Hugh Jackman to host the Oscars?

[Lazy Boy]

http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/motion-picture-academy-wants-hugh-jackman-to-host-he-may-say-yes-if-this-oscars-are-different/#comments

Yeah, I know, it's Nikki Finke, but could it be so...?

I reported yesterday that the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences had chosen someone "way outside the box" to host the 81st Oscars on February 22nd. Today, I've learned that the person is not just outside the box but outside this country. The Academy Awards is going international with its emcee choice -- Australian actor Hugh Jackman, star of X-Men, Australia, and the upcoming Wolverine, as well as People Magazine's 2008 "Sexiest Man Alive". But, and it's a BIG but, while the 40-year-old Sydney-born thesp of English parentage has received the AMPAS offer and is very interested, I'm told that he's not yet fully committed. Because there's still a lot of negotiating ahead between his showbiz representatives and AMPAS. I've learned that the people around Jackman want to know exactly what would be expected of him, especially when it comes to opening the Oscar broadcast. One segment of the show which reps for Jackman are objecting to specifically is the joke-telling monologue. "I don't want that for him," an insider told me. "He is an actor with big movies behind him and one coming this summer. He didn't work the last 20 years to suddenly be a stand-up comedian."

EDIT: AP confirms it

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081212/ap_en_mo/oscars_host

[JJFlamingo]

Oh great, instead of a Billy Crystal medley we're gonna get a tap dance routine...:D

[APzombie]

I thought they get funny people who usually aren't really actors, or if they are, they never have a chance of winning... Hugh is a great actor. This is just odd.

[Homyrrh]

http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20081212/capt.d15f279b33084394a3f6c70d91fd4070.people_hugh_ jackman_nyet182.jpg?x=247&y=345&q=85&sig=2.HHP44WCQlYAGcI6TxLQA--

No homo, but that's the Sexiest Man Alive?

[echo_bravo]

Hmmm well that came out of left field.

I wish him luck.

[lukeisevil]

This is going to be interesting.

[The Postmaster General]

This is cool, like a throw back to the 50s, 60s, and 70s. They might be announcing one or more co-hosts, but maybe this might signal a shorter ceremony...

[bigred760]

I wonder if the Oscars are blaming the hosts for how bad the shows have become.

Jackman apparently has done well with the Tony Awards, maybe he can do the same with the Oscars.

[Cronos]

Interesting choice, at least it'll be more bearable than trying to watch Jon Stewart host. I was going to stop watching the academy awards after the last few years but with Jackman hosting I'll give it a chance.

[Tweek]

That's funny.

I dunno why. It's not like he doesn't have stage experience or whatever, but still... That made me titter.

[SkyNet]

i too wasnt expecting that... but, i think it is a good choice and i think dude will do a really good job!

[screamer581]

Interesting choice, at least it'll be more bearable than trying to watch Jon Stewart host. I was going to stop watching the academy awards after the last few years but with Jackman hosting I'll give it a chance.


Stewart was great IMO.


As for Jackman hosting. It's an odd choice, but I'll give him a chance. He's a likable guy.

[jaw2929]

Makes me wonder if he'll speak in his natural Australian accent, or use some pseudo-yank accent to do this... Hmm. I think I'll go with the former.

[Natty]

It is a pretty cool choice, I guess it was so that we don't have to hear a bunch of 'oh ha-ha' jokes about the ecomony and that they wanted more of a host than a comedian.

Good luck to him.

[Terror Australis]

This is cool, like a throw back to the 50s, 60s, and 70s. They might be announcing one or more co-hosts, but maybe this might signal a shorter ceremony...

As long as they don't get reality T.V. show hosts to do it then we will be okay. Anyways, Hugh is a great choice. I saw him host the Tony's a couple of years ago and he did a great job there. Hopefully it will be the same here as well.

[ilovemovies]

As long as they don't get reality T.V. show hosts to do it then we will be okay. Anyways, Hugh is a great choice. I saw him host the Tony's a couple of years and he did a great job there. Hopefully it will be the same here as well.

Hahaha! Boy did the emmys suck last year!

I'll give Hugh a chance but I'm still disappointed that Billy Crystal or Steve Martin aren't returning.

[paul calf]

very strange choice but i like hugh so will watch with an open mind.

[smok3h]

I was under the impression that jon stewart was hosting them again...

I guess the daily show I saw the other day was a repeat from LAST year even, wow.

But I mean c'mon, this guy is clearly in the upper tiers of actors. I mean have you guys seen The Fountain? The dude can act and deserves the props he's getting by hosting the Oscars. Plus I bet we'll all be surprised by his comic chops.

[razgriz21]

I may actually watch the Oscars again.

I still wait for Billy Crystal to return.

[FLAME_ON]

How far into the opening monologue do you think he'll make it before a Wolverine joke?

[edonline]

Any chance of Hugh losing pieces of clothing as the Oscar awards show progresses throughout the night? THAT would make it must see television!

[Vong]

I'd love to see Stephen Colbert do the Oscars at one point...Jon Stewart was awesome, and I know Colbert would be even better.