Jones delivers smokin' Oscarcast

GOOD MORNING AND CONGRATS OSCAR WINNERS: Quincy Jones said it would be "smokin'," but even he could not have dreamed it would have been such an emotionally charged night in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion where I sat with the Academy members. Never have I seen or risen with as many standing ovations, the most I have seen in the 50 years I have been covering the Academy Awards. Of course, there was the expected humor from Whoopi Goldberg, which was accelerated during commercials with added ad-libs by writer Bruce Vilanch. But Mel Gibson got the biggest laugh from the showbiz-wise audience in the theater when he said , "Like most directors, what I really want to do is act." There were tears aplenty for Christopher Reeve and Kirk Douglas, each of whom received double standing ovations. And you could feel the audience here appreciated the constant references and thanks to directors Ron Howard and Ang Lee, both of whom were ignored in the director category by the Academy. You had to be here in the theater to get the full impact of the nominated songs, which were beautifully choreographed and seen in their full beauty onstage rather than on a television set. The audience really gasped when there was no envelope for the music winner, "The Postman," and there will be some explaining to do for that one for a long time to come. Everyone felt that Sharon Stone did a good job calling for psychic aid to give her the winner, which Quincy Jones got in the wings from the Price Waterhouse accountants. The audience also was emotionally moved by the tribute to Gene Kelly, and there wasn't a dry eye in the house when winning documentaries "One Survivor Remembers" and "Anne Frank Remembered" were announced, proving the Academy remembers too. Another segment of the show that received hearty approval by the audience in the theater was Stomp performing to film for the sound effects editing award. That, Quincy, was "smokin.' " Another well-deserved standing ovation went to Chuck Jones, who was introduced by the most appreciative Robin Williams. A lot of mothers, wives and agents were thanked despite the early warnings from the Academy. But this will never change as long as there are Oscars -- and winners.

ALTHOUGH RON HOWARD wasn't nominated for directing "Apollo 13," producer Brian Grazer noted that, with the film's nine noms, "I wanted him to be a part of it." So Grazer had Howard fly out from their N.Y. "Ransom" locations Sunday night for Universal's pre-Oscar party at Spago, and then to attend Monday night's award ceremony. "He's my partner," Grazer reminded. "He should be there." Howard shot Saturday on Madison Avenue with Gary Sinise, then flew back at midnight Monday night; they now await big winner Mel Gibson's return Wednesday. Gibson is a bit thinner since the appendectomy: "I hope he matches," noted Grazer. But Gibson seemed to be hearty enough for physical scenes upcoming in "Ransom"-- he attended his ICM agent Ed Limato's weekend party, and Par's, hosted by Sherry Lansing. He and Alan Ladd Jr. discussed the "Braveheart" acceptance speech, with Laddie quickly saying Mel should do the talking -- although all three got at least a few words in, you'll recall ... Oscar's surprise -- and moving -- presenter, Christopher Reeve, was partied Sunday night by his William Morris agents in the Presidential Suite of the BevHilton. Among those there, his "Remains of the Day" co-star Emma Thompson, who spent a long time chatting with Reeve. Also Rysher's Keith Sample, who again said he'd keep the commitment, made with Reeve before the accident, for Chris to direct a movie. Scott Henderson, Reeve's WMA agent, has set Reeve for voice work in Frank Goldstone's feature-length WB animated "The Quest for Camelot." It will be done during the spring and summer. Reeve has made six speaking engagements and narrated an HBO docu, and Henderson and Reeve are talking other jobs as well. Others at the Morris party: Ron Underwood, his director on "Speechless," Ron Silver and Stephen Collins of the Creative Coalition, Reeve's wife, Dana, and many Morris agents.

PARTIES, PARTIES, PARTIES: Never before have there been so many pre-Oscar celebrations, as well as the already established Oscar dinner and post-Oscar celebrations. Miramax held a Sunday evening toasting at the BevWilshire, as well as its Spago-ings on Monday night; MGM/UA's Frank Mancuso, John Calley and Mike Marcus hosted a very classy and strictly "off the record" party at Bernard Erpicum's Eclipse -- totally revamped for the occasion. Among parties around the country: one at Elaine's in N.Y., and in D.C. with Peggy and Conrad Cafritz and Buffy and Bill Cafritz, along with George magazine co-founder Michael Berman hosting a party, where guests included John F. Kennedy Jr., Jane Alexander and Rob Morrow, plus politicos of you-know-what persuasion ... This week, Veronique and Gregory Peck are off to France for the Cognac fest, where he'll be honored Sunday with a lifetime achievement award.