JustJared has this exclusive — it is not sourced from the Academy or from MacFarlane. It’s the kind of thing usually reported by Deadline but not this time.
“After defending his performance, the producers reached out to Seth and invited him back to host the show again,” sources close to the comedian tell JustJared.com exclusively. “He’s not sure if he’s going to do it, but he has to decide within the next couple of weeks.”
Seth previously tweeted that he would not host the Oscars if he were asked to do it again.
MacFarlane, as it says, said no after the wave the controversy that followed the Oscars – charges of sexism, racism, homophobia, etc. As I said in my aftermath post, I hardly noticed any of that. I was too taken aback by the overall sexism, racism and homophobia within the Hollywood, and especially the awards community, itself. Their job is get the ratings up. They succeeded at that – the best since 2007. Many also believe it is their job to uphold the reputation and prestige of the Academy of the Academy Awards. But they’ve tried that and rating dropped. Surely, you think, there must be a compromise. After all, can they credit MacFarlane with the ratings? Or was it the popularity of the stars involved, specifically Jennifer Lawrence and her huge fandom, not to mention the adoration of Ben Affleck and hope that he be rewarded for having been snubbed. There was drama, there was sex, there was conflict, there was Katniss!
Probably anyone could have hosted and they would have gotten a rise in ratings. What does MacFarlane bring, though? The target demo, friends. Those 15 to 35 year-old males who like dirty jokes. He also brings the political/satirical older male demo, the Bill Maher types who might have tuned in to hear him make fun of the whole thing, and again, he didn’t disappoint in that area. I think Hollywood sometimes forgets, amid all of the fan worship, just how much people tend to hate on Hollywood.
My only complaint was his bit about “I saw your breasts.” Of course, he was doing that to make fun of how NOT TO DO THE OSCARS. It was supposed to be an example of how you don’t host. But it didn’t quite go over all that well. For one thing, this isn’t a relaxed, drunken crowd like at the Golden Globes. These are very nervous, uncomfortable people waiting for the cavalcade of humiliation to play out. Poor Ben Affleck looked like he was going to throw up by the end of it and Joaquin Phoenix looked like he was regretting even showing up.
Thus, an inappropriate joke like that needs to play to the crowd, but it didn’t. Was he offensive? Sure. But so? We can’t laugh at ourselves anymore not even a little bit? I’ve seen many Oscar hosts in my life. I still don’t think anyone has beaten Billy Crystal at it. But in a pinch I’ll always take the caustic hosts any day over the smarmy ones. I loved David Letterman, Steve Martin, Jon Stewart, etc. The more cutting they were the better I liked the show. But that’s just me.
What I care more about is what the Academy chooses to win. The host, the show, that matters less I think. It’s entertainment at the end of the day and a way for the Academy to fund itself so that it can continue to do what it does best: film preservation.
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Sexism, racism and homophobia in Hollywood? In the most liberal city west of the Missisippi? That is such a preposterous exaggeration. This is a city that gave a prestigious and respected award to an African-American thirty years before the Civil Rights act. A city that made thoughtful movies about gays and lesbians during a time when Presidents denounced the very idea of it.
No one thing can sum up a place and its people, but sexist, racist and homophobic actions are taken by a select few in Hollywood.
People have said his humor of actresses in nude roles belittles their bravery. But that’s what jokes do. They make serious things light and less serious. When Billy Crystal spoofs the Oscar nominees he’s belittling them. Just because Scary Movie V isn’t funny doesn’t mean they’re both not trying to do the same thing. It doesn’t need to take away from your appreciation of the art, it’s just adding an amusing viewpoint to it. Use both, your life will be more enjoyable that way.
Good point Ryan. And also…don’t use examples of Oscar winning actresses in roles where the nudity was necessary and brave, its belittles it. Also, sexism and oppression of women is an ongoing world problem. And also…please don’t forget that people like me, might be watching with their 10 year old daughter. Not funny. I am one of those weird people that think the Academy should respect it’s members regardless of gender.
I don’t understand why “We saw your boobs” was considered offensive by so many. It’s the same joke as “Springtime for Hitler” in The Producers. The whole joke is that it’s the worst and most offensive possible musical number that could be imagined. I’ve never heard anybody complain that “Springtime for Hitler” was too offensive to be funny.
I’ve never heard anybody complain that “Springtime for Hitler” was too offensive to be funny.
For me, the most important part of the “too offensive to be funny” balance is this: First, be funny.
Please no McFarlane and no the same producers, they’re really bad.
That’s all
Well Deadline just posted this: “No Truth to Seth MacFarlane Hosting Rumours”
http://www.deadline.com/2013/04/oscars-seth-macfarlane-rumors-academy-zadan-meron/
Noooo… I think McFarlane is fine at what he does but it doesn’t translate well to the Oscars. He comes off as self centered and smarmy with poorly written material of the “I offend everyone so its ok for me to say this” variety, which is done to death nowadays. I was intrigued by the prospect of him hosting. Then I saw him host and longed for the days of Franco and Hathaway, at least they were hilariously awful.
There are dozens of better options Fallon, Wiig, Short, McCarthy, Rudolph, and on and on and on and on and on…
From the last hosting thread, I’ll reiterate my nomination of Martin Short as possibly a PERFECT Oscar host (beloved in Hollywood, very funny, old-timey hosting vibe, excellent singer) except for the fact that he’s too old since the Academy is targeting younger viewers.
I’m not sure MacFarlane would want to do it again, given how much he seemed relieved to get it over with last year. It also seems like the Academy is shying away from other performers (i.e. Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Neil Patrick Harris) who have succeeded hosting other awards shows since AMPAS prefers to have their own unique group of hosts. Heaven forbid that the Academy be accused of ‘copying’ the Golden Globes or something!
