—Viewers want to see hot young stars such as nominees Reese Witherspoon and Keira Knightley. (Us magazine)

—Red state viewers only tuned in to see nominated "Walk the Line" actors Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix honored. (Fox News commentators, Parents Television Council)

—Cheney's hunting accident has made America eager to rally around liberal Hollywood. (Arianna Huffington, John Kerry, Air America)

Headline: "Oscar ratings plunge again"
 
Expected Spin:
—It's the box office slowdown, caused by theater owners who charge too much for popcorn and run too many ads. (Academy, studios)

—How can you get anyone to watch a show honoring movies hardly anyone has seen? (ABC)

—ABC doesn't know how to pull off a good awards show. (CBS, NBC, Fox, that new CW network)

—It would have helped if "Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" was nominated for best picture. (ABC parent Walt Disney Co.)

—Two words: Jon Stewart. (Agents for past hosts Billy Crystal, David Letterman, Steve Martin and Whoopi Goldberg)

—What do you expect when you nominate unknowns like Amy Adams and David Strathairn instead of Jessica Simpson and Johnny Depp? (Us magazine)

—"Cinderella Man" wasn't nominated for best picture. (Universal Pictures, director Ron Howard, producer Brian Grazer, Russell Crowe)

—Parents refused to watch because a rap piece glorifying criminals; "It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp," was nominated for best song. (Parents Television Council)

—Viewers protested the gay content in "Brokeback Mountain" and "Capote," and having country icon Dolly Parton sing "Travelin' Thru" from the transgender film "Transamerica." (Fox News commentators, Focus on the Family's James Dobson.)