Bookish Martin's comic sense was fine enough for Oscar

You realize why the Academy Awards host has virtually become a tenured position for Billy Crystal. When he takes a sabbatical, things just don't quite seem the same. It's not that Steve Martin was a disappointment during his first turn as Oscars emcee. A couple of his early jokes probably weren't what the academy had in mind, but overall he was in fine comic form, playing the droll, self-mocking Hollywood snob he's perfected over the years in appearances on talk shows and "Saturday Night Live." But Crystal has a knack for knowing when to pump up a sagging broadcast with an improvised line or a little slapstick. Martin, however, rarely seemed to deviate from his well-stocked arsenal of prepared gems. And though his cool, urbane demeanor was reminiscent of two great Oscar hosts of the past - Bob Hope and Johnny Carson - it felt slightly out of place in the hype-charged spectacle that the Oscars have become. You could almost see the celebrities cringing in their close-up shots as Martin made them the butt of jokes during a name-dropping monologue. Today Martin is probably regretting the dagger he casually threw at one of the night's honorees, 81-year-old producer Dino De Laurentiis. "Or," Martin said, "as Anna Nicole Smith calls him, fresh meat." Just then, director Louis Horvitz cut to a close-up of De Laurentiis sitting next to a young blond woman. His wife. The broadcast clocked in at a speedy 3 1/2 hours. Acceptance speeches were short and to the point. Even the annual musical tribute to the movies had a certain minimalist charm. Violinist Itzhak Perlman and cellist Yo-Yo Ma serenaded the audience with a medley of music from the five nominees for Best Score. And there were other highlights: Randy Newman's performance of Best Song nominee "A Fool in Love" from "Meet the Parents," an Oscar-sized production that nonetheless was carried along by Newman's singular sparkle. Cinematographer Jack Cardiff receiving a career achievement award for 70 years in the business - then chewing out Dustin Hoffman for not handing him his trophy. "Can't take him anywhere!" Cardiff harrumphed. Hong Kong natives Peter Pau and Tan Dun, for their exuberant acceptance speeches for "Crouching Tiger." There were a few low moments, too. Like when Martin undressed Penelope Cruz with jokes I don't even dare summarize here. You heard them. You wish you hadn't. Martin's wit is almost stealth these days. Quite a contrast to his wild-and-crazy-guy persona in the 1970s. A few years ago he started contributing to the New Yorker. Last year he published a novella and, for the second year in a row, emceed the National Book Awards. Maybe that explains why he came off just a tad bookish last night. But he did fine for a first go-around. Billy Crystal should graciously find another "scheduling conflict" next year and let Martin try again. You can reach Aaron Barnhart through the TV Barn Web site at www.tvbarn.com. @ART CAPTION:Steve Martin delivers his opening monologue at the 73rd Annual Academy Awards show Sunday night. @ART:Photo (color) @ART CREDIT:KEVORK DJANSEZIAN/The Associated Press >>>