Steve Martin approached his stints as Oscar host in 2001 and 2003 like a guy who had taken a religious vow not to pander or suck up to his audience, both the star-studded one inside the Kodak Theater and the millions tuning in globally. During his 2001 monologue, his joke about how Ellen Burstyn gained 20 pounds and aged up for her role in Requiem for a Dream and “Russell Crowe still hit on her” was so deadpan and dead-on, the camera caught a reaction shot of Winona Ryder covering her mouth and gasping in horror (see video after the jump).
A host who’s not blinded by the wattage on Hollywood’s most glamorous night? The horrors, indeed. Pound for pound, Martin’s jokes were far funnier than any host before or since: “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon sounds like something Siegfried and Roy does on vacation.” You just can’t dispute the genius in that. But his approach to hosting and the Big Night in general seemed to be guided by a kind of anti-Sally Field ethos as if to say: “I don’t care if you really, really don’t like me.” That’s fine if you’re writing Shouts and Murmurs pieces for the New Yorker. But c’mon, on Oscar night, you’ve got to buy into the hype in order to stay invested in anything more than what Halle Berry’s wearing. Last year, he found his perfect foil in his delightful and delovely co-presenter, Tina Fey.
Seeing this makes me think that Martin just needs to be paired with someone who can add a little pizzaz or emotional unpredictability to the show. His bone dry humor needs a little gravy, that’s all. And who better to do that than that great geyser of unpredictability, Alec Baldwin. I’m psyched, Popwatchers. I have high hopes that this pair could be an inspired comic duo. You with me on this? And since it’s been a while since we’ve had a great comic double-act come along, what are some of your favorites from the past?
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I’d say if you want unpredictable, tap Christopher Walken. I wonder if he can dance to the Banjo..
I’m looking forward to it. Obviously, both can be very funny. It takes the right kind of humor to host the Oscars and I think they will be great. I hope Tina Fey makes a couple of appearances. Better than Jackman — man was he awful. I thought that, at the least, his song and dance routine should have been great but it wasn’t.
Here’s hoping Fey is the unoffical 3rd co-host.
I still think Steve Martin is the most underrated Oscar host we’ve had. “Whether you’re straight…or gay” is still one of the best lines in an Oscar show.
The Steve Martin Oscar moment that will forever stand out in my mind is his reaction to Michael Moore ranting against Bush at the 2003 ceremony: “the atmosphere backstage is so friendly. In fact, I just saw some teamsters helping Michael Moore into the trunk of his car.” A perfect reaction to an unexpected moment.
I will say that Steve didn’t ruin the Oscars when he hosted. But over the years he has started to resemble a crotchety old man, which gives his comedy (and his promoting of his self-indulgent banjo albums) a sour tastes I dislike.
Alec, however, is awesome and I agree that a bit of Tiny opposite Steve would be brilliant.
*Tina
Steve Martin is the best Oscar host ever!
I loved Alec calling Palin “Bible Spice” on Letterman
I think my favourite Oscar moment ever might have been his bit when he did a Brady Bunch split screen of who he slept with in Hollywood. The reactions of Julianne Moore, Nicole Kidman, Halle Berry, Ted Danson/Mary Streenburgen, Julie Andrews and Ernest Bourgnine were just perfect.
My favorite Oscar moment was when Bjork came on wearing the swan dress, and afterwards, Steve Martin said something like, “I would have worn MY swan, but it was so last season.”
That gave me a giggle.
I did enjoy Jon Stewart hosting, though. He was funny, but in an understated way, and I think he did one of the classiest things in Oscar history when he brought the woman from the movie “Once” back out because the music conductor cut her off before she could say anything.
I wish the clip showed the writer’s acceptance speech, it was so moving, beautiful and heartfelt…..one of the more memorable speeches! Steve and Tina would’ve been wonderful hosts, but Alec Baldwin hopefully will be a worthy adversary for Steve’s comedic brillance
Well, I’m sure their SNL “feud” (all in good fun) over who has hosted more often will come into play since Steve has hosted before. And the fact that Alec has been nominated for an Oscar while Steve has not.
I think Steve Martin was nominated for ‘All of Me’.
he wasn’t but he should have been, and he should have gotten a screenwriting nod for roxanne. i think it will be great fun
Nope–hasn’t even been nominated for writing.
I think they will be a great pairing, but is anyone else with me on thinking Jim Carrey would be a great host? He was certainly the best non-nominated presenter ever: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fC0O_Hi5Si8 And there is no one, NO ONE, in Hollywood more unpredictable.