With the season now unshakeably upon us, it’s time to dust off the annual conversation topic of who should host the upcoming Academy Awards ceremony. I am prompted to do so, of course, by Deadline’s recent scoop that 2009 host Hugh Jackman — the first choice of new Oscarcast producers Bruce Cohen and Don Mischer — has turned down the gig, owing to a scheduling conflict with the shooting of of “Wolverine 2.”
Many will be disappointed by this news, given that the Jackman-hosted telecast was one of the better-received of recent years. As one of its few detractors, I’ll admit to feeling relieved: Jackman’s song-and-dance schtick was amiable enough, but he lacked the comic zeal I prefer in an Oscar host.
To be fair, the balance between comic and cuddly is a difficult one to strike at the Oscars. There’s ample room for error on either side of the beloved Billy Crystal school of sweet-and-sour satire: Jackman played it too safe for my liking, but neither do I want to see an encore of Chris Rock’s hostile, room-cooling barbs. The Academy Awards, as much as we might like to mock them, are effectively the industry’s prom night, and the tone should be appropriately celebratory.
As well-earned as Crystal’s reputation as the consummate Oscar emcee of the modern era is, I must say that, in my 20 years of watching, no host has personally delighted me more than Steve Martin. His two solo hosting gigs — of the 2000 and, most trickily, the war-shadowed 2002 ceremonies — were masterclasses in this department: the humor as dry and sparkling as expensive champagne, yet underpinned by a genuine affection for the people and business being honored that night.
Unfortunately, Martin came unstuck this year, hosting the show with Alec Baldwin in a move that looked like a slam-dunk on paper, but didn’t work in practice: Baldwin, unseasoned in this sort of big-ticket showmanship, was palpably nervous, and while Martin picked up some of the slack with his typical sleek timing, the chemistry wasn’t there. (Neither man, it should be said, was to blame as much as the inert, even sloppy, production of the show itself.)
I suspect the generally tepid response to the Martin-Baldwin Oscars has put the producers off going the dual-host routine for a second straight year, but I suggest they stick with it — and with Steve Martin. Here’s where I launch into my now-annual call for Martin to host the ceremony with Tina Fey: a pairing that provided the highlight of the 2008 ceremony, where their kooky-deadpan presentation of the writing awards (see the video below if your memory needs jogging) provoked more laughs than the rest of the ceremony put together.
Fey, it should be said, was also the joint MVP of this year’s ceremony: cutely teamed with Robert Downey, Jr. to present (again) the original screenplay award, she socked a second straight audition for the big job with her blend of unpretentious chutzpah and quick-on-her-feet delivery. She’s earned a shot at it, and given her current popularity, one could easily make a case for her hosting alone. But we know she plays well off Martin: her warmth would counteract his archness, and his big-screen profile would bolster her still (mainly) TV-sized persona. And the boy-girl dynamic could really freshen things up.
Others will likely bring up the now-regular suggestions of Justin Timberlake and Neil Patrick Harris — though the former’s alliance to one of the likely frontrunners in the race would be problematic, and the latter’s rep is tainted by his awkward involvement in the last ceremony’s opening number. For my money, the most successful Oscar emcees have a measure of established film-industry stature — but before you go nominating well-oiled charisma machines like Downey Jr. or George Clooney for the role, I’d venture that it’s better to have a host who can generate his (or her) own material.
So I stand fast on this: Martin and Fey FTW. Who would you like to see working the stage come February 27?
[Photo: E! Online]
Comments
74 responses to “Jackman turns down Oscar hosting gig”
Why no one ever thinks of Queen Latifah (who also has a proven history of chemistry with Martin) is beyond me.
Think outside the box, people!!!
Fey and Martin would be great, but I have one suggestion every year:
Kevin Spacey.
Sosgemini: Is Queen Latifah that far outside the box? I’d say she’s pretty much in the club.
Why not Ellen DeGeneres? I really liked when se was the host
Yay! I was hoping for this thread when I heard the news.. I’ve been trying to get Kris to bring it up for the Oscar Talk to no avail.
A Martin/Fey team-up would be great, although I can’t imagine it’ll happen. Keeping Martin on from last year while “dropping” Baldwin would probably look bad (even though it shouldn’t). Fey hosting solo could work, but even for her it’d be a pretty huge deal I think. It’s one thing to just present an award, another entirely to carry the show.
How about.. James Lipton and Zach Galifianakis (in Between Two Ferns mode)? I actually think James Lipton would be a pretty good choice. He’s obviously not big enough to land the job, but the man has a wicked sense of humour.
One idea would simply be to round up the Who’s Who of comedy and go all out. Everyone’s favourite bits every year seem to be when comedians are presenting some award, so why not do that across the board (more or less). The Oscars are always so stiff.. They need more crazy stuff going on, it needs to feel more fast and loose.
