Oscars 2015: Best and worst moments

Lots of acting nominees have appeared in their skivvies on screen, but never at the Oscars. Leave it to Neil Patrick Harris, who came out in his tighty whities to announce, “Acting is a noble profession.” And this hosting job won him a whole lot of new fans.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Most nutso performance of the night went to “Everything Is Awesome” featuring Tegan and Sara, The Lonely Island, Batman, Questlove, Mark Mothersbaugh in his Devo gear and lots of Lego Oscars. They didn’t win an Oscar, but it was a wacky high point of the evening.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

One of the advantages of having an Oscars host who isn’t a comedian is not having the show open with obligatory five minutes of stand-up. Neil Patrick Harris landed big laughs with one line, “Tonight we honor Hollywood’s best and whitest...brightest.” That’s all he needed before the singing.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

All through the night, NPH reminded us his predictions were locked in a glass case on stage. Finally, with one award to go, he opened the case and read the predictions. Amazingly, he predicted every unpredictable moment of the night. The crowd was less than impressed.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

No expense is spared to give Oscar attendees that million-dollar look. But their red carpet patter could use a punch-up. Witness Margot Robie telling E!’s Ryan Seacrest about her priceless diamond necklace that “was created for the Duchess of Windsor or something. Like, in the ‘30s.”  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

While stars were talking to Robin Roberts on ABC, most of America was transfixed by the creepy red-rainslicker-wearing figure lurking behind them in the stands. Who was she? Why was she there? No one is sure, but she’ll be haunting some dreams tonight.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Melanie Griffith hasn’t seen “Fifty Shades of Grey” starring her daughter, Dakota Johnson, and she doesn’t seem like she wants to. Even after Johnson told her on the red carpet that she could see it. When Griffith demurred, Johnson snapped, “All right, you don’t have to see it!”  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

There’s a lot of stomach-turning schmooze on the red carpet, and then there’s the honesty of “The Fault in Our Stars” star Ansel Elgort, who greeted Seacrest with “Have we met in person before?” It really does become a blur.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

The opening song hit a lot of Oscar standards -- a sentimental tribute to the power of movies -- but it was saved by Jack Black’s surprising interruption to voice the anxiety and frustration of the film industry in flux. Beware those screens in our jeans!   (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

The go-to punchline of the night was Oprah Winfrey. Neil Patrick Harris compared Winfrey to “American Sniper,” a comparison that left O bewildered. “‘Cause you’re rich,” Harris explained from the stage.  (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

Everyone loves it when the host can get off a zinger, but Harris obviously wasn’t listening to the part when documentary short winner Dana Perry, left, urged more discussion of suicide in the wake of her own son’s suicide. As soon as she was off stage, Harris got off a line about her dress.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Think there are too many awards shows? The participants may be feeling that, too. Presenter Lupita Nyong’o slipped up on the classic “And the Oscar goes to” while handing out supporting actor. She called it the “actor” after the SAG Award. The season is over not a moment too soon.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Even though he played a monster in “Whiplash,” J.K. Simmons’ acceptance speech was as sweet as they come, urging the audience to “Call your mom, everybody. Call your dad... Tell them you love them. And listen to them for as long as they want to talk to you.”  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

In recent years, the dreaded house orchestra has played off more winners. This year, Polish director Pawel Pawlikowski bucked the trend when he thanked his dead wife and parents for his foreign language film Oscar. Full-stop to the band. It can be defeated.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Tim McGraw performed Glen Campbell’s “I’m Not Gonna Miss You,” but the odd framing of the singer seemed like some images of the ailing singer were somehow missing. This year’s Oscars most likely won’t win the directing Emmy this year.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

In accepting the Oscar for supporting actress on Sunday, “Boyhood” star Patricia Arquette wound down with: “To every woman who gave birth to every taxpayer and citizen of this nation, we have fought for everybody else’s equal rights. It’s our time to have wage equality once and for all and equal rights for women in the United States of America.”  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

The In Memoriam segment did away with film clips and instead featured images of the dearly departed followed by a Jennifer Hudson performance of a song from the canceled NBC series “Smash,” which had the same producers as the Oscar telecast. Many felt the dead weren’t given their due.   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Terrence Howard introduced best picture nominees “Whiplash,” “Imitation Game” and “Selma” and brought so much feeling to it, no one could figure out what was going on. Was he trying to get an Oscar for his presentation?   (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

After the Edward Snowden documentary “CitizenFour” won the Oscar, Harris came back with an unexpected zinger for the Red State crowd, saying, “The subject of ‘CitizenFour,’ Edward Snowden, couldn’t be here tonight for some treason.” Not even Clint Eastwood was laughing at that one.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

After their rousing performance of “Glory,” Common and John Legend gave the most political speech of the night, shocking the audience with the statistic that more black men were in prison today than were in slavery in 1850. One person apparently applauded. Whoops.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Beause she’s Lady Gaga, everyone expected a bizarro “Sound of Music” tribute. Instead, they got a straight-forward medley of the movie’s songs, capped off with a heartfelt welcome from Julie Andrews. “Dear Lady Gaga,” Andrews said. “Thank you. It really warmed my heart. It really did.”  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

“Imitation Game” screenwriter Graham Moore packed a powerful emotional punch with his speech in which he revealed he’d tried to kill himself as a teenager. His message to teens like him out there? “Stay weird. Stay different.”  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

With the Oscars running long, a tired Matthew McConaughey came out to present lead actress and only managed one “all right” for the crowd. We feel you, Matthew.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Ten years from now, you’ll probably need to answer the Oscar trivia question: “Who announced the winner of best picture by saying ‘Who gave this son of a bitch his green card?’” The answer will be Sean Penn speaking of his friend, Mexican director Alejandro G. Inarritu.  (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)