It's the Friday before the Academy Awards so it's a bit of a mad house at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood where Sunday's ceremony will take place. Hordes of tourists were happy when rain gave way to sunshine this afternoon outside the theater where they waited to catch a glimpse of anything that might be Oscar-related. The gold-velvet curtain that drapes the front of the building and hides the fact that there are regular mall stores will do. Better yet are the giant golden Oscar replicas, standing like stern guards over the best block on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Our Jeanne Wright visited the site today to pick up the press credentials that will get her access to the red carpet and  back stage on Sunday. Jeanne and I have been through a few Oscars together — on the red carpet, back stage, even sitting inside for the show the year that David Letterman hosted and did his Uma/Oprah routine — so she's no stranger to the craziness that can prevail in these pre-Oscar days. Security is tight already and will remain so through the weekend. Streets around the theater are blocked off and Jeanne's car was scanned for explosives with one of those under-the-car mirrors before she could even park it in the underground lot.

Below is a peek at of some of what goes into getting ready for Sunday night, from spray-painting Oscar to Jon Stewart's rehearsal.