Who Should Host the 2012 Academy Awards?
Kudos to Bruce Cohen and Don Mischer for thinking out of the box with James Franco and Anne Hathaway, but a loss is a loss is a loss. It just didn't work. Don't take my word for it -- or anyone else's here at Movieline HQ: the ratings for the 83rd Annual Academy Awards were down 10 percent overall from the 2010 telecast, and 13 percent in the "hip, young-er" demo of under 50s that the Oscars were courting. What can be done to fix this mess for next year? It's never too early to start worrying about the Oscars, and so here are 13 people who should be considered for hosts in 2012.
Robert Downey Jr.
For reference, this is now two awards shows RDJ has stolen in 2011; he's a natural future Oscar host -- if "Oscar host" going forward means "charming and smart Hollywood star that everyone loves." The problem is that Downey is probably too smart to host. It's a thankless role, and you get the brunt of the blame when it goes horribly wrong. See: Hathaway and Franco.
Tina Fey
How has this not happened before? I feel even silly bringing Tina Fey up at this point, because she'd be so ideal to host that her name must have crossed Cohen and Mischer's lips at some point in the last year. Perhaps she just didn't want to do it alone? If so, feel free to slide Alec Baldwin, Steve Carell, Steve Martin or Jon Hamm in as her co-host.
Neil Patrick Harris
Another "Duh," as Charlie Sheen would say. Neil Patrick Harris is beloved, talented and totally classy. Most important, he can be funny without being mean. As we learned on Sunday night, being funny is an important part of the Oscar hosts' duties.
Billy Crystal and/or Whoopi Goldberg
Why not? Let Billy and Whoopi host separately or together. It doesn't really matter. At least then we'd get the expected, boring Borscht Belt humor, and not James Franco's preening eye rolls.
Jimmy Fallon
Don't be a hater: Fallon killed the Emmys as host. He's young, he's enthusiastic, and he delivers. The opening segment with Hathaway and Franco being "incepted" into the year's best moves was inspired, but it paled in comparison to the "Born to Run" opening from the 2010 Emmys. Tim Gunn was there! And Kate Gosselin. In Jimmy I trust. So should the Oscars.
Sandra Bullock
Let's consider her the female RDJ, but with a caveat: Bullock might be smart enough to host. After all, she's Telfon at this point -- even moreso than Downey -- and she's got that tough-but-sweet demeanor which will allow her to kid the assembled Hollywood royalty in ways that Hathaway and Franco probably weren't able to (or didn't want to).
Ricky Gervais
He can just read his fake monologue for Francaway and it'll be better than the entire 2011 broadcast.
Kathy Griffin
If the Hollywood community thought Gervais was too mean, they likely wouldn't warm to Kathy Griffin. Though, that just means she'll be free to participate in Movieline's 2012 Celebrity Oscar Predictions pool. Which is great for everyone.
Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman
Surprise! Hathaway was not good as host, but I'm prepared to lay that squarely at the feet of Franco. His total lack of interest threw Hathaway off, and forced her to overcompensate. A lot. She was at her most comfortable with Hugh Jackman, which isn't surprising since they also produced a winning Oscar moment in 2009. Pair them up, make it a musical party along the lines of Glee (but without the Ryan Murphy sheen of smarm), and just have fun. I would watch this.
Melissa Leo and Kirk Douglas
Unfortunately, if this happened, the Oscars would run for six hours.
No One
Think about it: The Grammys do it. Up until Ricky Gervais took over for the Hollywood Foreign Press in 2010 and 2011, the Golden Globes did it. Why not the Oscars? It would streamline the telecast, allow for the individual stars to be the stars and free the audience from potential stinkers like Sunday night. The closest thing to a "can't lose" the Academy can get.
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Comments
pair up Cate Blanchette with Robert downey Jr.
Also, Jane Krakowski with Jane Lynch.
Bill Hader as Stefon.
The Golden Trifecta of Owen Wilson, Steve Zahn, and Matthew McConaughey.
You know how else the show could cut time next year? Stop having other people present the presenters. Especially creepy back from the dead Ro-Bob Hope.
Billy Crystal or Whoopi Goldberg.
SANDRA BULLOCK... for solo host of 2012 Academy Awards Show is my choice. She was great last night!
I thought James Franco and Anne Hathaway did a fantastic job, but I guess I just know how to enjoy a show without being nitpicky about it.
That being said...Jon Stewart for 2012 Oscar's!
Ricky fucking Gervais.
RuPaul.
"Annette Bening...Natalie Portman...It's time to...LIP SYNC FOR YOUR LIIIIIFE!"
Tina Fey's perfect...and her co-host should be Amy Poehler. Not only because it'd be an awesome Weekend Update reunion, but because every time Poehler's presented at an awards show, it's been a fuckin' riot.
Remember this year's SAG awards: "And the best actor in this category according to some people as of tonight is..."
Perez Hilton actually had a good idea - NPH and Ellen Degeneres together. They're funny and energetic, and their spoofs of the nominated movies on her show last week were very funny. Also, what about Tom Hanks or Kevin Spacey? I also like the ideas of Sandra Bullock, RDJ, Hugh Jackman and Tina Fey.
Neil Patrick Harris is too small screen for that stage.
Jackman and Hathaway suggestion is a good one. In any case, I'd be tempted to cast her again: with such admirable enthusiasm, she doesn't deserve this wound.
Why do we all prefer Franco to Tobey McGuire, again?
Since hs's now clean...Charlie Sheen!
Trying it host free might not be a bad idea at least for a year. That said, Robert Downey Jr and Tina Fey would probably be a good time.
Yes please!
"Good luck, and don't fuck it up!"
timberlake--had the comedic chops and can go the song and dance route...
Can I have Robert Downey Jr -and- Jude Law? They were great last night. Or yes, I'll take Neil Patrick Harris as well.
Russell Brand
1. Seth Macfarlane
2. Robert Downey Jr.
3. Joel McHale
Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin would be epic. Fey's one of the funniest and sharpest women in the industry and experienced in a live setting. Baldwin by her side would be perfect - he's hosted before, has H'wood cred and their comedic chemistry's 5 years in the making. Do it do it!
BILLY CRYSTAL--IS 2ND TO BOB HOPE -----HE IS AWESOME
James Lipton.
Martin Short
Eddie Izzard
Craig Ferguson
R2-D2
Beaker
or
Bill The Cat
Kevin Spacey is intelligent, articulate and popular. He's an academy award winning actor, a good singer, dancer, comedian and impressionist. He's done theatre so he shouldnt be too nervous in front of the crowd and he's charismatic and most of all is one of the IN crowd. He'd do wonderfully.
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