TV Watcher’s Guide to Academy Awards Night

Before the first envelope is opened there will be plenty of hype and talk about tonight’s 68th annual Academy Awards, which begin at 6 p.m. on ABC (Channels 7, 3 and 42).

At 4 p.m., Joan Rivers and her daughter, Melissa, cover the arrival of celebrities at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on “Academy Awards Pre-Show,” on cable’s E! Joan will handle the interviews, and Melissa will supply information on the nominees. Radio stations KYSR-FM (98.7) and KXEZ-FM (100.3) will broadcast live excerpts of the show.

After the Oscars, E! will go to the Governors Ball, the academy’s official post-Oscar party.

Also at 4 p.m. is KTLA-TV Channel 5’s “Live From the Academy Awards,” with Sam Rubin, and KABC-TV Channel 7’s “An Evening at the Academy Awards,” hosted by Roger Ebert, Lisa McRee and Harold Greene, which will be repeated at 1 a.m.

ABC presents the annual post-Academy Awards chat, “The Barbara Walters Special.” Walters will interview Annette Bening, Richard Dreyfuss and Demi Moore at 9 p.m., followed at 10 by “The Winners,” with Ebert and company interviewing celebs.

CBS gets into the spirit of Hollywood’s big night when “The Late Late Show With Tom Snyder” offers Oscar coverage, with guests Bonnie Hunt, Gene Siskel and David Steinberg, on Channel 2 at 12:35 a.m. Tuesday.