Oscars generate new trivia on big night for 'Argo'

My recap of tonight's Oscar results, which can be found here, includes some good trivia ...

... With Chris Terrio's award for adapted screenplay and William Goldenberg's for editing, "Argo" ended up with three Oscars, the fewest for a best-picture champ since 2005's "Crash." (The last grand-prize winner to win fewer Oscars was 1952's "The Greatest Show on Earth" with two.)

"Argo" also became the first best picture since 2004's "Million Dollar Baby" and second since 1977's "Annie Hall" not to at least tie for the most Oscars in its winning year. "Life of Pi" came away with the fullest hands, winning four Oscars including best director for Ang Lee.

Nevertheless, "Argo" proved as dominant in the picture race as any film in recent years, becoming the first since 2008's "Slumdog Millionaire" and second since 1999's "American Beauty" to win top feature prizes from the Directors Guild, Producers Guild, Screen Actors Guild (cast), Writers Guild (adapted screenplay), BAFTA, the Golden Globes and the Oscars.

The night was historical for more than just "Argo," or for First Lady Michelle Obama live from the White House joining Jack Nicholson in presenting the best picture award.

Daniel Day-Lewis became the first actor to win his third Oscar for a lead performance, taking what was arguably the night's most predictable honor for "Lincoln" (whose Rick Carter and Jim Erickson also won for production design).

"I really don't know how any of this happened -- I do know I've received so much more than my fair share of good fortune in my life," said Day-Lewis, who then turned comedian, addressing award presenter Meryl Streep, who won lead actress a year ago for "The Iron Lady." "It's a strange thing because three years ago, before we decided to do a straight swap, I had actually been committed to play Margaret Thatcher."

At age 22 and 193 days, Jennifer Lawrence became the second-youngest lead actress winner ever, sliding in a month more junior than Janet Gaynor and a year older than Marlee Matlin. Among others, Lawrence topped youngest-ever lead-actress nominee Quvenzhane Wallis (the 9-year-old star of "Beasts of the Southern Wild") and oldest-ever Emmanuelle Riva, who celebrated her 86th birthday on Oscar Sunday. ...

... Sound editing produced a rare tie ("No B.S.," according to presenter Mark Wahlberg): Paul N.J. Ottosson for "Zero Dark Thirty" -- that film's only kudo -- and Scott Millan, Greg P. Russell and Stuart Wilson for "Skyfall." The tie was the first at the Oscars since a 1994 deadlock in the live-action short race between "Franz Kafka's It's a Wonderful Life" and "Trevor."

"Skyfall" gave the James Bond franchise, whose 50th anniversary was celebrated during the kudocast, its third all-time Oscar and first since 1965's "Thunderball" won for visual effects. Soon after, "Skyfall" won its second Oscar for the title song by Adele and Paul Epworth. ...

Read the entire story here. And while I have your attention, here is my choice for the night's biggest surprise: Quentin Tarantino for original screenplay. I'm not sure I'd have put in him in my top three in terms of chances for winning -- definitely had Mark Boal and Tony Kushner ahead, and Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola of "Moonrise Kingdom" and Michael Haneke of "Amour" would have been equally valid darkhorses in my mind.