Who should host the Oscars?
Several weeks ago, the 96 Academy Awards showcased another night of awards, most deserved, some not—I’m looking at you, Best Animated Short Film. For many, the so-called “biggest night in Hollywood” always has one or two glaring flaws, the most prominent of which is always the host.
For the past eight years, with one exception, the Academy Awards host has been the most scrutinized element of the ceremony, rather than any of the Academy’s choices. So, what kind of entertainer should host the Academy Awards? Let’s go through some of my personal choices to host the Academy Awards or any Entertainment awards show, for that matter; each having extensive experience and respect for the art form, the ability to come across as funny on their own, all the while being distinct from prior hosts.
Firstly, Tim Robinson; most notable for his long-running sketch comedy show I Think You Should Leave (2019-23). Robinson is one of the most underrated comedians working today. Having found a niche, near-untapped, uncomfortable situational comedy, now perfected with the third season of his series. He simply performs a style of comedy unlike anything any award show has ever seen. Where your standard Oscar host is usually designed for light-hearted comedy that can play on any major network, Robinson’s style of comedy is deliberately uneasy and designed to be relatable in the worst possible ways. Robinson could be the “kick-in-the-rear” that the Oscars have so desperately needed, slyly poking fun at the stale and sterile style of comedy that has been the status quo thus far.
My second choice is no one; have no host whatsoever. Often, whenever there is a genuinely humorous moment at the Oscars, it’s never at the host’s behest. Even this year, John Cena’s presentation for Best Costume Design—while almost only in his birthday suit—was, for many, the show's funniest moment. The actual host of the show, Jimmy Kimmel, had very little involvement in the sketch; it was Cena’s performance that made the moment one to remember. So, why not allow the presenters, most often the people with the most charisma at the show, to be the people who host the event? It worked out fine when the show didn’t have a set host for three consecutive years. The presenters usually have a deep history in the entertainment industry and would not have gotten as far as they have if not for their dedication and passion for the craft. Here, the “no-host” approach can prove completely distinct from any of your standard talk show hosts half-heartedly waltzing through their monologue.
Finally, John Mulaney is my third and personal pick for a potential host for the next Academy Awards. While Mulaney’s comedy isn’t for everyone, recently he has proven that he has what it takes to nail it as he hosted this year’s Governor’s Awards. This is an award show where the Academy presents miscellaneous awards, such as the Honorary Academy Award and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. At this ceremony, he showcased his chops at hosting an awards show, being able to poke fun at the industry while still showcasing the respect and admiration a good host should have for it. Where some hosts are dead serious, Mulaney keeps it casual while still giving his due respects to recipients.
Even at this year’s Academy Awards, Mulaney’s presentation for Best Sound Design was also hailed as one of the funniest moments of the night. The stand-up comedian went into one of his trademark rants about the film Field of Dreams (1989), practically explaining the entire premise of the film, before continuing with his presentation. In addition, I know I’m being a hater towards Mr. Kimmel, but Mulaney’s joke which took a dig at Madame Web (2024) was far superior to Kimmel’s: This year’s host’s joke boiled down to “Madame Web was a bad movie that did poorly at the box office,” while Mulaney’s did not mention the film’s name and still got laughs out of the audience; instead, he poked fun at the lazy writing and poor quality of expositional dialogue in the film, a much more clever and witty joke.
While the most recent Oscars did a fantastic job of giving the right awards to the right people who deserved them, any issues could have been resolved through the quick change of host. Whether it be charismatic rotating presenters, the uncomfortable yet utterly entertaining Tim Robinson, or the all-around perfect-for-the-job John Mulaney, each candidate shows distinct promise in getting the Academy Awards out of the comedic funk they’ve been stuck in recently.
So, if any open-minded ABC executives happen to be reading this college newspaper, please get rid of Kimmel!
Thumbnail photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons