5:05 p.m.:  Now we're rocking: The skies are clearing, and George Clooney, Forest Whitaker, Philip Seymour Hoffman and—"Who's that chick in the silver?" asks one of my compadres along the railing above the red carpet—Renée Zellweger are all filing into the Kodak.

5:06 p.m.:  Even from two stories up, Zellweger's Wonder Woman-size bracelets are drawing stares.

5:07 p.m.:  By the way, having now seen Clooney from two stories up, I can confirm regarding the actor and his hair: no bald spot.

5:08 p.m.:  Oh, and it's nicely parted, too.

5:10 p.m.:  The PA announcer issues yet another "last call" to its red carpet walkers. The Oscars wants its audience seated, pronto.

5:11 p.m.:  Ruby Dee is the latest to heed the warning. The 83-year-old, on the arms of two women, bypasses the photographer's pen and slowly heads into the mouth of the Kodak.

5:15 p.m.:  Jeez, it looks like even Regis Philbin is moving into the theater. I think that's my cue to return to the pressroom. Regis is always where the action is.

—Filed by Joal Ryan