Jimmy Fallon, freshest of late late night talk show hosts, is in talks to host the 85th Academy Awards. ABC is reportedly raising objections because Fallon has the audacity to be brilliant on a program not owned by ABC. The network has no authority in choice of Oscar host so what good can come of Disney/ABC kicking up a stink? The LATimes has details.
ABC is owned by Disney, and Disney chief executive Bob Iger is said to be unhappy with the idea of showcasing Fallon, whose show competes with ABC’s late-night show featuring Jimmy Kimmel. Fallon and Kimmel are in a neck-and-neck competition for viewers.
Disney declined to comment. The people briefed on the talks cautioned that they could still fall apart. While in the last few years the academy has primarily turned to film stars to host its biggest night, talk show hosts such as Jon Stewart and David Letterman have hosted the telecast before. But Letterman took the Oscar stage in mid-1990s, before ABC had a late-night show of its own, and Stewart’s show airs on Comedy Central, a cable outlet with a smaller audience.
Jimmy Kimmel is hosting this year’s Emmy Awards, and he’ll be a great fit. Personally, I think Kimmel’s style is all wrong for the classier Academy. Does ABC seriously think part of its privilege as Oscar broadcaster is to showcase its own TV talent? Shabby attitude.
… so Fallon passed on the job today. We can start speculating again. Tina Fey! Kevin Spacey! Conan o’Brien! etc. etc.
I’m gonna throw in a new name this year in every thread I encounter: Joseph Gordon Levitt. You know it makes sense.
Mike, I’m sorry; Ryan, can you edit that reply to say Mike, not Steve? I was replying in another forum to a guy named Steve. :{
Mike, the key words are “along with”. Popular films that resonate with critics AND fans preclude anything named ‘Twilight’, as they don’t tick off both boxes. 🙂 Only those that are embraced by both groups. Have them compete *along with* BOTSW, Moonrise Kingdom and others that don’t fulfill the major popularity litmus test. Blockbuster and arthouse in the mix. Then you’ll have people tuned in.
I was astounded to see I was in agreement with PaulH until I read point #2. Starting with the positive yes, Villanch needs to go, and the rest of the writer’s room. it does no good to hire funny, talented comedians to host if you saddle them with weak jokes to tell.
Now on point #2, I actually couldn’t disagree with you more on this. I think the worst thing the Oscars could do is turn into the MTV Movie or People’s Choice Awards, where box office success becomes a threshold for consideration. It’s clear you’d have preferred Avatar to win Best Picture, but do you want to see the final Twilight film nominated too? With the possibility up to 10 nominees, BP will probably include The Dark Knight Rises, The Hobbit, and The Avengers is a strong competitor as well. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Brave and Prometheus make strong pushes, and there’s still Spielberg’s Lincoln to come. There’s 6 high grossing films, what’s wrong with putting smaller pics like Beasts of the Southern Wild and Moonrise Kingdom in the mix?
Tina Fey, Steve Carrel, Tom Hanks & Robert Downey Jr.
In the end it doesn’t matter who the host is, what matters is that Bruce Villanch needs to be slapped with a permanent restraining order keeping him out of the writers’ room. He needs to be told his style of humor does not play anymore in 2012. That’s point #1.
Point 2: AMPAS needs to nominate films people actually have seen in numbers, those that are popular with critics and fans, along with the usual suspects from art house film festivals where the 1% gather (Venice, Toronto, Telluride, etc.). If people don’t have a vested interest in the films vying for Best Picture, them why should they pay attention to an awards show that in 2 of the last 3 years gave its BP to the least-seen movies ever to win that honor?
I don’t really care who they bring in to host, as long as they get a fresher writing staff. Jon Stewart, Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin, even Billy Crystal last year each had scant moments that worked among many canned jokes. Anne Hathaway and James Franco confirmed the problem by putting up people talented at reading lines but terrible at playing off the cuff. Bring in Tina Fey or Conan, but put them in the writer’s room and the show will get markedly better.
Robert Osbourne or bust. It would be the most informative Oscars ever.
Emma Stone? Her bit with Downey Jr. last year was great…or hell, Downey, Jr. himself!
…and for those unfamiliar with Martin Scorsese – here he is
http://jack1989.tumblr.com/post/17607928907/martin-scorseses-cat
Absolutely Jesse, add Scorsese as his side kick and you’ve got the wise cracks and the earnest. The greatest ever muppet show.
Two words: Woody. Allen.
Would anyone else lurve the hell out of that choice? He’d never do it but the fantasy beats the reality 99 times out of 100.
I changed my mind. I vote John Leguizamo.
As I said the Academy and ABC need more is to choose a host that can create an identity between him and the ceremony. But if ABC asked to choose a couple or one actor to host, I’d go with Tina Fey and/or Robert Downey Jr.
Craig Ferguson or Tina Fey would be EXCELLENT !
