebrating with me, my boyfriend, my sisters and my brothers back home, then I got two of them here. Thank you all for being here and supporting me. Wow I don’t know what to say but I thank you all for helping me keep the faith even when I didn’t believe. Thank you and God bless you and God bless you all, Jennifer Holiday too.”

Alan Arkin was the surprise winner for best supporting actor for Little Miss Sunshine. Arkin who was initially thought of as too virile for the grandfather actually parted with his Oscar resting it on the floor while he read his prepared speech thanking the cast and his family.

“More than anything I’m deeply moved by the open-hearted appreciation our small film has received which in these fragmented times speaks so openly about the possibility of innocence, growth and connection. Acting for me has always been and always will be a team sport. I can not work at all unless I feel a spirit of unity around me. So my main sense of gratitude goes to the entire cast and crew and production team of Little Miss Sunshine creating the same sense of joy and trust of community that the film speaks about. I’d like to thank the Academy, Fox Searchlight, my wife Suzanne, my sons Adam, Matthew and Tony for their endless support.”

Little Miss Sunshine was also awarded best original screenplay to Michael Arndt who quit his job as an assistant to Matthew Broderick to write the film inspired by his own 600 mile family trek on a VW bus with a broken clutch.