Hugh Jackman named as host of 81st Academy Awards

by Eric Melin on December 12, 2008

in Blogs

hugh jackman sings!Huh?

OK, I know Jon Stewart’s two years as host didn’t exactly bring in the ratings and the Chris Rock year made everybody uncomfortable when he started poking at fun at Jude Law, but Hugh Jackman? ABC announced today that Jackman will host the Oscars on Feb. 22, 2009.

Earlier in the year, I was hoping for Ricky Gervais (from the UK “The Office” and “Extras”), but when his underappreciated grumpy-man romantic comedy “Ghost Town” tanked this fall, I knew that idea was dead in the water. I still think that he would be the absolute best host, even though I know he won’t bring in any kind of viewership.

Hugh Jackman is a genial chap. He’s got a musical theater background (so maybe he can do an opening number like best-host-ever Billy Crystal’s classic Best Picture medleys), he’s hosted the Tonys three times and received glowing reviews. He makes a great Wolverine, and…and perhaps the most important thing of all to ABC producers…he was recently named The Sexiest Man Alive. His reps are already saying that he won’t be doing an opening standup rouutine, though, so I assume he’s going to sing. (Maybe a duet with Snow White?)

What this means is that the running time for the show could be way less, but what will that make way for? Let’s just hope its not accepting awards at the back of the room like they did a couple years back. Oh well. Look at the bright side. Anything’s better than “Australia.”

Eric is the Editor-in-Chief of Scene-Stealers.com, a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic, and contributor for The Pitch. He’s former President of the KCFCC, and drummer for The Dead Girls, Ultimate Fakebook, and Truck Stop Love . He is also the 2013 Air Guitar World Champion Mean Melin, ranked 4th best of all-time. Eric goes to 11. Follow him at:

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{ 2 comments }

1 Alan Rapp December 12, 2008 at 3:07 pm

Maybe he’ll wear the wolverine claws and stab all the undeserving winners. That might be must-see-TV.

2 Alan Rapp December 12, 2008 at 3:07 pm

Maybe he’ll wear the wolverine claws and stab all the undeserving winners. That might be must-see-TV.

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