The Nominees Are: Movieline Picks 5 Possible Hosts For The Oscars
Sister site Deadline is reporting that Academy Award producers Bruce Cohen and Don Mischer have approached Hugh Jackman to host the 2011 Oscars and the soft-shoeing mutant turned them down, opting to concentrate on his Wolverine sequel. Pity since he was the best host the Oscar's have had in recent years. So who could fill the slot as host to Hollywood's Biggest Night? I've got a few humble suggestions after the jump.
Neil Patrick Harris: He won the Emmy for his stellar job at hosting the Tonys, was a great host of the Emmys in 2009 and he was the best part of last year's Oscar ceremony; why not give NPH the nod and let him work his way to the hosting equivalent of an EGOT?
Steve Martin: His turns at hosting in 2001 and hosting 2003 were incredibly funny, but pairing him with Alec Baldwin last year seem to throw off his rhythm and the evening never rose above a "Meh" from me. His twitter feed alone shows just how funny Steve Martin can be solo.
Ricky Gervais: Mordantly funny, Gervais could be the most incisively hysterical host the Oscars have ever had - which is why they probably wouldn't let him. But by God, I'd pay good money to hear him skewer whatever weepy Oscar-bait the Weinsteins send down the pike.
Tina Fey: We haven't had a female Oscar host since Ellen strapped on a swan gown and I think we're certainly due. Her past times as a presenter were hilarious and she's had two box office smashes in 2010 to prove her movie bonafides. Oscar hosts have to straddle a thin line between respectful and satirical and Fey can do both with aplomb.
Joan Rivers: OR we can just have Joan Rivers blow everything up. Notoriously uncensored and riotously funny, Joan Rivers would certainly make it an evening to remember. Rivers doesn't always play nice but she is never, ever dull and could be a perfect antidote for a self-congratulatory evening. Besides, I'd kill just to listen to her harangue Mel Gibson for fifteen minutes straight.
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When you mentioned Joan haranguing Mel for 15 minutes, it made me wonder why not get Mel? He wouldn't have to say a word. We'd all just laugh at him. It would be like his own tele-evangelical intervention.
Tina would be awesome. But I can't imagine she has the time. So would NPH but he doesn't do enough features to have the international exposure
My vote: Steve Martin & Queen Latifah
Better yet, why not Queen Latifah and Kevin Smith
Or, what about Queen Latifah and Selma Hayek.
Do we always have to have a white guy as part of the host equation?
I'd love for it to be Joan but it'll never happen. They don't seem to like it when the hosts make fun of the actors, case in point the Chris Rock and Jude Law, Sean Penn debacle.
I love it though, someone needs to tell these people they are not as great as they think they are.
JOAN RIVERS.
Because this is impossible I want Russell Brand.
There have got to be funny/classy movie people who can host this, right? Rather than just TV folks? Tina Fey and Jon Hamm should host the Emmys. NPH can do the Tonys forever, as far as I'm concerned. Robert Downey Jr., perhaps?
Donny Osmond or George Clooney... by adding subtle humor rather than biting sarcastic humor..
i thought jackman was overrated as a host. gervais would obviously be ideal. John Oliver would actually be awesome but he's not known enough. zach g would be great but would turn it down. they should offer it to johnny depp b/c maybe he'd do it on a lark.
How about dan ackroid, bonnie hunt, myley cyrus or steve carrel?
Or jonah hill, jack black, tracy ullman or rachel mcadams?
I'm suing Movieline because I spat hot coffee on my person after reading 99% of reader submissions. I hope you guys are happy and that Miley Cyrus is ready to go for '11.
I really don't get the insane Gervais love over the years. His hosting shtick consists of making fun of everything, laughing at his own jokes and drinking on-air. There's no flip side to him.
Surprisingly, Tina Fey would be an ill fit as well. We've never seen her when she's not joking. Would anything she says be taken at face value? Is she just as engaging when she's not racing for the punchline? Also, does she have global appeal? (Granted they haven't really cared much about that litmus test recently, but still).
NPH would do well because everyone would be rooting for him. That is a valuable thing to have in your toolbelt. Just ask Letterman and Rock.
Steve would be Steve, which would be good. I'd actually love to see Joan walk this tightrope once, just to see if she's able to attenuate herself as the night drags on.
But my first choice would be George Lopez. HAHAHAHA, just kidding.
Joan Rivers' wax likeness that talks? No thanks.
please, not Joan Rivers or Neal Patrick Harris. Please...
Tina Fey and Ellen DeGeneres should host together.
Uhhh, CONAN!
I'm voting for Neil Patrick Harris!