Hugh Jackman a departure from recent Oscar hosts – Yahoo! News.
LOS ANGELES – He sings, dances, acts on stage and screen, and he’s the “Sexiest Man Alive.” Hugh Jackman does everything but standup comedy — and that’s why the first-time Oscars host fulfills the academy’s promise to shake up the show in a way that’s as tough to predict as the winners.
Jackman was announced Friday as the host of the 81st Academy Awards, a marked departure from the academy’s standard of big-name comedians. Jon Stewart, who hosted in 2008 and 2006, and Ellen DeGeneres, the 2007 host, were the latest in a line of funny emcees since 1990. Billy Crystal did it eight times, Whoopi Goldberg took on four, Steve Martin did it twice and David Letterman and Chris Rock each had a shot.
As the parade of A-list comedians continued, ratings were in steady decline.
But with new producers, a new director, new set designer and even a new music director, the academy has been hinting for months at an all-new look and feel for this year’s Oscars telecast on Feb. 22.
Having Jackman host certainly fits with that theme.
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