Waltz Dances Off With First Oscar

Austrian actor Christoph Waltz got the 82nd Academy Awards off to a greatstart by picking up the event's first prize.

The heavy-favorite Inglourious Basterds star claimed the Best Supporting Actor honor, calling his award "uber bingo".

The big night opened with a special treat when all 10 lead actors and actresses nominated appeared on-stage at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood.

As the hopefuls took their seats, Neil Patrick Harris took the stage tolead a glitzy song-and-dance number.

The actor previously dismissed reports he would be part of an Oscars opening performance.

Co-hosts Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin then took the stage in style, floating down from the roof on a platform with a bevy of beauties, and thenpoked fun at nominee Meryl Streep, their It's Complicated co-star.

Martin joked, "Meryl Streep holds the record for most nominations as anactress, or, as I like to think of it, most losses".

He added, "Anyone who has ever worked with Meryl Streep always ends up saying the same thing 'Can that woman act?' and, 'What's up with all theHitler memorabilia?'"

And Helen Mirren was in for a chuckle when Martin said, "There's that Damn Helen Mirren," prompting his co-host to correct him "Steve, that's Dame Helen Mirren".