I love drawing the Oscars because I love film and stories. I love the actors, directors, screenwriters, all of it. This is my 8th year live drawing the awards show; but I have been watching every year all my life.

That said, this was the most unique show to date in my lifetime and probably the history of the awards show. Of course last year’s proceedings was also unusual in that is was done during the pandemic of 2021. The year before, 2020, I was on site in Los Angeles; this year they did not give me credentials for some reason, I don’t know why, perhaps the pandemic restrictions still in effect. So I drew from my studio in New York. Below are the drawings from the night.

It started out calmly enough on the red carpet!

Then the show started, with the three great co-hosts, Amy Schumer, Wanda Sykes and Regina Hall. They were very funny, and I thought the writing was mostly terrific.

The show immediately launched into an elaborate outdoor song and dance number with Beyonce, set in Compton. It was beautiful, but very hard to draw it all….there were many more dancers involved.

Then the presenters and the awards unfolded, with a few odd and hilarious moments.

Then, of course then came the moment everyone is talking about. Chris Rock told a joke that was indirectly about Jada Pinckett Smith, Will Smith’s wife. Will laughed, Jada did not, and seconds later we see Will march onstage and assault Chris Rock with a hard, audible slap. Will proceeded to yell obscenities at Chris. The crowd in the audience was stunned.

The show continued, with some reference to the very strange event, attempts at humor and efforts to calm nerves. Soon afterwards, the award for best actor was given to Will Smith. He cried throughout his acceptance speech but did not apologize to Chris Rock. He got a standing ovation.

Today, his action has been condemned by the Academy.

Finally, Lady Gaga and Liza Minnelli presented the best picture award to Coda, a film about a hearing-impaired family. This historic win is what we really should all be talking about.