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Jackman + No Jokes?

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12:35 pm Update: 23 minutes ago AP reported that "the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that Hugh Jackman will host the 81st Academy Awards."

Earlier: Deadline Hollywood Daily's Nikki Finke is reporting that Oscar show producers Bill Condon and Larry Mark have offered Hugh Jackman -- People's 2008 "Sexiest Man Alive," star of the dead-in-the-water Australia and the forthcoming Wolverine -- the job of hosting the February '09 Oscars.

But "while the 40-year-old Sydney-born thesp of English parentage has received the AMPAS offer and is very interested, I'm told that he's not yet fully committed," Finke reports.

Finke has "learned that the people around Jackman want to know exactly what would be expected of him, especially when it comes to opening the Oscar broadcast. One segment of the show which reps for Jackman are objecting to specifically is the joke-telling monologue. 'I don't want that for him,' an insider told me. '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.'"

So what is Jackman going to do then? Perform a big swanky dance number with a bunch of Vegas showgirls and sing "O What A Beautiful Mornin!"? I have to be honest -- I don't like this. This feels like an Alan Carr makeover.

Alien Spew<< previous | next >>Touch of the Real

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on December 12, 2008 at 10:17 AM

comment #1

Pablo VillaÃ§a says ...

It has been confirmed by AP.
http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/entertainment/*http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081212/ap_en_mo/oscars_host

Posted by Pablo VillaÃ§a at December 12, 2008 10:32 AM

comment #2

BurmaShave says ...

He nailed his Tony hosting duties, I think this is fine, I imagine they mean no monologue more than anything, and are lowering expectations because he's not a comedian.

Posted by BurmaShave at December 12, 2008 10:37 AM

comment #3

Mark B says ...

I can understand the concerns (from both sides) and they are not without merit.

However, forgive the namedropping, but I know him and Jackman is a VERY smart and savvy guy. If anybody can adapt to the occasion and pull off a good "performance" hosting in the Oscars, it is he.

Posted by Mark B at December 12, 2008 10:58 AM

comment #4

actionman says ...

I wonder if he'll be able to display that glorious chest-beaver of his that he so proudly showed off during Australia.

Seriously...he's got some excellent chest hair going for himself.

Posted by actionman at December 12, 2008 10:58 AM

comment #5

vp19 says ...

AMPAS is effectively saying, screw the art-house films -- we're going with blockbusters (as it fervently hopes "The Dark Knight" and/or "WALL-E" is nominated for best picture).

Posted by vp19 at December 12, 2008 10:59 AM

comment #6

Gnome Sayin says ...

Jeff, haven't you been arguing for years that they needed to ditch the string of TV comedians and hire someone who is actually a part of the film industry, actually might project "Hollywood", etc.? Here you go. Everything contained in these reports tell me they're headed in the right direction or at least trying, including ditching the opening stand-up routine and jokey atmosphere. In trying to appeal to young viewers they've made the show resemble a daily chatfest instead of a special yearly event. For better or worse, the only thing that distinguishes the Oscars from the pack is the pomp and regality of it, and Jackman has a lot better chance of selling that than Jon Stewart's or Ellen's cynical quips.

Posted by Gnome Sayin at December 12, 2008 11:13 AM

comment #7

Chase Kahn says ...

We just need more Ferrell/Black musical numbers now...

Posted by Chase Kahn at December 12, 2008 11:37 AM

comment #8

Rich S. says ...

Why not go the Full Monty and have Jackman host the Oscars AS Wolverine, with other super heroes as presenters? That would be worth the price of admission.

Posted by Rich S. at December 12, 2008 11:49 AM

comment #9

VoiceOfReason says ...

He is funnier than Russell Crowe but not quite as gut busting as Eric Bana.

Posted by VoiceOfReason at December 12, 2008 12:01 PM

comment #10

Mark says ...

Will Baz direct, and put the whole opening in slow motion?

Posted by Mark at December 12, 2008 12:23 PM

comment #11

arturobandini2 says ...

Rich S, that is a brilliant suggestion. Nothing else would better represent the State of the Art.

Posted by arturobandini2 at December 12, 2008 12:40 PM

comment #12

K. Bowen says ...

The obvious choice is and remains Tina Fey.

Posted by K. Bowen at December 12, 2008 2:11 PM

comment #13

citizenmilton says ...

The Academy needs to minimize the variety-show and stagey aspects of the event.

Every poor choice in the past several years has been rooted in stagey directions.

Remember STOMP? Or that weird tribe of Yoga-shadow people who rolled into formations that supposedly referenced nominated movies? Every time they do something like that, I'm yawning and muttering, what the heck does this have to do with movies?

When Billy Crystal started filming original intros, he'd found the right path - there needs to be *more* cinematic content, less broadway-show stuff that doesn't translate to television. It doesn't have to be exclusively clips or tiresome highlight reels. More Errol Morris segments please. Do a live motion-capture CG character like a Zemeckis 3-D flick. Do a live remote satellite hookup with the biggest studio production going at that moment for behind-scenes looks....

Wolverine's the man, but, this is probably going to be awful.

Posted by citizenmilton at December 12, 2008 2:12 PM

comment #14

lipranzer says ...

I'm taking a wait-and-see approach. Certainly, I think Jackman has the chops to do a good job, but like citizenmilton, I worry about having more stupid production numbers.

Posted by lipranzer at December 12, 2008 6:00 PM

comment #15