How long ago was it since Billy Crystal last hosted? I would be nice to see him host again.. It feels like it was very long ago, and he always was the master.
@Guy, not enough to ever get a mention year after year. OMG: I just had a thought, how about Latifah, Will Ferrell and Emma Thompson? Now, *that* I would watch.
Give me Emma Thompson over Tina Fey’s overexposed self any day.
Tina Fey is a wonderful suggestion, she could do it well with or without anyone else. I’ll agree that the hosting was off last year, but it had nothing to do with Neil Patrick Harris’ number — a shining moment in the boring opening. He knows how to work a crowd and Hollywood loves his hosting gigs.
So I guess my suggestion would be for Tina Fey and Neil Patrick Harris to co-host.
Forgot to mention this in the piece, but in a broader vein, I think Ben Stiller would do a neat job.
Justin Beiber and Miley Cyrus – gotta get the young people watching.
Tina Fey would be great, but does she have the time to help write, research and ultimately host the ceremony, considering her multiple duties on 30 Rock?
I would love to see Tina Fey plus anyone (or no one), though I would particularly relish her and Amy Poehler. They presented together at the Emmys a few years ago and it was quite hilarious…
If Ricky Gervais wasn’t hosting the globes again this year I’d go with him as my first choice.
Yeah I would love to see Martin again, and with Tina Fey it would be great. Craig Ferguson would also be real fun, but his accent might be to much.
I also have an idea that Joel McHale would be a great host. Hosting the clip show The Soup, he is hilarious. He might be to young to handle such a big audience though. Maybe if he has a chance at the Emmy’s ;)
I’d definitely love Tina Fey to host, either on her own or with an accomplice. I’m not so sure about Steve Martin, but I’d definitely like to see her reunite with Robert Downey Jr. to host. Fey is a fantastic writer, and Downey is hilarious whenever he’s on stage: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfGBO7tmJmg
Who are these people who keep suggesting Timberlake, he is terrible.
Tracy Morgan. It will be a cross between the Oscars and the apocalypse.
Timberlake has the right showman genes, much like Hugh Jackman, but he’s just too young to be able to command a show like the Oscars. Even Neil Patrick Harris is borderline too young, at 37.
Kevin Spacey, mentioned above, would be an interesting choice. He’s definitely funnier than people think of him, and he’s a master impersonator.
I’ve always liked Steve Martin as well, but I like Guy’s suggestion of Ben Stiller even better. Maybe a Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson pairing would be good if they are not sick of each other. As for Jake’s suggestion, Ricky Gervais is my favorite comedian right now, but there is no way the Academy would offer him the job.
emma thompson
Why not Tina Fey alone? She can command a stage and can generate brilliant material she can perform phenomenally. Who says she needs a teammate?
Keith Olbermann.
If noticed by anyone, apologies for incorrectly giving the Oscarcast producers’ names earlier — my mind must have been elsewhere when typing.
She’s a woman.
On a more serious note, I think she would be excellent hosting by herself. However she is at her funniest when she is playing off another person – Tina Fey & Alec Baldwin (Jack & Liz), Tina Fey & Jimmy Fallon (SNL) , Tina Fey & Amy Poehler (the Sarah Palin Chronicles).
She is not the standup comedian type that will tell jokes the whole evening. I don’t know how long that can last.
JERRY SEINFELD
I second Andrew M’s suggestions of Craig Ferguson or Joel McHale. They’d be great. Though Craig Ferguson gets a lot of humour on his show by making fun of how crappy it all is, I think he would do excellently mocking the over-indulgence of the Academy Awards, and of the people themselves, but in a likely affectionate way. Joel McHale would be great too, but as I was thinking more and more about Ferguson, I really think he’d be better.
Joel McHale?
I hope Patryk’s suggestion is no where close to serious.
Are they still too timid to give the job to Sasha Baron Cohen? What about Conan O’Brien or even Karl Pilkington? Ha.
Billy Crystal… I won’t stop saying it until he hosts again after he’s been gone for seven years.
I third the Craig Ferguson suggestion. I just love the guy, and not only is he damn funny but he’s smart and thoughtful too. Conan may be the IT girl of late night talk shows, but Craig has my heart.
Actually, the more I think about it, the more I think he’d be just perfect for the job.
Tina Fey and Downey Jr. would be awesome. I think it would be wise if The Academy capitalized on Galifinakis’ popularity as well.
Fey and Latifah are wonderful suggestions. Heck, have them host together. You know who else might not be bad? Call me crazy, but Jim Carrey would be a hoot. He could also pimp his sure-to-go-unrecognized film this year.
Ferguson would be pretty great too, and I’d love to see Wanda Sykes’ name tossed into the ring. Not sure either of them are welcome in the Oscar club though.
