DAVID ARQUETTE CRASHES OSCAR PRESS ROOM

John Kahrs accepts the award for best animated short film for "Paperman" during the Oscars at the Dolby Theatre on Sunday Feb. 24, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Things got even more surreal for folks coming off the high of winning an Academy Award when they found a high-spirited David Arquette waiting backstage to interview them.

Nestled amid the rows of working press, the actor asked a series of non sequitur questions. He said he was covering the event for Sirius XM radio, which carries Howard Stern's show.

"Django Unchained" supporting actor Christoph Waltz was asked about the possibility of a black man being chosen pope.

Director John Kahrs, whose film "Paperman," won for animated short film, was asked what he thought of receiving condoms in his gift bag. Arquette told him he'd take them if Kahrs didn't want them.

Academy officials said they didn't hand out any gift bags.

"I guess I have a lot to learn," Arquette said when told that.

The actor says he decided to cover the event so he could get a view of entertainment reporting from the other side.

He also took the opportunity to make a pitch to Kahrs.

"I do lots of voices," he told the director, "so if you're ever looking ... "

— Hannah Dreier — Twitter http://twitter.com/hannahdreier

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EDITOR'S NOTE — Show Bits brings you the 85th annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles through the eyes of Associated Press journalists. Follow them on Twitter where available with the handles listed after each item.