Hugh Jackman to host new-look Oscars
12-12-08 | 03:35 PM
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Hugh Jackman to host new-look Oscars
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081212/...oscars_jackman
Chris
By Jill Serjeant
17 mins ago
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Australian actor Hugh Jackman was named on Friday as host of February's Oscars in a departure from the tradition of picking U.S. comedians on Hollywood's most prestigious night.
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, which hands out the world's top film honors, said Jackman, 40, star of the romantic epic "Australia," will host the televised ceremony for the first time.
The actor, who also starred in the three "X-Men" movies and is an award-winning musical theater performer, has hosted Broadway's Tony awards three times and last month was named 2008's "sexiest man alive" by People magazine.
"Hugh Jackman is a consummate entertainer and an internationally renowned movie star," said Laurence Mark and Bill Condon, the new producers of the televised show.
"He also has style, elegance and a sense of occasion. Hugh is the ideal choice to host a celebration of the year's movies -- and to have fun doing it," the pair said in a statement.
Oscar nominations for the best movies and performances of 2008 will be announced in January. The awards will be handed out on February 22 by the Academy at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood and will be televised in the United States by the ABC network.
Jackman's choice heralds a new direction for the 81st Oscar ceremony after recent years of falling TV ratings.
Typically, the program has been hosted by U.S. comedians, and in recent years, show organizers have experimented with a variety of hosting styles ranging from political satirist Jon Stewart, to edgy Chris Rock and popular Ellen DeGeneres.
Mark and Condon have axed the famous opening monologue for the February 2009 show, hoping for more spontaneity overall. They said there may be a stronger element of music and dancing than previously.
"We want it to be more of a party and a celebration and a departure from the late-night talk-show format," Mark told Reuters. Mark and Condon have a background in musicals and worked together on the 2006 film hit "Dreamgirls".
Jackman, who can sing and dance, was "genuinely thrilled" at the offer, Mark said, but "he wanted to make sure the format would mesh with his skills."
The February 2008 three-hour plus broadcast, hosted for the second time by Stewart, hit a low 32 million U.S. viewers and entered the record books as the least-watched Oscars ever.
Still, even an audience of that size makes the telecast annually one of the most-watched U.S. TV shows. The broadcast also is televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.
Mark said he and Condon planned to get the telecast under three hours, yet still keep the live presentations of awards and acceptance speeches.
(Editing by Philip Barbara)
17 mins ago
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Australian actor Hugh Jackman was named on Friday as host of February's Oscars in a departure from the tradition of picking U.S. comedians on Hollywood's most prestigious night.
The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, which hands out the world's top film honors, said Jackman, 40, star of the romantic epic "Australia," will host the televised ceremony for the first time.
The actor, who also starred in the three "X-Men" movies and is an award-winning musical theater performer, has hosted Broadway's Tony awards three times and last month was named 2008's "sexiest man alive" by People magazine.
"Hugh Jackman is a consummate entertainer and an internationally renowned movie star," said Laurence Mark and Bill Condon, the new producers of the televised show.
"He also has style, elegance and a sense of occasion. Hugh is the ideal choice to host a celebration of the year's movies -- and to have fun doing it," the pair said in a statement.
Oscar nominations for the best movies and performances of 2008 will be announced in January. The awards will be handed out on February 22 by the Academy at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood and will be televised in the United States by the ABC network.
Jackman's choice heralds a new direction for the 81st Oscar ceremony after recent years of falling TV ratings.
Typically, the program has been hosted by U.S. comedians, and in recent years, show organizers have experimented with a variety of hosting styles ranging from political satirist Jon Stewart, to edgy Chris Rock and popular Ellen DeGeneres.
Mark and Condon have axed the famous opening monologue for the February 2009 show, hoping for more spontaneity overall. They said there may be a stronger element of music and dancing than previously.
"We want it to be more of a party and a celebration and a departure from the late-night talk-show format," Mark told Reuters. Mark and Condon have a background in musicals and worked together on the 2006 film hit "Dreamgirls".
Jackman, who can sing and dance, was "genuinely thrilled" at the offer, Mark said, but "he wanted to make sure the format would mesh with his skills."
