The best and worst of the Oscars '08 - latimes.com

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<i>By Stephanie Lysaght and Patrick Day, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers</i>

( Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times / February 24, 2008 )

By Stephanie Lysaght and Patrick Day, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers

This year's Oscar season was a time of excruciating uncertainty. Would the writers' strike be settled in time for the big event? Would rain turn hundreds of hairdos into hairdon'ts?

In the end, it all worked out; the writers made a deal with the studios, it didn't rain after all, and the show that ensued was filled with as much magic and madness as ever. Here are the highlights -- and lowlights of the three-hour, 22-minute love-fest.

1. '2012' spells doom for its competition at the box office

2. Misrepresenting the ideology of Islamic terrorists

3. Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather: It's no easy deal

4. Ariza emotional as he joins inner circle

5. Obama chides China on human rights

6. You can cut back on alcohol

7. Helene Elliott: Ragged Lakers are well off-pace

8. After decades of waiting, their trains have arrived

9. Young conservative activist Hannah Giles speaks in Santa Barbara

10. Rockets still a thorn in Lakers' side

1. So you want a green career?

2. You can cut back on alcohol

3. Bill Plaschke: A culture crash for Trojans

4. Young conservative activist Hannah Giles speaks in Santa Barbara

5. Blogging moms wooed by food firms

6. Sierra Leone's crises have global reach

7. T.J. Simers: New Cardinal rule: Stanford has better players than USC

8. Green job resources

9. Stars lined up for new audio Bible

10. Sarah Palin, the GOP's blessing and curse