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With the stars of "Brokeback Mountain," "Crash," "Munich" and "TransAmerica" up for awards, we could be up for an evening of celebrities weighing in on gay cowboys, Los Angeles race relations, Middle East politics and transsexuality.

And that comes on top of the usual ego bath that comes when celebrities gather to toast one another and hand out awards.

Political controversies have long been a staple at the Oscars, especially when winners are called to the podium and can say whatever they like. When Marlon Brando won best actor for "The Godfather," he famously sent a woman who called herself Sasheen Littlefeather to the podium to reject the honor in protest of Hollywood's treatment of American Indians.

It was later discovered that Littlefeather's real name was Maria Cruz, and she wasn't an Apache. She was, however, winner of the 1970 Miss American Vampire contest.

At least Brando gave the ceremony a few laughs. A few years later, Vanessa Redgrave won best supporting actress for "Julia" and used her acceptance speech to rail against "Zionist hoodlums."

Dozens of police officers had to quell a protest outside the theater. Playwright Paddy Chayefsky, who followed Redgrave onstage, quipped, "A simple 'thank you' would have been sufficient."

Stars can usually say whatever they like, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences simply takes a grin-and-bear-it approach. In 1974, however, when producer Bert Schneider read a greeting from the Viet Cong delegation, Oscar organizers enlisted Frank Sinatra to issue a disclaimer:

"We are not responsible for any political references made on the program, and we are sorry they had to take place this evening."

If Stars Don't Leave, Strike Up the Band

More often, the academy is simply worried that stars won't stop blabbing, cause the show to run too long and force most of the country to tune out before the best picture is announced. That's when the Kodak Theatre orchestra stands ready to drown out the winners who bask in the spotlight too long. This works, sometimes.

Julia Roberts certainly wasn't going to take a hint when she won best actress. The "Erin Brockovich" star simply ignored the 45-second acceptance speech time limit, and spoke directly to conductor Bill Conti, when his band began to play, to let the broadcast cut to a commercial.

"Sir, you're doing a great job, but you're so quick with your stick," Roberts said from the podium, clutching her statue. "So why don't you sit because I may never be up here again. … I'm so happy … I love it up here."

At the 2004 show, Will Ferrell and Jack Black wrote lyrics to the Oscar orchestra's unofficial drown-out music — a song they sang in great harmony called "You're boooorringgg!" Winners, however, are willing to take that risk.