God is good all the time!

I like the muppet idea quite a bit, and would also love to see Conan or Colbert get a shot.  However, with a shakeup at this point in the game, I bet they'll just go with the safest possible option, so... Billy Crystal, here we come.

I'm willing to bet they won't get a comedian to replace Murphy.  No comedian wants to put themselves under the "What If Murphy Hosted?" shadow.  I doubt even Billy Crystal wants that comparison.  

My guess is they go after Hugh Jackman again, or just get a respected actor, a la Tom Hanks or Clooney, to be a regular MC to steer the ship efficiently with minimal drama.  

Do you think they'd ask Justin Timberlake?  He's young, inoffensive, and he's done good work hosting SNL and the ESPYs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarleyQuinn22 

Do you think they'd ask Justin Timberlake?  He's young, inoffensive, and he's done good work hosting SNL and the ESPYs.

That's actually would be a decent possibility . . . IF Franco/Hathaway didn't just happen.  I can't see them casting "young" again twice in a row.  

As for Murphy, his instant knee-jerk withdrawal proves that he would have been a rotten, dispassionate host.  He apparently had ZERO interest in this gig.  

You need a stand up comedian to host these things because they know how to play off a crowd.  Actors don't.  They're too self absorbed and come off as stiff.  Not that comedians aren't self absorbed, it's just that they have that boomerang like ability most actors do not.

Go with Billy Crystal or Conan or even Dave fucking Chappelle at this point.

I'm sure these suggestions have been made plenty of times before, but Jason Segel and Amy Adams could be like the version of James Franco and Anne Hathaway who can actually perform live.  Or maybe Robert Downey Jr.

I don't think the Oscars are a good gig for anyone, the jokes are tired and stale and the format makes delivering them awkward. The audience also is fairly uptight. It's hard to imagine anyone succeeding with flying colors under those circumstances

With that said, I don't think much of Murphy, and I'm sure he'd have been just as stale as anyone else with his hosting. It wouldn't have been a career revival. That ship has sailed. He's had every opportunity to take things in a different direction, had he wanted to (post DREAM GIRLS would have been a good time, for instance), and he seems all too happy to put in the minimal effort required in order to continue starring in crap for a pay check

Comedians can lose their edge and burn out, and that's what's happened here. There was never going to be a return of RAW Murphy. If anything, now he gets to enjoy the "what could have been" notions of his remaining fans, rather than face those expectations head on and crash and burn

Why the Muppets Need to Host the Oscars

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Rain Dog 

 

Why the Muppets Need to Host the Oscars

THIS!!!!!!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bailey 

I'm sure these suggestions have been made plenty of times before, but Jason Segel and Amy Adams could be like the version of James Franco and Anne Hathaway who can actually perform live.  Or maybe Robert Downey Jr.

Jason Segel would be great. The man has no fear or shame when doing comedy. He's HIMYM's secret weapon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cameron Hughes 

Jason Segel would be great. The man has no fear or shame when doing comedy. He's HIMYM's secret weapon.

Can he bring Muppets with him?  There must be Muppets, dammit!

Quote:

Originally Posted by S.D. Bob Plissken 

Can he bring Muppets with him?  There must be Muppets, dammit!

I'm 28 years old and I somehow never got into The Muppets.

You can forget about Jason Segal.  He has less name recognition than Franco, for fuck's sake.  They want a name that will bring in "ratings" while failing to realize that ratings depend on the nominated films, not the host. 

Ole Mr.Saturday Nights name must be back at the top of the list now surely?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reasor 


You must complete your training.

"Luminous beings are we, not this puppet matter."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reasor 


You must complete your training.

The other thing is, and I don't really care.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Rain Dog 

 

Why the Muppets Need to Host the Oscars

I think the biggest obstacle preventing the Muppets from hosting is that they are puppets.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeI 

I think the biggest obstacle preventing the Muppets from hosting is that they are puppets.

YOU TAKE THAT BACK!

(though I, like Casey, didn't get into the Muppets when I was a kid... they're super-appealing though!)

This point in the game they should just go with the pro, Crystal. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeI 

 

I think the biggest obstacle preventing the Muppets from hosting is that they are puppets.

Didn't stop them from hosting WWE RAW last week.  Beaker even did a run-in!

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarleyQuinn22 

Didn't stop them from hosting WWE RAW last week.  Beaker even did a run-in!

Well, I stand corrected.

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandhay 

This point in the game they should just go with the pro, Crystal. 

It's very, very safe, but with four months out and no producer OR host? Safe may not be the worst option.

...and 'safe' doesn't have to mean 'bland'. This is Billy we're talking about, after all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcnooj82 

YOU TAKE THAT BACK!