The February 2008 three-hour plus broadcast, hosted for the second time by Stewart, hit a low 32 million U.S. viewers and entered the record books as the least-watched Oscars ever.
Still, even an audience of that size makes the telecast annually one of the most-watched U.S. TV shows. The broadcast also is televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.
Mark said he and Condon planned to get the telecast under three hours, yet still keep the live presentations of awards and acceptance speeches.
(Editing by Philip Barbara)
12-12-08 | 04:17 PM
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The Oscar numbers are down because of the separation between the nominated movies and the number of people who have even seen them.
Just look at everyone screaming for The Dark Knight to get 10 nominations. It won't and they won't watch.
Just look at everyone screaming for The Dark Knight to get 10 nominations. It won't and they won't watch.
God, I hope they don't turn this into the Tonys.
12-12-08 | 04:34 PM
#8
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Hopefully it's not Hugh Jackman doing it. Otherwise, this could quickly turn into another episode of Viva Laughlin.
12-12-08 | 05:04 PM
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From: "Are any of us really anywhere?"
"hoping for more spontaneity overall"... because that worked so well for the opening of the Emmys' this year!
12-12-08 | 06:21 PM
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12-12-08 | 07:00 PM
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12-12-08 | 07:22 PM
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12-12-08 | 11:35 PM
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From: Sesame Street (the apt. next to Bob's)
I think most people, myself included, would rather see singing & dancing then watch the awarding of Oscars for categories about which nobody cares.
12-13-08 | 09:16 AM
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The singing and dancing parts are when people usually get up to go to the bathroom, take the dog outside, have a cigarette. It's a big mistake adding more. This is such a strange decision. Taking out the opening monologue will certainly shorten things up, but it's all the performances and montages they try to cram in that makes the show more bloated. This just seems like a joke.
And it's definitely true that the movies that get nominated aren't the movies that people at large have seen. The Oscars do a lot better when LOTR or Titanic are nominated. If Dark Knight scores a slew of nominations (unlikely), I'm sure there will be more people watching. As it is, there might be more watchers if Heath Ledger alone gets nominated, which is more likely. But then just watch the viewers exit after the Best Supporting Actor category.
And it's definitely true that the movies that get nominated aren't the movies that people at large have seen. The Oscars do a lot better when LOTR or Titanic are nominated. If Dark Knight scores a slew of nominations (unlikely), I'm sure there will be more people watching. As it is, there might be more watchers if Heath Ledger alone gets nominated, which is more likely. But then just watch the viewers exit after the Best Supporting Actor category.
12-13-08 | 10:13 AM
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I agree. The times he hosted the Emmy's are the only time I watched. Gary Shandling's would be another great Oscar host. I doubt I'll watch this year and I bet "Doubt" wins best picture. The Oscars are predictable, long and boring.
12-13-08 | 10:21 AM
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^Doubt will never win Best picture. I am gonna miss the opening monologues. I enjoyed them. Jackman could go either way. I like him but dont care about the musical/dance sequences.
12-13-08 | 11:59 AM
#20
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I think this is a pretty bold move. As far as people seeing the nominated movies, it would help if these movies were released throughout the year, but we all know it's never going back to that.
12-13-08 | 02:37 PM
#22
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12-13-08 | 03:41 PM
#23
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I personally think they should've asked Stephen Colbert.
But this does sound more like a return to old style Academy Award ceremonies, when it was just a classy event and celebrities like David Niven or Frank Sinatra would host, instead of actually being something new. (Maybe they should bring back the dinner theater style seating too!)
But this does sound more like a return to old style Academy Award ceremonies, when it was just a classy event and celebrities like David Niven or Frank Sinatra would host, instead of actually being something new. (Maybe they should bring back the dinner theater style seating too!)
12-13-08 | 06:13 PM
#24
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I've got no problem with Jackman I'm sure he'll do fine, but if they want to make the ceremony more enjoyable all they have to do is NOT hire Bruce Vilanch to write it!
12-13-08 | 07:51 PM
#25
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this thread reminded me of this scene:
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