All three were funny and engaging, but Regina Hall’s thirsty woman routine – twice! – was too much of a bad thing and so far beneath her considerable talents. 

Before we rundown the award winners and landmark makers, one last word about the Academy’s controversial decision to shunt off eight of the categories – including editing! Oftentimes THE most important element of a movie!  –  to a pre-telecast ceremony, with clips of the winners’ speeches edited in (irony much?) later: the running time was three hours and 40 minutes, longer than the last three broadcasts. Stellar work.

But Ariana DeBose, people! The first openly queer, Afro-Latina acting winner for her work in “West Side Story.” And also, she and Rita Moreno – the original “Anita” – join Don Corleone and the Joker as the only characters to claim Oscars for two different actors playing the same role.

Troy Kotsur’s supporting actor win for “CODA” was no surprise as he’d been racking up the victories all season. But he’s still only the second deaf actor to win, after his co-star and on-screen wife Marlee Matlin took home best actress for “Children of a Lesser God” in 1987.

Questlove and Billie Eilish are Oscar winners. So is last year’s best actor nominee Riz Ahmed, although his live action short category was one of the non-televised ones. 

Jane Campion (“The Power of the Dog”) went from being the only woman ever nominated twice for best director to becoming only the third to win and the second consecutive one after “Nomadland”’s Chloe Zhao last year.

The sight of the audience signing applause for “CODA”’s sentimental best picture win was another tearjerker, and hopefully a sign of more to come. 

And finally – breezing past Will Smith’s post-slap best actor win for “King Richard,” which resulted in a long, indulgent, me-centric speech before an enabling crowd – let’s honor Lady Gaga.

Unnominated for her turn in “House of Gucci,” she nonetheless agreed to give out the best picture award. Reportedly, she demanded that Hollywood icon Liza Minnelli accompany her, giving her the 50th anniversary victory lap for her Oscar win for “Cabaret,” something the Academy didn’t see fit to acknowledge among reunions and tributes for James Bond, “The Godfather,” “Pulp Fiction” and …… “Juno.”

As the aged and ailing Minnelli struggled, a hot mic caught Lady Gaga saying, “I got you,” and Liza with a Z responding, “I know.” 

Remember that.