In a crazy about turn on tradition, actor and all round nice guy Hugh Jackman will host the 81st Academy Awards. In geek-speak this is translated into “Wolverine is hosting the freakin’ Oscars!”
In an email to Nikki Finke Jackman said:
“Thirty years ago when I was in Sydney watching Johnny Carson host the Oscars with my family, I never imagined that I’d one day have the chance to be up on that stage myself! I am very grateful to the Academy for giving me this opportunity. And, excited to be working with (Producers) Larry (Mark) and Bill (Condon) on what I know will be a fun and memorable celebration.”
Usually the awards show is hosted by a comedian – in recent years we’ve had Jon Stewart, Steve Martin, Whoopi Goldberg, Chris Rock and Ellen DeGeneres and of course Billy Crystal. However, the all important television ratings have been dropping: In 1998 a huge 55 million people tuned into watch the show, however last year’s show was watched by only 32 million Americans. That’s a pretty hefty decline, so Jackman will have his work cut out. Don’t worry though, it’s not his first time hosting an awards ceremony… Jackman has hosted the Tony Awards – the theater equivalent of the Oscars, from 2003-2005.
Producers Laurence Mark and Bill Condon had this to say about Jackman’s choice:
“We kept saying how we were looking for Cary Grant or Clark Gable. And then we realized that Hugh Jackman had hosted the Tonys so successfully. Hugh Jackman is a consummate entertainer and an internationally renowned movie star. 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.”
It’s pretty win-win for Jackman as the show is watched by hundreds of millions of people around the globe and his exposure will be phenomenal. The Australian star has the Baz Luhrmann directed Australia currently on release, and the film has had disappointing box office results. This announcement could inject some interest into the film and raise the grosses. Also, during the summer a little movie called X-Men Origins: Wolverine opens and Jackman really needs that film to make money. If it doesn’t then his signature role and career are over – leaving Jackman an also ran by Hollywood standards.
It should be a pretty interesting show to watch – Jackman has a background in musical theater (that’s not a euphemism for anything) so we may even get a song and dance out of him. However, do not expect too many jokes – the days of comedy seem to be over with the Academy and old Hugh doesn’t seem interested in trying to get a chuckle or two – having said that I’m sure that it’ll be far from boring.
On an interesting side note – Jackman’s son is name Oscar. That has to be a good omen!
Source: Deadline Hollywood
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10 Comments
If comedy is over at the Oscars that’s pretty sad! I like Jackman, but I don’t think this is the way to go! The night should belong to a comedian. Without the element of the unexpected the show won’t be the same for me. My expanded thoughts http://blog.entertainmenttodayandbeyond.com/2008/12/14/hugh-jackman-to-host-oscars-a-good-idea/
get ready for a long night of “dad jokes” from wolverine himself.
Eh, Jackman has some comedy in him. I’d be surprised if it was a dull night with him as host.
I think it will a bit more then a couple of box office bombs to kill Hugh Jackmans career .
Besides ,
Wolverine isnt even out yet .
What I meant to say was that it will take a bit more then a couple of Box Office bombs To kill Hughs career And I stand by that.
Not only Has Wolverine not been released yet,
But as long as musicals make money there are possibilities for Hugh.
I think all of you are missing the point,,, this next Oscars is a whole new production,,,
New Director and new producers…
Bringing Jackman on board tells me that TDK and Iron Man have a damn good chance of taking home some Oskazs!!!
This could be a turning point folks!
Let’s hope so!!!
Jackman has been a pretty good host of the Tonys and his experience with Broadway and big musical numbers
fits with the big productions the Academy likes to do.
This isnt a nod and a wink to Superhero fans.
its just a good choice
It’s not Ellen Degenerate so I’m good.
Seriously, Jackman is a great choice. If I had my personal pick tho, it would be Stephen Colbert, but I know they’d never have the cajonies to do that. 
Unfortunately for the Oscars the ratings problem isn’t due to the host or the production, it stems from the Academy itself. They consistently ignore the interests of the public and nominate movies that nobody gives a damn about. You want people to watch? Then nominate the deserving movies that everybody is talking about and paying to see. Academy Award viewership has been sliding since 1998, when the blowout success of “Titanic” helped draw 55 million watchers, according to Nielsen. That year, in which “Titanic” hauled in 11 Oscars, marked the ceremony’s best showing since 1983.
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