Hugh Jackman: Oscar Host

Even though he won't need to be there for Australia, Hugh Jackman can still put his tuxedo to use on Oscar night. The actor has been named the host of the 481st Academy Awards, which will air on ABC on February 22nd. Should we expect a big monologue? No, as Nikki Finke reports. "I don't want that for him," an insider told Finke. "He is an actor with big movies behind him and one coming this summer. He didn't work the last 20 years to suddenly be a stand-up comedian."However, USA Today speculates that we could see him perform some musical numbers, the kind that Billy Crystal used when he was hosting to kick off the evening. That's not a stretch for Jackman at all, having won a Tony for musical theatre. The move comes in a pivotal year for the Academy Awards, especially since it looks like indie flicks might again dominate the competitive landscape. Last year's Oscars - with a better batch of films - had the lowest ratings ever. This year, the Oscars will be made into a bigger event, allowing movie ads for the first time, which should pique a lot of curiosity, and with the excising of snarky industry jokes, which have been hit or miss over the past few hosts, producers are hoping to cash in on Jackman's Sexiest Oscar Host Alive status to give the broadcast a different feel.But don't think that this is just a pretty face in a well-tailored suit; Jackman has hosted three Tony telecasts and won and Emmy for his final stint behind the podium in 2005. So the stage is bigger, but really, nothing will be all that new. And Jackman is a smart, amiable guy who can, if the conditions call for it, wing something on his own. It's not like they hired Chris Klein.I'll miss the monologue, and with each passing year it becomes more and more clear just how good Billy Crystal was at this gig, but since the show is determined to be different this time around, I don't have a huge problem with it.

Comments

[Judge]

The problem with Jackman as host is precisely this "new look" they are talking about. Because he can sing and dance, does this mean we the audience are going to be inundated with song and dance numbers through the three-plus-hour awards show? If so, I think most people are going to tune out after the second or third one.

And with the fear of a SAG strike looming in the clouds, the whole "new look" idea has the potential to backfire in a major way.

[Get The Big Picture]

I think the song-and-dance thing will be limited to the big splashy opening, which would not be something new. One thing that has murdered this show recently is the musical performances of the nominated songs. They try to make them a much bigger deal than they are. The last cool thing I remember the Academy doing with music is when they had a bunch of winning songs through the years, and Isaac Hayes played the theme from Shaft and some other stars did older classics.

I'd love to see a Bond song medley or something, since it's Ian Fleming's centennial, but that's the sort of thing I would think the producers are aiming for.

It should lean more toward performance overall. If Jackman doesn't do jokes, I think we'll see more Will Ferrell sketches like we've had in years past, or Ben Stiller, guys who have performed at the Oscars before.

[Josie]

I loved Jackman when he hosted the Tony Awards. He knew how to work the crowd and kept the show moving along. Granted, the Oscars are a different ballgame, but I'm excited to see what he will do.