Even Tony Winners Get Starstruck
Best Actor winner Paulo Szot (South Pacific) after meeting his presenter: ''Liza Minnelli! Wow!'' (Though we can't help but wonder — was he overwhelmed by her aura, or by her peek-a-boo ensemble?)

We Loved the Rent Reunion, But...
...why no mention of the fact that the show is closing in September — ostensibly the reason for the appearance on the Tony telecast? And we missed Jesse L. Martin. But we did enjoy seeing Patti LuPone clapping along and Sunday in the Park With George star Daniel Evans singing along to ''Seasons of Love.''

The Host With the Most, Part 2
The Tonys had gone emcee-free for so long that we'd forgotten how much fun it is to have one. Not only did Whoopi look fierce in her Christian Siriano creations (ruffles are risky, but she rocked them), but she knocked herself out in preparation for the show. She taped bits (''singing'' with the Phantom, shimmying in Spamalot, moshing with the Spring Awakening kids). She wore a sandwich board around NYC promoting the Tonys. She plugged Mary Poppins, cracked in-jokes (''You realize that I'm higher than the mama in Osage County, don't you?), and offended foreigners (on The Seafarer: ''The older brother...drinks. A lot. Cause he's Irish.''). Sign her for next year, as Mary would say, spit spot!

In Memoriam, Off Air?
The video tribute to those the theater industry lost during the past Broadway season was broadcast on video screens inside Radio City Music Hall, but, sadly, not on the telecast.

Good Sport Awards
Neither Laura Linney (Les Liaisons Dangereuses) nor Marisa Tomei (Top Girls) was nominated, but both turned up as presenters. Looking gorgeous, we might add. (The conductor apparently agreed. Linney's musical accompaniment as she swept across the stage? A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum's ''Lovely.'')

Perfect Presenters
Jack Klugman, Tony-nominated as the original Herbie in Gypsy, prefaced Patti LuPone's performance of ''Everything's Coming Up Roses.'' Barry Bostwick, who got a nod as Danny Zuko in 1972, brought out the Grease revival. Original Sunday in the Park With George star Mandy Patinkin set the scene for current stars Daniel Evans and Jenna Russell to sing. And Harry Connick Jr., who played Lieutenant Cable in the 2001 TV movie version of South Pacific, introduced that show's number (featuring his former Pajama Game costar Kelli O'Hara). But Glenn Close, Connick's costar in that SP movie, presenting the Best Musical Revival Tony...which went, of course, to South Pacific (after Close belted out a phrase of ''Some Enchanted Evening'')? Someone must have been pretty confident that South Pacific was going to win!

Hottest Post-Show Spot
Is it any surprise that the In the Heights gang knows how to party? Their rooftop dance party was the place to be after the show was over. DJ Chucky Brown spun everything from salsa to hip-hop to house music to show tunes. (We suspect the ''Seasons of Love'' mix was a nod to Heights producers Jeffrey Seller and Kevin McCollum, two of the men behind Rent.) Although the Tonys ended at 11 p.m., the celebration was still in full swing at 3 a.m. We suspect they're still at it. And why not? You only win Best Musical once.