03/26/2001

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES – Julia Roberts, who refused to limit her moment in the Oscar spotlight, didn't win the free TV set that went to the winner giving the shortest speech.

	Kevork Djansezian / AP
	Julia Roberts appears emotional as she accepts the best actress Oscar for her role in Erin Brockovich at the 73rd annual Academy Awards Sunday in Los Angeles.

The producers of Sunday's ceremony didn't immediately name the lucky recipient of the $2,500 high-definition television. The prize was dangled before nominees to keep the usually lengthy show moving along.

This year's ceremony on ABC came in under 3-1/2 hours, in contrast to last year's four-plus hour show.

Prime candidates for the TV set appeared to be Benicio Del Toro, who was named best supporting actor for Traffic, and Tan Dun, who won the Oscar for best score for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Both gave speeches that counted out at about 100 words, although Del Toro's delivery appeared to take longer. "I prepared something exactly 45 seconds,'' Dun's remarks began, acknowledging the maximum time allotted winners.

Most took longer, including Roberts. The best actress winner for Erin Brockovich made it clear the TV ploy wouldn't work on her.

"I have a television, so I'm going to spend some time here to tell you some things,'' an ebullient Roberts told the audience. And, like the Energizer Bunny, she kept going for several minutes.