Academy Awards telecasts often live or die with their host, and frankly, most have died in recent years–especially ratings-wise. Here are 11 potential candidates for February’s ceremony–some of whom are admittedly the product of wishful thinking, while others are definitely have a shot.
The Office mastermind and all-around hilarious bloke might be the one to beat for the Oscars gig. He was easily the highlight of last month’s Emmys (which may turn out to have been an Oscars audition), he’s loved by celebs, and he desperately needs the publicity in America. He’d be the best choice, in my opinion, although probably not the ratings remedy the ceremony sorely needs. [PAGEBREAK]
Oprah may be the only human being who’s actually above hosting the Oscars. Nonetheless, it’s surprising that she hasn’t yet been enlisted for duty. After all, it’d be just like hosting a dinner party for a bunch of her friends–only scaled down a little bit! [PAGEBREAK]
There’s almost no chance of this personal dream coming true, but it’d be pretty damn sweet if it did–and pretty ballsy on producers’ part. If Colbert was merely edgy, or even just mean-spirited, it might work, but the fact that his jokes would be lost on millions of viewers wouldn’t exactly alleviate the ratings plight facing the telecast. [PAGEBREAK]
If Coop would just take Regis Philbin’s job already on Live with Regis and Kelly (he’s filled in over a dozen times), the Oscars gig would probably be his to lose–he’s certainly cut out for the job. But for now he’s still just a newsman, and such a crossover is kinda taboo in Hollywood. [PAGEBREAK]
Just imagine: After Oscars producers challenge viewers to “tune in to find out who the host is,” Chappelle, a near showbiz ghost since he walked away from Chappelle’s Show in 2005, makes his comeback as the ceremony’s host. Now is that something you think you might be interested in? I mean, it’ll never happen, but there’s no denying that Chappelle would make a great host and help loosen up the stiff proceedings. [PAGEBREAK]
You’d think the busiest woman in Hollywood wouldn’t have the time for Oscars duty, but you’d also think she wouldn’t have time to write, produce and star in 30 Rock; impersonate Sarah Palin on an almost weekly basis for Saturday Night Live; make movies; and, oh yeah, be a mother and a wife. What’s one more project? [PAGEBREAK]
He, like Gervais, did a helluva job during his brief Emmys appearance (he also announced the Emmy nominations, which is a mini-hosting job in itself) and, like Cooper, has filled in admirably for Regis on Live. Consider NPH a surefire host of the future, but not quite yet–maybe after he finally beats out Jeremy Piven to win that elusive supporting-actor Emmy! [PAGEBREAK]
Chenoweth, who co-announced the Emmy nominations with Neil Patrick Harris, would be game for anything producers could throw at her: singing, dancing, joking, emoting–she got her start on Broadway and can really do it all. Still, could an actress who’s probably best known as a supporting character on a mildly popular TV show (Pushing Daisies) really fit the star-power bill necessary to host Hollywood’s biggest night? [PAGEBREAK]
He could handle this gig with his eyes closed–in fact, some would say hosting the Oscars is a piece of cake compared to the weekly grind of American Idol. But even though Seacrest is a definite candidate, it’s a little tough to imagine that producers would go with such an obvious, safe choice, especially after he and his four co-buffoons failed miserably (and boringly) as “hosts” of the Emmys. [PAGEBREAK]
Smith has energy and charisma to burn, the stuff great hosts are made of. But yeah, the biggest movie star in the world doesn’t really do Oscars hosting (ditto George Clooney). Plus, Smith could very well be an Oscars contender for December’s Seven Pounds, which would all but preclude him from even entertaining such a possiblity. [PAGEBREAK]
She proved slightly too controversial for the MTV Movie Awards in 2007, so don’t count on her being asked to host the Oscars any year soon, but there could be no better juxtaposition of vulgar irreverence with esteem. She’d be the performance equivalent of a bull in a china shop, which would be quite a sight–and sound.
