"DAILY" FUNNIES

Here are some reviews of Jon Stewart's performance as host of last night's Academy Awards:

http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/movies/am-stewart06,0,493513.story?coll=ny-main-breakingnewslinks

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060305/OSCARS/60306001

http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/movieawards/oscars/2006-03-06-telecast-review_x.htm

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/reuters/0,24012,1170048_10_0_,00.html

http://wwwj.comcast.net/movies/news/index.jsp?cat=MOVIES&fn=/2006/03/06/339144.html

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/story/397238p-336721c.html

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/reviews/review_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002116327

http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/oscars/articles/2006/03/06/staying_true_to_his_style_stewart_lifts_the_night/

http://www.comcast.net/entertainment/index.jsp?cat=ENTERTAINMENT&fn=/2006/03/05/339051.html

Not bad, huh? Last night was the 15th time I have watched an Oscar telecast, and this job of hosting is in the top 5 (if not top 3) of that top 15. The guy can be incredibly funny. But (and bear in mind, he's Jewish), he's just really funny enough to think that he's funnier than he is, the result being a certain repetitive, unmistakable smugnesss that, on his show, and, at the Oscars, detracts from our enjoyment at his jokes. Too bad. As to where I'd rank him: he's as good as Billy Crystal and Steven Martin in his prime, and better than any other host we've had in the past 15 years.

Higher praise is not necessary.