Transitions, as seen on the big screen, small screen and computer screen

It truly was a week of transitions. Most notable, of course, was the transition from President Bush to President Obama. Inaugurated under bright sunshine, Obama's sober, if not somber, speech noted the dark clouds of a crisis of confidence that seems a worldwide contagion.

Still, the world watched, seemingly emoting hope and despair at the same time. How they watched was another big – and possibly transformative – transition, as for the first time an event may have been seen on more computer screens than TV screens: Nielsen estimates nearly 40 million unique visitors watched streaming coverage of the inauguration online, superseding the 37.8 million Americans who watched on a constellation of cable and broadcast networks.

It was also a week when pop culture seemed to be in transition, with Hollywood hoping to hop onto the new mood that gave the sunny inauguration a darker undercurrent.

A day after the drama in Washington, Fox had the highest rated premiere program of the TV season with "Lie to Me." The police procedural plot is similar to so many series, like "CSI," which bring scientific certainty in these uncertain times.

But the underlying theme is about being underhanded, and the nature of dishonesty. It may have worked so well by tapping into the public's wariness and weariness with the Bernie Madoff/Rod Blagojevich culture of cynical financial and political pyramid schemes that made possible the rise of Obama, who went from dark horse candidate to lighting passions in people worldwide.

The inauguration mood and small screen themes also could be found in the three big screen films that have the best chance to win their respective best picture categories in the Academy Awards, which announced nominations two days after the inauguration.

Best animated feature will be won by "WALL-E," which had the biggest box office despite questioning consumer culture with more prescience than Alan Greenspan.

And best picture nominee "Slumdog Millionaire" incorporates all the transition trends: Hopeful, youthful optimism – despite stark economic disparities – challenged by corrupt cynicism of those in charge. And, pulling all these disparate dynamics together, a reality TV show born in the era's go-go decade that seems so dated now, "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire."

Regardless of anyone's personal politics, the inauguration couldn't have come at a better time. The nation needs a psychological, if not political, transition from dark clouds to sunny skies – even just for a day. And the day didn't disappoint, offering rare authenticity in a "Lie to Me" era.

That is, until it was revealed that the classy classical music that ushered in the new president, who proclaimed a "new era of responsibility," was actually a recording, not live. This prompted a musical (and journalistic) first: Milli Vanilli and Yo-Yo Ma in the same sentence.