“Jimmy Kimmel is hosting this year’s Emmy Awards, and he’ll be a great fit. Personally, I think Kimmel’s style is all wrong for the classier Academy. Does ABC seriously think part of its privilege as Oscar broadcaster is to showcase its own TV talent? Shabby attitude.”
I have to agree with what Ryan wrote. I think Fallon’s style fits the Academy Awards better than Kimmel’s. ABC has to start to care more about those ratings. Meryl Streep saved this year’s ratings with the little help of Billy Crystal, who always does a fine job (although not brilliant this year, people are used to see him hosting). They have to search for someone that can host the Oscars more often and create an identity between this person and the Oscars, like they did with Crystal. I miss Whoopi hosting. She was the best for me, followed by Hugh Jackman and Crystal, who is always the safest choice, let’s say. If they don’t have a blockbuster, they will need to make an outstanding show, like they did in 2009.
My vote is for Craig Ferguson. And have Geoff the Robot as his sidekick critiquing the show as it goes along 🙂
Both J’s are good TV hosts…
Kimmel’s on for Emmys already…
Neither is really “film”actor or
comedian(tho not a requirement
these days, I guess…ABC and
audiences would definitely tune
in for Miss Tina Fey as host,
hands down-no argument…
Tom Hanks would top a lot of
viewers’-& producers’-wishlists, too!
I think Fallon hosting would be bitchin’. His night on SNL this past season was my favorite episode. Michael Buble Duets skit was gold. Go him.
Jimmy Fallon is apparently in the running to be the host of the next Oscar’s. Should the comedian be given the go ahead? Vote at Nationwidevotes.com
I can’t help but think that it reeks of wanting to get a younger, sexier audience, to use marketing terms. It didn’t really work with Hathaway and Franco (albeit, Hathaway worked her ass off and, in my opinion, came off really well) and I don’t think it’ll do much better here. I don’t know who is the ideal host for the Oscars in this era–Jackman has been the most successful of late, but I enjoy his musical comedy skills. I applaud the Academy for constantly looking for something new, but I can’t see where Fallon pays off well.
…Cut to the oscars and I’m utterly delighted by him and eating my hat.
Still waiting for the day Tina Fey will be announced as host. She is talented and well-respected, and she is able to be hilarious yet classy while simultaneously not taking herself or her situation too seriously. I think she’d be absolutely perfect.
Jimmy Fallon isn’t a very good host. I watched the first week of his talk show and my first impression was that he was a terrible interviewer. Since then they’ve shaped the show around him and now he’s got little gimmicks he does that are cute and probably the best part of his show is playing frat games with his guests like beer pong. Did his interviewing get better? No. The show was adapted to him. He didn’t adapt. He talks to people like he’s gonna ask them to hang out. Sometimes he says things he shouldn’t and doesn’t even know it.
I think his show is fun for what it is. More of a game show really. But I really don’t think he can host the Oscars or even the Emmys. Unless you want to see beer pong with the cast of BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD.
I watched the first week of his talk show and my first impression was that he was a terrible interviewer. Since then they’ve shaped the show around him … Did his interviewing get better? No. The show was adapted to him. He didn’t adapt. He talks to people like he’s gonna ask them to hang out.
Maybe they can adapt the Oscars so the host doesn’t have to interview all the stars? I dunno. Am I nuts? Just don’t allow him to speak to any of the winners on stage, right? Problem solved.
I remember an oscar show that was hosted in 1994 by David Letterman, ABC didn’t have a problem then (because they weren’t competing with anyone), so why is it a problem now? And forget Fallon, lets get CONAN!
CONAN
Kimmel is classier than Fallon. And his post show has been the highlight of the last few years. Would he even do the post show if they gave the gig to his competition?
I still think, and I’ve been saying this for years, that the host should be an actor who can handle the room. Will Smith, Tom Hanks…. someone well liked who is a world class entertainer. I think Fallon would be as awkward as Franco/Hathaway.
Ryan, you say that Kimmel’s isn’t a fit for the classier crowd of the Acadmey…is Fallon? I can’t help but already picture the awkward, acoustic guitar parody of the movies released…perhaps put to theme of whatever original song has the most heat…If not one of those, then something classic. A less funny, more stodgy version of his Emmy, Born to Run bit. I think both belong with Emmy’s/Golden Globes. The Oscars should realize their audience and play to that, b/c I think it’s been proven when they go younger they flop…Why? I don’t know
Just my two cents.
I can’t help but already picture the awkward, acoustic guitar parody of the movies released…
Really? You’re compelled to picture that? I doubt it. I doubt if Jimmy Fallon is compelled to perform those parodies either.
Is Jimmy Kimmel compelled to bring Guillermo to the Oscars as his sidekick? Guillermo’s Hollywood Round-Up is mandatory? if Kimmel hosts the Oscars would all the acceptance speeches be bleeped with Unnecessary Censorship? (admittedly, that might be awesome).
No. Maybe Fallon and Kimmel can both adapt to their surroundings.