If you want something completely different:
Christopher Walken or Samuel L. Jackson.
Kevin Spacey would be a good choice too, as would be Tina Fey.
I like that Jim Carrey suggestion! its never occurred to me, but I think it’d be great. Usually I don’t like a big name relevant movie actor doing it because I feel like its film industry’s night to relax and let a TV and stand up personalities take over. (I say this questioning to myself Carrey’s current high profile relevance)
I thought the producers had a great idea last year with Sacha Baron Cohen but alas the Academy is too scared. If his Guy Ritchie joke at the Golden Globes a few years ago is any indication, he would make for an awesome host. I mean the facial reactions of the actors were priceless.
I also love the idea of Christopher Walken but he would never do it. Kevin Spacey is good too but he is also involved with the same front runner as Timberlake so not this year for him.
I’m down with Jim Carrey especially if he does one of those montages Billy Crystal always did before a show where he appeared in various scenes of the years noteworthy films.
How about someone young they have never tried that before Emma Stone anyone?????
The problem with any host, no matter how funny they are, is that after about 45 minutes, the giving out of the awards just deadens every things and make you want to throw something at the screen. Perhaps Jackman wasn’t the ideal funnyman that Guy Lodge wants, but he was incredibly entertaining and he happened to host the one show that actually had some kind of underlying structure to it that basically worked.
Someone once mentioned Emma Thompson. Can you imagine that?!?
I’ve been on the Fey/Martin bandwagon for a while as well; they’re both delightful. Plus the window might be closing fast on Sarah Palin quips and I just want Fey to get in quick. My dream host would be Kathy Griffin, just for the squirming guaranteed in the Kodak Theatre alone, but of course it’d never happen.
i’m open to Fey doing it, her reputation is big enough now for the job. She has probably been asked and turned it down. One thing i notice, no matter the host, no matter the performance, they always get pelted the following day of the oscars, no one is ever happy. any sane comedian should turn it down.
Meryl Streep.
She’s funny, she’s smart, she knows everyone, she’s a 73-time nominee and she’s box office gold. And she isn’t the favourite to win a prize herself this year for the first time in a while.
Plus you could even pair her with Steve Martin, and she’d even outsmart him.
I’d go for her.
Fey by herself sounds good but I think she needs someone to bounce off. Look at all of her successful SNL skits and some of the best moments from 30 Rock for that matter.
Also, Jimmy Fallon was downright fantastic at the Emmys. So why not?
But if I was to choose someone out of the blue, it would be Jerry Seinfeld. I know people might be a bit sick of him but I think he would definitely be a hit.
Also I like the Jim Carrey suggestion but why should he show love to the Academy when they have never done so?
Yes again to Craig Ferguson. Maybe co hosted by Geoff Peterson. Craig would be great because he doesn’t give a rats as at all. I’d love to see that. But maybe not the Oscars. Let Craig host the Emmys, the ones he never gets nominated for. And put Kristen Bell and Lauren Graham next to him.
The Oscars? Fey/Martin would be great but what Graysmith said is true. It would feel like it was Baldwins fault, that he was the weak link and has to go.
I also like Jim Carrey and Kevin Spacey. And Emma Thompson somehow sounds interesting to me.
Craig Ferguson? Jimmy Fallon? Oh jesus christ. More people watch the Oscars than all of the late night chat shows combined.
Although I would find it fitting since the Academy seem so blind to world cinema at this stage and by putting someone like Fallon on would be like admitting the rest of the world doesn’t exist and that they don’t care when millions around the globe collectively ask “who?”
Glenn,
It’s not about having the most famous people hosting (they we’d have a Kristen Stewart/Justin Bieber hosting duo), it’s about having hosts that can play the room and be comfortable as hosts. Late night talk show hosts are ideal candidates because it’s similar to a lot of what they do.
As for Fallon, I dare say he’s probably more famous to international audiences than Jon Stewart and Chris Rock were (and are).
Chris,
Meryl Streep is funny, she would be a great choice but I’m pretty sure she actually hates being in the spotlight and gets very nervous. That’s what she says anyway, even if you can’t really tell when she’s been on presenting and such before. I don’t think they could ever convince her to do it.
Tina & Steve, Conan O’Brien, Jon Stewart, Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Tom Cruise, Whoopi, Carrie Fisher, Ian McKellen, NPH or…. Spacey!!!
Oh and I agree with Carrey and Walken… Cohen plays Freddie Mercury THEN hosts the oscars!!
“Late night talk show hosts are ideal candidates because it’s similar to a lot of what they do.”
Which is why David Letterman was such a spectacular success hosting the 1994 ceremony? It’s a totally different scale of gig.
Please no talk show host!
I´m suggesting Robert Downey Jr., that would be great!
Sam Rockwell?