If you like the 12-1 odds BetCRIS.com is offering on Billy Crystal as the 2006 Academy Awards host, don’t get out your wallet just yet. Variety’s Army Archerd reports that the City Slickers star has declined an offer to trot out his hosting shtick for a ninth time. I can’t say I’m too upset: I mean, wouldn’t it be nice to have a fresh voice emceeing the telecast?
BetCRIS has Jay Leno (hell to the no!) and Conan O’Brien (intriguing!) installed as the 3-1 favorites, with Ellen DeGeneres at 7.5-1. (As much as I love me some Ellen, though, she’ll need to step it up from her so-so Emmys performance last fall, left).
Now, while it’s great to see some Oscar neophytes leading the pack, I’d love to see some more offbeat choices in the running, too. It’ll never happen, but wouldn’t Kathy Griffin make for a legendary emcee? I’d also like to see Jeremy Piven get an audition. And hey, Jeff Probst could add his own twist, eliminating nominees until only one survivor winner remained.
Who would you like to see on the Oscar host shortlist? Dream big, folks; it’s holiday time!
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I’m all for Jeremy Piven!!
Jeremy Piven would the PERFECT host. He’s got my vote!
anyone but ellen! please…not ellen!!!
Jeremy Piven would be great. Though my dream host would be Jon Stewart.
Jon Stewart! Stephen Colbert! C’mon who has more gravitas and better writers, no one!
Conan would be amazing!
It must be John Stewart!! With this years crop of movies John Stewart is the only thing that would make it bearable.
I’ll do it!
I am all about John Stewart – But I really would like them to bring back Steve Martin. He was PERFECT and he pissed everybody off.
I think as long as they let Ellen do what she wants, that’ll be great. Other than Steve Martin, I think Tina Fey would be a great and off-choice, especially if coupled with Amy Poehler, or better yet – Jimmy Fallon. I think Bonnie Hunt would also be great!
John Stewart would be great! He hosted the Grammies around 2000/2001 and he was hilarious! I also liked Steve Martin’s 2 times hosting. How about a rotating host like they did at the Emmy’s a few years ago? ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, the Wilson Brothers, Jeanine Garraffulo, etc. would be a good group.
As much as i enjoy his humor, i don’t think John Stewart would be a good choice for the Oscars.
The show is a globally televised live program that draws one of the biggest audience of the year on global broadcasting and i don’t think Jeremy Piven is a big enough name for this.
Might be interesting to see Conan, but my choice is STEVE MARTIN.
1 – Brad Garrett would ROCK.
2 – Conan O’ Brien is funny no matter what.
3 – Robin Williams is always an interesting choice.
while brad garrett sounds interesting, i’d have to go with jon stewart!! please, please NOT ellen!
Steve Martin! Besides Johnny Carson, he’s the best host Oscar has ever had.
I must have missed the meeting when the Academy decided that ONLY a comedian was eligible to host the Oscars.
Why is that etched in stone? I wouldn’t mind a dignified classy evening with say Denzel Washington hosting the night. Who cares about ratings, we’re all going to watch anyway.
When you pick a comedian you have to invest 10 exttra minutes for their monologue. And 10 more minutes for the host’s musical number or other comic bit. Or in the case of Billy Crystal..both.
Hey Academy, try something different.
I’d personally like to see Ellen do it.
One person, though, that I always thought would be a great host would be…Meryl Streep. Yes…Meryl Streep. She has shown on the numerous awards shows she’s been on that she can be funny…and I think she would add quite a bit of class to the ceremonies.
Hey..why not??
Howard Stern. Best. Host. Ever.
I personally would like to see Ellen DeGeneres host the show. Maybe she wasn’t up to her usual self at the last Emmys, but she did great after 9/11. Other good choices would be Conan O’Brian and Robin Williams. I don’t know if Jon Stewart’s humor would suit the occasion, but he could be an outside choice, if they dare.
I’d prefer a comedian…if they’re allowed to do their bits, it helps reduce the boredom a bit. Johnny Carson and Bob Hope were dignified AND funny, so maybe somebody like that. Steve Martin can do that, Brad Garrett is good, and Ellen would be fun too.
Hey,wish BIG, Chris ROCK of course. He’s funny, irreverent and enough of a crossover to have wide appeal.
I think they should go left-field and pick Kathy Griffin, it would be enjoyable to watch and I think that most celebrities actually like her form of comedy.
Jon Stewart or Jeremy Piven would be great! I think the best would be Will Ferrell, tho I read somewhere he’s not interested…
Conan would be a perfect host. He is always funny, everbody loves him, and he’s very intelligent. If Conan hosted, I can see his star and the ratings shooting right up.
Conan would rock my skull, and he would definitely ensure the Oscars a lot more viewers in the coveted young demographic that he dominates nightly.
not Ellen.
If they are not nominated…Nathan Lane and Mathew Broderick. Maybe next year.
Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane were great hosting the Tonys, and they have such a fun repartee…I’m sure they’d make great hosts.
Speaking of the Tonys, Hugh Jackman would be good. He’s entertaining, urbane, Australian, popular, handsome…he could do the Oscars, then the Grammys and the Emmys…get in a grand slam!
Kathy Griffin would be a perfect host for the Oscars, she would be hilarious! Conan would be my 2nd choice….
Jon Stewart would be perfect. Maybe Ellen, if she’s better than she was at the Emmy’s. If neither of them, I’m all about having Steve Martin host again. Anything would be better than last year. Give Chris Rock his normal crowd and he’s great, but with the aging academy, he’s not such a great pick.