I think Jimmy Fallon was made for this gig… positive song and dance man.
I liked Seth, no problem from me. But if he says no, they should consider — Wanda Sykes (a black female) and Seth Myerson — they both did the WH correspondence dinner and were hilarious.
It’s Seth Meyers
I usually don’t care for gossip, but in the following case, I will. Didn’t know that MacFarlane and Charlize Theron are working together in a movie, prior to the Oscar cerimony. She looked pretty upset in the broadcasting with some of MacFarlane material. A few days ago, it was published that maybe the are dating during the now current shooting of the work.
After it was denied by MacFarlane. Hope is true and they’re not together. OK, it is their personal problem (and life), and I’m the most anti-PC person that you could see around. But c’mon, MacFarlane stuff in the Oscar was not transgressive, provocative (like “Family Guy”). It was nasty, sordy. As tons of people noticed, in that “I saw your boobs” moment (guess it was at this moment that Theron appears on tha audience), there is rape scenes (Jodie Foster “The Acussed”).
The whole “we saw your boobs” segment was pre recorded. The actress’s reactions were all pre recorded. Charlize, Naomi Watts and Jennifer Lawrence all pre recorded it, they all agreed to do it and were obviously in the joke.
I 100% agree Sasha and congrats on this writing! I feel it was hypocrisy being offended by MacFarlane and also shows a poor sense of humor (I adore Jane Fonda and she’s the best ever etc. but I don’t really agree with her on this being the biggest problem). Seth actually makes fun of everything and the whole system filled with sexism, racism, homophobia, ageism etc.
And who cares about the show really? People don’t give a shit about the host, they want to see stars and movie fans are interested in the winners. I’m saying they should get as many stars as possible presenting awards and paying tribute to films (past and present) and get rid of shit musical numbers. Alec Baldwin said it best about the Oscar show.
I wouldn’t be opposed to MacFarlane hosting again. He was hit or miss, sure, especially in the opening, but he’d be sure to have a better handle on how to do the show the second time around.
I’m just wondering what it will take to get Hugh Jackman back. Ever since his wonderful first show he’s always had some sort of conflict. This year it’s “Prisoners” (assuming it really is the awards contender it’s been buzzed to be). I love the fact that Hugh is seeking out good and highly desired parts, but I want to see him host the Oscars again, gosh darn it!
isn’t this predictable? great PR.
Frankly, there’s more excitement watching the critic’s awards winners coming in via Twitter than there is watching the Oscar show.
By the time the Academy/Ringling Bros show airs, most of us already know what’s “best.” That leaves only red carpet jokes, song ‘n dance bits, and very little surprise. When it’s over, everybody abuses the host.
MacFarlane was fine. If he wants to do the host/parasite co-dependency thing again this year, more power to him.
Lol at us proper nerds, hyperventilating at the announcement of the CENTRAL OHIO FILM CRITICS ASSOCIATION NOMINATIONS!!!!!!!!!!11!1!!1!!
True, Paddy! And which one (Oscar or Ohio) has surprised us more often?
Then again, I’m a 25 year-old male who loves satirical humor and thinks Hollywood oughta make fun of itself more often.
He made it about him because he knew that the job was a thankless one. Why nobody brings this up every year (the thanklessness I mean) is beyond me. EVERY SINGLE YEAR people complain that host wasn’t funny or he was too offensive or he wasn’t offensive enough or he couldn’t sing well or he couldn’t dance well or he sang and danced too much.
If you haven’t thought any of the new hosts from the past several years were funny, then you have no sense of humor. Stewart, Rock, and McFarlane killed it in my opinion.
Maybe such a person just doesn’t share your sense of humour.
I actually enjoyed Jon Stewart (especially the Brokeback year) – he was nervous, but he had some really big moments. And Steve Martin would have killed without Alec Baldwin to make it feel awkwardly clumsy.
But with MacFarlane – what I loved about the introduction were the dance & song numbers, but the whole William Shatner thing wasn’t fun at all. I felt like watching the opening of the MTV Awards.
My problem with MacFarlane was that he couldn’t realize it wasn’t about him. He wanted to make it all about himself and in the end he failed. He wasn’t as bad as Franco/Hathaway but still pretty bad.
I didn’t mind that he was offensive. In fact, I didn’t think he was nearly offensive enough.
I did mind that he wasn’t funny. I also minded that his style of hosting is far better suited to a more informal setting, not a grand occasion like the Oscars. It lost all of its sense of ceremony, which made it a dull show, made duller still by the dull choice of winners.
The most offensive thing of the whole night was the Visual Effects winners being played off and then laughed at.
+1 the intro was too long and all over the place… why was there no opening montage of the bp nominees? he writes hilarious parodies on family guy, it would’ve been a great exercise for him, he could’ve followed up with a monologue or song poking fun at the celebrities in the room, and that’s it!
Yo quiero MacFarlane again!!!! Yes!!!! Please!!!! I Love MacFarlane.
I didn’t mind MacFarlane. I just really can’t get over the fact they rehired the producers.
I think they really screwed the pooch by not getting to Amy Phoeler and Tina Fey first, those two would SLAY at the oscars given the chance. They are “edgy” without being offensive, they would NEVER be racist or homophobic or sexist.
I really can’t think of anyone out there who could do it right, simply because it’s not the host that is the problem, but, as Sasha said, the AMPAS themselves.
Having said that, I say give it to Louis C.K. and just offend everyone all at once, bandaid style.