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How Bill Murray Won Oscar Night: A Photo Essay

by Christopher Wilson

While it's hard to argue anyone had a better weekend than Lupita Nyong'o (birthday, No. 1 movie at the box office, Oscar, Spirit Award, getting in on the world’s most famous selfie along with your brother), it seems unlikely anyone had more fun on Oscar night than Bill Murray.

He started off with a tribute to his friend Harold Ramis, ad-libbed during Murray's presentation of the Best Cinematography award alongside Amy Adams.

Ramis, who passed away last month, worked with Murray on some of the best comedies in American film history. After the official nominees were announced, Murray added: "Oh, and we forgot one: Harold Ramis, for 'Caddyshack,' 'Ghostbusters,' and 'Groundhog Day.'"

The legend was just getting started. He hit the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, where he joined Selena Gomez on the red carpet for perhaps the best photobomb in a night full of great photobombs:

He hung out with fellow "Saturday Night Live" alums Andy Samberg and Bill Hader, as well as ace "SNL" host Paul Rudd and professional funnyman Adam Scott:

He also gave out some hugs and light insults to the journalists in attendance. From The Guardian's Hadley Freeman, who ran right into actor at the Vanity Fair party:

"Oh! Mr Murray — I'm sorry. I'm Hadley from The Guardian and — " I stammered pathetically.

"Oh, there, there. Nobody's perfect," he said, giving me a bear hug for a good (very good) 30 seconds.

Did he dance with Spike Lee and Rosario Dawson? You bet:

Did he sing "Shout" with Best Supporting Actress winner Nyong'o? Also yes, although sadly there is no video of it.

Murray's crowning achievement of the evening, however, is taking part in a photo with Amy Poehler, Nick Offerman, Megan Mullally, Samberg, Hader, Rudd, Scott, and his brother Joel Murray. Few photos have more deserved their own oral history than this one, although it would probably go something like, "We thought it would be funny to pick Amy up so we did."

(A pressing question: Did the mini-"Parks and Recreation" cast reunion — everyone in the photo but Hader and the brothers Murray has appeared in the show — perhaps convince Murray to appear as Pawnee's mayor? We can dream.)

Considering Murray's late-night antics are generally shrouded in mystery, it's a fun change to have a recorded history of one of his legendary nights.

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