A show this big needs buildups and wrap-ups

Tonight’s three-hour-plus Oscar ceremony will put to rest the Jon Stewart question (is he too smart for the room?) and end this year’s hopeful search for high-wattage fashion faux pas. But the Academy Awards isn’t the only Oscar programming on television today. In fact, the small screen turns into a sort of Oscars C-SPAN, exploring everything Oscar a full eight hours before the live telecast on ABC.

9 a.m. (E!) -- “Countdown to the Red Carpet: The 2005 Academy Awards.” Last-minute preparations for the big event.

11 a.m. (AMC) -- “Sunday Morning Shootout.” Peter Guber and Peter Bart host the Oscars edition of the weekly series.

2:30 p.m. (E!) -- “Live From the Red Carpet: The 2006 Academy Awards.” Ryan Seacrest heads the cable network’s coverage of the nominees’ arrival at the Kodak Theatre.

(TV Guide Channel) -- “Joan and Melissa Live at the Academy Awards.” In their annual coverage, Joan and Melissa Rivers chat up the stars and tastefully describe their clothes.

3 p.m. (KABC) -- “An Evening at the Academy Awards: The Arrivals.” Roger Ebert, Richard Roeper, George Pennacchio and Marc Brown interview nominees and celebrities outside the Kodak.

(KTLA) -- “Live From the Academy Awards”

4 p.m. (KABC) -- “Oscar Night Pre-Show.” The official academy red-carpet show expands from 30 to 60 minutes. Billy Bush, Chris Connelly, Cynthia Garrett and Vanessa Minnillo host.

(Court) -- “Hollywood Heat.” Academy Awards special.

5 p.m. (KABC) -- “The 78th Annual Academy Awards.” Jon Stewart hosts.

8 p.m. (KABC) -- “An Evening With the Academy Awards: The Winners.” Ebert, Roeper, Brown and Michelle Tuzee interview the winners.

9 and 11 p.m. (E!) -- “E’s Live 2006 Academy Awards Post Show.” A review of the evening’s big winners.