The Host of the 81st OSCAR'S Has Been Announced!!! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 12-12-2008, 11:42 PM

LOS ANGELES — He sings, dances, acts on stage and screen, and he's the "Sexiest Man Alive." Hugh Jackman does everything but standup comedy _ and that's why the first-time Oscars host fulfills the academy's promise to shake up the show in a way that's as tough to predict as the winners.

Jackman was announced Friday as the host of the 81st Academy Awards, a marked departure from the academy's standard of big-name comedians. Jon Stewart, who hosted in 2008 and 2006, and Ellen DeGeneres, the 2007 host, were the latest in a line of funny emcees since 1990. Billy Crystal did it eight times, Whoopi Goldberg took on four, Steve Martin did it twice and David Letterman and Chris Rock each had a shot.

As the parade of A-list comedians continued, ratings were in steady decline. But with new producers, a new director, new set designer and even a new music director, the academy has been hinting for months at an all-new look and feel for this year's Oscars telecast on Feb. 22.

Having Jackman host certainly fits with that theme.

Producers Laurence Mark and Bill Condon called the Australian actor "a consummate entertainer and an internationally renowned movie star."

"He also has style, elegance and a sense of occasion," Mark and Condon said in a joint statement. "Hugh is the ideal choice to host a celebration of the year's movies _ and to have fun doing it."

Indeed, Jackman can be a mutant superhero (Wolverine from the "X-Men" movie franchise), a flirtatious singing barker (Billy Bigelow in Rodgers & Hammerstein's musical "Carousel"), a determined magician ("The Prestige") and a dancing penguin ("Happy Feet").

The 40-year-old actor plays a roughhewn cattle driver opposite Nicole Kidman's English aristocrat in the new Baz Luhrmann romantic adventure "Australia." Jackman was abroad promoting the film Friday when his Oscar role was announced.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/1..._n_150582.html

catlover79 · 12-12-2008, 11:44 PM

That makes sense...I can totally see him as host. I still wish Billy Crystal would come back someday, though.

Brian Damage · 12-12-2008, 11:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

That makes sense...I can totally see him as host. I still wish Billy Crystal would come back someday, though.

An interesting choice indeed...

catlover79 · 12-12-2008, 11:53 PM

He's someone I never even considered as a possible Oscar host, but it makes perfect sense. I think another good choice for a future telecast would be Nicole Kidman.

TJL · 12-14-2008, 03:02 PM

What? I was sooo looking forward to another comedian host doing a bunch of Bush/Obama/Palin jokes!

It's an interesting idea to have a regular actor hosting for a change. Maybe things will be quicker without the host doing a bunch of bits.

If they were going to give the job to a comic actor, i'd vote for Steve Carrell.

catlover79 · 12-14-2008, 03:57 PM

^ Yes, Steve Carell would make an awesome host.

dandelion wine · 12-14-2008, 05:16 PM

To see Billy Crystal hosting again would be a treat, I miss him! Still, I'm looking forward to Hugh Jackman.

MrCleveland · 12-14-2008, 06:28 PM

I would like to see Drew Carey host the Oscars.

70s show watcher · 12-15-2008, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

^ Yes, Steve Carell would make an awesome host.

i agree

12-12-2008, 11:42 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	The Host of the 81st OSCAR'S Has Been Announced!!! LOS ANGELES — He sings, dances, acts on stage and screen, and he's the "Sexiest Man Alive." Hugh Jackman does everything but standup comedy _ and that's why the first-time Oscars host fulfills the academy's promise to shake up the show in a way that's as tough to predict as the winners. Jackman was announced Friday as the host of the 81st Academy Awards, a marked departure from the academy's standard of big-name comedians. Jon Stewart, who hosted in 2008 and 2006, and Ellen DeGeneres, the 2007 host, were the latest in a line of funny emcees since 1990. Billy Crystal did it eight times, Whoopi Goldberg took on four, Steve Martin did it twice and David Letterman and Chris Rock each had a shot. As the parade of A-list comedians continued, ratings were in steady decline. But with new producers, a new director, new set designer and even a new music director, the academy has been hinting for months at an all-new look and feel for this year's Oscars telecast on Feb. 22. Having Jackman host certainly fits with that theme. Producers Laurence Mark and Bill Condon called the Australian actor "a consummate entertainer and an internationally renowned movie star." "He also has style, elegance and a sense of occasion," Mark and Condon said in a joint statement. "Hugh is the ideal choice to host a celebration of the year's movies _ and to have fun doing it." Indeed, Jackman can be a mutant superhero (Wolverine from the "X-Men" movie franchise), a flirtatious singing barker (Billy Bigelow in Rodgers & Hammerstein's musical "Carousel"), a determined magician ("The Prestige") and a dancing penguin ("Happy Feet"). The 40-year-old actor plays a roughhewn cattle driver opposite Nicole Kidman's English aristocrat in the new Baz Luhrmann romantic adventure "Australia." Jackman was abroad promoting the film Friday when his Oscar role was announced. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/1..._n_150582.html
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12-12-2008, 11:44 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	That makes sense...I can totally see him as host. I still wish Billy Crystal would come back someday, though.
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12-14-2008, 03:02 PM	#5
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	What? I was sooo looking forward to another comedian host doing a bunch of Bush/Obama/Palin jokes! It's an interesting idea to have a regular actor hosting for a change. Maybe things will be quicker without the host doing a bunch of bits. If they were going to give the job to a comic actor, i'd vote for Steve Carrell.
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12-14-2008, 05:16 PM	#7
dandelion wine ~ Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 20, 2003 Location: Behind the Couch Posts: 34,967	To see Billy Crystal hosting again would be a treat, I miss him! Still, I'm looking forward to Hugh Jackman.
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12-14-2008, 06:28 PM	#8
MrCleveland Drew Carey from Hell Forum Star Join Date: Nov 10, 2007 Location: The City of Cleveland, in The State of Cleveland, in The United States of Cleveland Posts: 14,227	I would like to see Drew Carey host the Oscars.
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12-12-2008, 11:53 PM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	He's someone I never even considered as a possible Oscar host, but it makes perfect sense. I think another good choice for a future telecast would be Nicole Kidman.

12-14-2008, 03:57 PM	#6
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	^ Yes, Steve Carell would make an awesome host.