By Stephanie Lysaght and Patrick Day, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers

This year's Oscar season was a time of excruciating uncertainty. Would the writers' strike be settled in time for the big event? Would rain turn hundreds of hairdos into hairdon'ts?

In the end, it all worked out; the writers made a deal with the studios, it didn't rain after all, and the show that ensued was filled with as much magic and madness as ever. Here are the highlights -- and lowlights – of the three-hour, 22-minute love-fest.