Oscars
Who Should Host the Oscars?
At the very end of Vulture’s chat with Hugh Jackman, they asked if the multi-faceted star would again host the Oscars this year. His response: “I don’t know. I haven’t been asked.” Which got us thinking: If it’s never too early for Best Picture punditry, then it’s just as valid to start calling the odds on who’ll host an awards show five months away. We’ve narrowed down the race to seven candidates, broken down in three categories: The Thoroughbreds, The Tantalizing Possibilities, and The Dark Horses.
The Thoroughbreds
1. Hugh Jackman
Why: Producers Laurence Mark and Bill Condon wanted to do something completely different with last year’s show, giving the proceedings a classed-up, throwback feel by putting the orchestra on a thrust stage and bathing the audience in Swarovski-crusted opulence. Hugh was the dashing plastic bridegroom atop their wedding cake (and, some might argue, the glowing bride as well), wowing the crowd with his seemingly boundless gifts for song, dance, and making light-funny at only his own expense. And all the while, he managed to stay effortlessly classy, even when hopping into Frank Langella’s lap or singing about pubic hair.
He brought in higher ratings, too: 36.3 million viewers, 4.3 million more than the year before.
Why not: His single 2009 output, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, is considered an Oscar frontrunner in all categories, and will therefore turn the evening into an awkward series of hosting stops and acceptance speech starts.
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Posted 22 Sep 2009, 11:39 AM
1. Hugh Jackman: Missed those Oscars, so I won't judge. Okay, I will. He can sing, dance, and tell jokes, but he's no Billy Crystal judging by the clips and might want to step back for a year.
2. Neill Patrick Harris: Only the Academy would care about his personal life. Audiences seem to like him, finding him funny and personable and not appearing to care about his sex life. With some good writers he might pull it off.
3. Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin: I can see the audience watching the show, wondering why one host is screaming his lungs out at the Oscar statue about his ex-wife, and why is Sara Palin there too.
4. Justin Timberlake: No.
5. Kristin Chenoweth: Too much risk of being mistaken for a statuette and taken away by an over-enthusiastic actor.
6. Kathy Griffin: If you want to kill the Oscars, go for it.
Posted 22 Sep 2009, 11:55 AM
No Sarah Silverman? I would love to see her host the Oscars.
All of the other people you listed are good when they are scripted, but they are never ones to improv and that is exactly what the program needs. Not people reading off lines they've rehearsed which might get a chuckle here and there. They don't need "Broadway's" version of the Oscars as they had last year, they need someone who will not kiss ass, and hopefully make fun of some of the actors, actresses, and movies of this year.
Posted 22 Sep 2009, 12:36 PM
...you do realize you just described Kathy Griffin, right?
Posted 22 Sep 2009, 1:27 PM
I thought about that, but I remember in one of her stand-up shows on Bravo she said that she's isn't really good at telling spur of the moment jokes, but rather just jokes from the crazy things that go on in her life. Remember someone wrote that "suck it Jesus" joke she did at the Emmy's. But she would be my next choice after Silverman.
This may definitely be the year of the ladies with a female-centered film getting great buzz (Precious) and a female director possibly being nominated (Kathryn Bigelow). So a female host would just top it off. But please not Ellen. She is already doing Idol and is just too safe for me.
Posted 22 Sep 2009, 12:45 PM
When Silverman did the Spirit Awards (twice I believe, but more the first time) she held up very well.
Posted 22 Sep 2009, 12:09 PM
No Ricky Gervais?
Posted 22 Sep 2009, 1:47 PM
Agreed. No one but Ricky shall do for now. Although, I wouldn't mind Chris Rock returning to make some white people uncomfortable. His Bush/Gap employee analogy was pretty hilarious.
Posted 25 Sep 2009, 10:19 AM
As long as he has Karl Pilkington with him.
Posted 25 Sep 2009, 6:34 PM
Ricky Gervais should definitely get the first offer, no one would make fun of the celebs more artfully than he would.
Posted 22 Sep 2009, 12:31 PM
Kathy Griffin would be an awesome choice, but yeah it'll never happen.
Posted 22 Sep 2009, 1:38 PM
So there is no reason for Hugh not to host again ;-) Your "why not" isn´t too good. I liked Wolverine but it´s doubtful it will get any nominations that would involve Hugh (best actor - shame but true, produser - best movie). So yeah, I hope he could do that, he was great. But he is making a movie from January so he might have some schedule conflict.
Posted 22 Sep 2009, 2:15 PM
Who Should Host the Oscars?
Me.
Posted 22 Sep 2009, 2:26 PM
i had you pegged as the genie in Gene with Heigl as your Aladdin.
Posted 22 Sep 2009, 2:16 PM
Billy Crystal should host the Oscars! He knows how to do it with style!!!
Posted 23 Sep 2009, 5:39 AM
Billy Crystal. Nobody does it better.