 

(though I, like Casey, didn't get into the Muppets when I was a kid... they're super-appealing though!)

 

You mean me? Casey and I are different people.

Just to have a weird circle all over again, lets have Bryan Singer do it. They both tend to take each others jobs every so once a while.

Oh and to please the fanboys (and we know Bryan wouldn't mind th-err), have Hugh Jackman host... ...as Wolverine.

Walken.

Does it really take more than four months to put together the crap they do?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cameron Hughes 

You mean me? Casey and I are different people.

Whoops.  I did mean you.  I was actually thinking that I got you two mixed up.  I guess that ended up getting me to slip Casey's name in by mistake.  Apologies.

Eddie Murphy feels like a step backwards anyway. The Oscars have sort of been experimenting lately, with pretty awful results, but at least it can be said they're committed to the idea of expanding their viewership and staying relevant even if they clearly have no idea how to go about doing so while still honoring tradition and all that.

They should just get Galifianakis to host. Although I doubt he'd be up for it. Doesn't seem like he'd be much for the collective self-congratulating that the awards season is. Probably a pipe dream anyway.

I'm just sad because I bet Phil Hartman could have hosted, and been GREAT, at least three times by now, if not for... yeah.

I'll take Crystal. Hell i'll take Walken and Jason Bateman as a duo.

Murphy is a shell of what he once was. Glad this happened.

Devin suggested NPH which, if he played it as HAROLD & KUMAR NPH, would be amazing.

I'm glad we don't live in the dark old days where Betty White would be everyone's choice to host.

How about Hugh Laurie? Biggest star in US TV, experienced live performer, rich enough he doesn't really have too wory about annoying anyone in the audience...hell let's bring in his Cambridge buddies Atkinson. Elton and Fry and class the place up a bit...

I have three words for you:

Neil

Patrick

Harris

EDIT: Or what Merriweather said

My idea? Take the Oscars on the road. Do it in a small town connected to movie history (some famous movie was shot there, ETC). Get regular people in the audience, make it a true culture event instead of a bunch of Hollywood back patting in the boring old Kodak theater. I bet ratings would skyrocket, and the plebs would love a chance to rub elbows with their betters

Each year you could do it in a different location, turn it into a week long events with local screenings ETC

"Their betters"?

I love the NPH idea.  I have no clue what the How I Met Your Mother shooting schedule is, though.  Would he be able to do it?  I doubt CBS would be too happy about him doing a big show for ABC, but if he knocked it out of the park, the worldwide attention might help HIMYM.

It's probably because I just rewatched Arrested Development, but I'd like Ron Howard to direct (AND NARRATE!) with Jason Bateman as a host. Hell, have the whole cast show up. I want someone with the name Michael to win so Will Arnett could announce the winner. If an unexpected female won, her?!

Quote:

Originally Posted by SAIRUS 

It's probably because I just rewatched Arrested Development, but I'd like Ron Howard to direct (AND NARRATE!) with Jason Bateman as a host. Hell, have the whole cast show up. I want someone with the name Michael to win so Will Arnett could announce the winner. If an unexpected female won, her?!

When Bateman starts bombing in the opening monologue:  "I've made a huge mistake."

I heard an intriguing idea: let Matt & Trey produce.

Might as well stop the speculation.  The job has been filled and unfortunately the new host isn't made of felt.

Called it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottieFerguson 

Called it.

You're not the only one.

There is nothing wrong with this choice at all, it'll be a nice final sendoff gig for everyones favorite since Bob Hope.

The oscars pretty much suck, they pretty much suck every single year.  The awards are political more than merit based more often than not. Its one giant parade of narcissism. The only time I ever enjoyed the Oscar's was when Letterman hosted. He was on to  the the absudity and the ridiculous amount of ego in the room. That is why he was vilified. Billy Crystal is loved by the Oscars because he plays into the ego of the crowd. He treats them as royalty which they feel they are.  Hugh Jackman is the perfect host for the Oscars, he is congenial, talented, and good looking. The Academy would have him every year if the ratings were good enough. Too bad most people cant sit through 3 hours of his breathless enthusiasm without going into a diabetic coma. Maybe they can get Andy Samberg to host the awards as Hugh Jackman, that might be worth checking out.

As for Billy Crystal, the last things I remember him being entertaining in are When Harry Met Sally and Running Scared. His selection only illustrates how desperate and tone deaf the Academy is at this point.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reasor 

I see no reason why it shouldn't be Crystal's gig until he's medically unable to perform it, like Dick Clark on New Year's Eve.

Well considering the replacements they've found for him the last few years, no wonder. He's the only guy who seems to actually 'get' how to do it anymore.