Seth MacFarlane for Oscar Host

by lmagenta | October 17, 2012 6:07 pm

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By LAUREN MAGENTA

Seth MacFarlane—Family Guy creator, will host of the 85th Annual Academy Awards, February 24, 2013. Social media sites went crazy on Monday, Oct. 1 when The Academy announced Macfarlane as the surprise host. Hashtags like #ratingsgrab and words of excitement filled twitter, Youtube and Facebook. The sites overflowed with both support and questions about The Academy’s latest host choice.

It is time for a younger crowd 

A week before The Academy announced Macfarlane for host, he had a flubbed on stage at the 64th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards. Grabbing people’s attention as he used Stewie’s voice from Family Guy to make up for the mistake, attracting the key demographic of adults that were ages 18 to 49.

“He is absolutely hilarious, and has a huge younger audience,” Kelly Moeller, Ramapo College Senior said. “These younger fans of his will now watch the Oscars, a thing that would not normally watch just to see him.” Moeller herself has never watched the Oscars and says she will be tuning in this year because Macfarlane is host.

Macfarlane has a well-known sense of humor, his work is filled with dirty jokes and crude punch lines. Jon Magenta, 74, and annual Oscar viewer, says this is a waste of time. Magenta and his wife say this must be for a new younger audience because this wasn’t a smart move. “Obviously they are trying to appeal to a much younger demographic,” Magenta said.

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Oscar’s take a new approach 

This award show comes with it a tradition of famous names, all but six Oscars have been hosted. Yet, this tradition has brought around some repeat offenders, Bob Hope 19 times host, Bill Crystal nine time host or Johnny Carson five time host. ABC announced that his [Macfarlane] performing skills blend perfectly with our ideas for making the show entertaining and fresh. They need fresh which means a new face, young and fun.

Rene Salvatore, operator at SiriusXM, works with entertainment news daily said, “I think he’s someone that stays true to himself no matter what the occasion, This could be good for ABC having a change and doing something new.”

Kathy Kipnis, 64 year old avid moviegoer  said, “I will not be tuning in for him.” She has watched the Oscars every year for a far back and she can remember and says if you are interested in the awards it does not matter who is hosting.

In 2011 the Oscars were co-hosted by James Franco and Anne Hathaway[3]. This effort to bring in a young fresh audience went over well, but Us-Weekly[4] was one to report that the two disliked each other during the rehearsal process. The Academy reported they were impressed with Hathaway’s performance[5], at the least.

RATINGS ANYONE?

The Oscars is an awards show where the  industry recognizes great movies and actors.  The Academy votes and distributes awards “the audience is not directly involved so they need high rating while they make a lot of money for putting it on T.V.,” Magenta said.

MacFarlane was quoted in an ABC article[6] saying — My thoughts upon hearing the news were, one, I will do my utmost to live up to the high standards set forth by my predecessors; and two, I hope they don’t find out I hosted the Charlie Sheen roast.

 

Source URL: https://class1.ramaporecord.org/?p=9401

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