Posted 23 Sep 2009, 5:04 AM
Neil Patrick Harris!
P.S. I don't know one person who watches 30 Rock. I really think it's popularity is because people who work in the media like it.
Posted 25 Sep 2009, 2:39 AM
Tons of the greatest shows on television (The Wire, Friday Night Lights, Arrested Development) have/had thin ratings, while a lot of insipid, borderline-unwatchable crap (Two and a Half Men, all CSI shows, American Idol) bring in the frothing droves, so I'm not sure that that's really a negative.
Posted 25 Sep 2009, 2:06 AM
Steve Martin or Ricky Gervais. Two very different funny men.
Posted 25 Sep 2009, 2:56 AM
Steve Martin and Tina Fey. Great together as presenters last year. He's done well with hosting duties twice before and his humor toes the line well with The Oscars' self-reverential tone. Fey can add some bite without going over-the-top (i.e. Whoopi). The two have the TV, movie and comedy chops to pull it off, plus their pairing would likely generate more buzz than--no offense--Neil Patrick Harris or a Hugh Jackman redux.
Posted 25 Sep 2009, 6:55 AM
"His year"? Jon Stewart hosted the Oscars twice. I guess one time was really forgettable to you guys.
Posted 25 Sep 2009, 7:31 AM
Howard Stern. Who better than the King of All Media!
Posted 25 Sep 2009, 7:40 AM
Xmen is a frontrunner in all categories? WHAT?? No it's not. I doubt it will even get a nomination in a single category. Not to mention I highly doubt it will receive an award for actress, documentary, animation, and original writing. BECAUSE THERE ARE NONE. Not to mention how much of a joke the oscars would be if it got picture, actor, adapted writing, and director.
Posted 26 Sep 2009, 9:42 AM
It's called Sarcasm, dude. Relax!
I don't know about Billy hosting again, but I wish he'd help write and come up with the opening every year. No other opening sequences have stood out as 'great' to me.
And NEVER mention Steve Martin as host. I turned his oscars off before any of the awards had been handed out.
Posted 25 Sep 2009, 7:42 AM
maybe he'd fuck it up but Eddie Murphy might work
Posted 25 Sep 2009, 9:02 AM
Neil Patrick Harris would do a phenomenal job and proved that at the Emmys. He is very talented and handles the pressure with grace, class, and humor. He is very "now," but he reminds me in some strange way of some of the old Hollywood stars - wasn't Cary Grant both smooth and witty? I like very few current Hollywood stars, but I think he would do a tremendous job. This year was the first time I've watched the Emmys straight though in a long time - I'd definitely sit through the Oscars were he the host!
Posted 25 Sep 2009, 9:02 AM
Meryl Streep!
She was a fantastic presenter (with Lily Tomlin) two years ago.
Streep's charisma & stage presence are unquestioned, and - as she showed in Mama Mia - she can sing, too.
Posted 25 Sep 2009, 9:39 AM
To the 9:02 Anon - Streep would be great in theory. However, I saw her present at a benefit a few years back, and while she was a lovely person, she was less than magnetic or charismatic while on stage. She has an undeniable presence while acting, but I don't see that translating as well when she's just being herself.
My vote is Billy Crystal or Neil Patrick Harris. Mr. Harris radiates personality in a very specific way that is necessary for a great host; I would honestly go as far as to say he is the one on the list of prospective hosts who most embodies all the things I love about watching Billy Crystal host/present/emcee anything. They are both absolutely fascinating to watch, have brilliant timing, and are, by all accounts, tremendously talented.
I thought Hugh Jackman was... adorable and rather bland. His reedy voice does very little for me, personally. However, I'm not the target! I'm a lifer. I will watch the Oscars until I'm a decrepit geriatric, because for some bizarre reason, I actually care about who wins those silly things. The host selection is meant to pull in the people who might not otherwise watch. Ah, well, it's still fun to ramble on in internet comments. ;)
Posted 25 Sep 2009, 9:56 AM
Steve carell and Steven Colbert should team up on this. They are two of the funniest men on television or even in the business right now as well as best friends. You'd get a lot of creativity and laugh out loud humor with these two. Carell is the perfect straight man and Colbert is great at barely containing his lunacy. Plus, they've both proven themselves in terms of acting well within ridiculous scenarios whether on the office, strangers with candy, the daily show (where they used to do a terrific point-counterpoint), and the colbert report, ensuring that any video parodying would be priceless comedy. Plus they can dress up well. My 2 cents.
Posted 25 Sep 2009, 10:03 AM
If Timberlake or Kathy Griffin get selected as host, I would not watch the Oscars.
Posted 25 Sep 2009, 11:28 AM
Amazes me how many people don't get the sarcasm of your "Wolverine in all categories" joke. For this reason alone my pick of Ricky Gervais is threatened. The multitudes seldom fully understand snark and irony.
But I would love Ricky to do it anyway.
Posted 25 Sep 2009, 11:35 AM
How about Craig Ferguson?
Posted 25 Sep 2009, 4:27 PM
i couldn't agree more, Allison! : )
Posted 26 Sep 2009, 11:20 AM
CRAIG!!! Perfection! And he could show off his dead-on Michael Caine and Sean Connery impressions during the opening monologue.
Posted 25 Sep 2009, 12:07 PM
"His single 2009 output, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, is considered an Oscar frontrunner in all categories"-- is that a joke? All your other "why nots" are serious, but that's not true at all. Anyway, Ricky Gervais should host. He's hilarious and he's never got a chance to host an award show. And Jon Stewart by the way has been the funniest oscar host of the last ten years (except for Billy Crystal). Also, Kristen Chenowith? Seriously? You want some obscure broadway actor who won an emmy for a supporting role in a show no one watches to win? Do you ever want anyone to watch the oscars again?
Posted 25 Sep 2009, 12:19 PM
WTF cares about a bunch of whiny, self-absorbed twits? To myself and the billions more who don't watch - those who actually have lives - the Oscars mean what they should mean: SQUAT!
If they're serious about shaking things up, they should do what the GGs did a couple of years back -- just announce the winners, in and out in 30 minutes! It would be a ratings bonanza!
Posted 25 Sep 2009, 7:46 PM
Yeah, you have so much of a life that you take time to comment on a topic you care nothing about. I'm wondering, are you a troll, or are you so self-absorbed that you must foist your worthless and unnecessary opinions on people who care not one bit about what you say?
Posted 25 Sep 2009, 12:37 PM
Except for Jackman again, anyone on this list would be terrible.... terrible.
Ricky Gervais would be good, or just an old favourite like Steve Martin. Crystal is my favourite host, but I think the 2003 Oscars were his grand finale(and they were the best Oscars ever, so that's fine with me).
Posted 25 Sep 2009, 12:46 PM
Do we really need a host? All we need is some star to come to make a welcoming address, and then just get to handing out the awards. That's the way the Golden Globes does it.
Posted 25 Sep 2009, 1:24 PM
Because the Academy is making changes to attract more viewers, why not change the format of the host in some form. They could have multiple hosts to mix it up and have a different energy so people don't get bored. Perhaps divide it up into 3 different acts like a play. I think having big name actors who have been nominated for Oscars before and have proven themselves with comedy could do it. I thought Meryl Streep and Lily Tomlin 2 years ago were the funniest people the entire night! The Oscars are supposed to be the cream of the crop. Make the host(s) the cream of the crop too. Or have duo hosts which are two popular duo actors who have been in a popular film together and have great chemistry. It would be fun to see them throw banter off one another, play with words, etc. They should do something like this rather than just finding one person to do it. To me that is what is boring and has been done to death.
Posted 26 Sep 2009, 1:39 PM
They actually did that many moons ago; Carol Burnett was one of the hosts, I recall. Why Carol Burnett was a host is anybody's guess. It was silly and self-indulgent -- which sums up Oscar quite nicely.
Posted 25 Sep 2009, 7:13 PM
Hugh Laurie, now there would be a great presenter - witty, musically-abled and popular with the American audience.
Posted 25 Sep 2009, 8:59 PM
BETTE MIDLER is the hands-down choice.
Posted 25 Sep 2009, 11:22 PM
Hugh Jackman or Neil Patrick for me!! Both wud do a great job!!
Posted 26 Sep 2009, 3:27 AM
Hugh Laurie & Stephen Fry should host. Though I think any past hosts could return---except Whoopi Goldberg. She's no longer viable for that niche.
As for the ----- who opines 30 Rock appeals only to media workers---it's because one of the quickest, best cat & written, atypical comedy shows in the history of TV. Unless by media workers you mean people with IQ's above 110?
Posted 26 Sep 2009, 7:27 AM
Geez, all the way down here and nobody's made the obvious nomination?
Team Joaquin.
Posted 26 Sep 2009, 5:32 PM
Bill O'Reilly
Posted 26 Sep 2009, 10:06 PM
excuse me - you just said x-men origins is going to be a front-runner in all categories. HONESTLY????? that's the most asenine statement ever. razzies maybe.
how about:
ricky gervais
ellen degeneres
billy crystal
Posted 27 Sep 2009, 11:23 AM
RICKY GERVAIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 27 Sep 2009, 11:37 AM
Wolverine is an oscar frontrunner? Sorry were you being sarcastic there? I had to read that several times to make sure you weren't joking. Wolverine is a front runner for the Razzies.
Posted 27 Sep 2009, 4:06 PM
Jim Carrey should host
Posted 30 Sep 2009, 9:24 AM
'His single 2009 output, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, is considered an Oscar frontrunner in all categories'
Where I stopped reading.