Worst.Oscar.Show.Ever?

[JT Brooklyn]

McFarland looked good in his Tux..But that was about it! I'm sure he has made the List of 1 Time Hosts!

[Decatur Guy]

What a shame because, as you said, it was a GREAT year for movies.

 

I think the show needs to decide what it wants to be. They're trying to appeal to a wider audience -- they say -- and then the In Memoriam segment became all about inside baseball remembering people no one has heard of while leaving out people everyone has heard of.

 

They seem to be bi-polar. They simply can't decide what they want. Make a decision and stick to it.

 

I concur. That's the problem and the solution in a nutshell. In fact, calling them bipolar is probably generous. There needs to be a new word such as quadpolar for the producers of this show.

[Nvr2Thick]

I'm not personally *offended* by MacFarlane's humor. I don't really follow Family Guy but I have seen it and found it quite funny - in its own context. But the Oscars to me is a different thing - I do think somehow it should be a classier show. Not humorless, and not fun, but somehow a show that celebrates and respects the movie industry, not a show that is essentially dictated by the host's sense of humor.

 

When i heard Seth MacFarlane was slated to be host I figured that they were going for something a bit like Ricky Gervais on the Golden Globes. There's always so much talk about how wildly inappropriate Gervais' irreverent humor has been, but was called back in 2012. The Oscars may not be the place for this sort of irreverence, but I bet a lot of people tuned in to see if MacFarlane was going to shred a few icons.

[wayout]

Viewers feel more comfortable with certain hosts that they have some familiarity with and I think many don't have that with Seth. As a result they are less willing to show him as much tolerance in some off color, misplaced, etc. jokes (if one can call them that) as they might with others. Many feel like where does this relative unknown come off taking pot shots like he did?

[+ Cash4Trash]

Best ratings in 3 years. He was hired to bring in male viewers hoping for something a bit outrageous. A side note - Seth McFarlane has been a friend to the gay community for years, I only wish he escorted.

[operalover21]

I enjoyed the performances by Adele, Jennifer Hudson and Barbra...thought they were terrific.

 

The best performance, by far, was Shirley Bassey. I love Adele but she was very "off" that night. Could barely be heard above the orchestra.

[operalover21]

I have to agree with the consensus that the show was not a very good one. I was surprised the opening number was almost 16 minutes. I thought the boobs number was tasteless. Liked some of the rest of the number although it felt at times like Seth was auditioning for a Broadway show. Didn't know he could sing. For the record, William Shatner headlined a bunch of Star Trek movies that grossed tons of money (which is Hollywood speak for he is relevant to the Oscars though he will never win one).

 

Loved the dancing between Charlize and Channing and felt that if the producers had stayed on that riff throughout the whole program (in a show dedicated to Hollywood musicals) they might have been on to something. As with most of the past Oscar shows the best moments seemed to be the unscripted ones.

I agree it was great the see Shirley Bassey (76 years old!), Adele, and Barbra. It seemed that Catherine Zeta-Jones was lip syncing. I know it's a heavy dance number, but thought she should have sung live. The Le Miz number seemed a bit disorganized,probably because the version they sang was truncated and had different people singing some parts that were written for other characters.

 

From a visual standpoint, I loved the set and most of the lighting. Interesting concept of having the orchestra playing 10 blocks away in another building. I agree with Original poster (can't believe I said it) that naming obscure members of the industry who had passed and leaving out major members was an huge mistake and some assistant should get flogged for bad research. Can't be that hard to find out who died last year.

 

Uh oh, I am getting all negative so better shut this off.

 

In a nutshell; if you are going to announce that the theme of a show is XYZ, and refer to that fact over and over during the show, then take the time to think it out and do a theme show. Otherwise, just cut 90 minutes from the package and run with that.

 

Oh and for the poster who asked, Eddie Murphy bailed on last years show allowing for the return of Billy Crystal.[/color][/size][/font]

 

And now the reason Murphy bailed seems quite ironic ... He bailed because the producer, Brett Ratner, had made some inappropriate comments about gays and women and was let go. So Murphy decided to take a walk as well.

 

So this year, we get a host who makes inappropriate comments about gays and women and Jews and fat chicks .... perhaps Ratner is now owed an apology.

[operalover21]

The only reason I watched is because I had read repeatedly that one of the highlights of the show would be a 50th anniversary salute to James Bond, with all of the 007 actors in attendance. What happened to that? Aside from Shirley Bassey and, later, Adele, all I saw was a standard film clip montage.

 

They tried, apparently, to do it but at least two -- Connery who has long been retired and not doing this sort of thing, and Brosnan -- refused to participate so it never came off.

[operalover21]

McFarland looked good in his Tux..But that was about it! I'm sure he has made the List of 1 Time Hosts!

 

I wish someone could name one "joke" of his from the Oscars that was FUNNY.

 

Also, he was so botoxed and heavily made up and that jet black wig was on so tight that he barely looked like a human being. It was kinda gross on top of that.

 

I thought Todd McCarthy's take on the show in The Hollywood Reporter was spot on ...

 

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/thrs-chief-film-critic-oscars-424432

[+ WilliamM]

I have watched the Oscars since the late 1950s, and the show has rarely been very good. To some degree, that was ok because Bob Hope or Johnny Carson were funny and keep the show going because of their respective personalities. There's always 90 minutes or so where the audience is waiting for the major awards, while often inappropriate songs and jokes try to make up for awards that are primarily of interest to people in the business.

 

McFarland did a decent job, good enough to be asked back next year. There's division in this thread about him, which I suspect breaks down along age lines, with younger people liking Seth.

 

As many have said, this year's films were especially good...that alone means a lot. I was mildly annoyed by the Lincoln joke and the more lengthy comments about Jews, but I got over it very quickly. I was more upset by the missed chances with the various song segments, except for Bassey and Adele.

[jimboivyo]

CZJ was fabulous. Years later, she can still wear the costume and nail the routine. loved watching her

 

mcfarland was smarmy. his fake sounding voice make the whole show sound like a used car sale

[Toulouse]

So, if you were producing the 2014 Oscars show, whom would you hire as the "perfect" host? Just curious.

[jimboivyo]

So, if you were producing the 2014 Oscars show, whom would you hire as the "perfect" host? Just curious.

 

they killed at the emmys and would kill doing oscars: Amy poehler and tina fey

 

they're smart, quick on their feet, writers and people like them

[doitb4ugo]

they killed at the emmys and would kill doing oscars: Amy poehler and tina fey

 

they're smart, quick on their feet, writers and people like them

 

Hey, I'd watch that....

[Toulouse]

they killed at the emmys and would kill doing oscars: Amy poehler and tina fey

 

I believe you mean Poehler & Fey hosted at the Golden Globes...and YES, I agree they were terrific.

[jimboivyo]

I believe you mean Poehler & Fey hosted at the Golden Globes...and YES, I agree they were terrific.

 

aww damn, yup. a southern good ol boy can only keep up with so much hollywood. lol

 

appreciate the correction. they were funny as hell as dual hosts

[JackTwist]

Meryl Streep would be a class act as host...and she would be funnier than some might imagine.

[JackTwist]

they killed at the emmys and would kill doing oscars: Amy poehler and tina fey. they're smart, quick on their feet, writers and people like them

 

These two were a great hosting duo. Actually, Tina Fey would be a great host on her own as well.

[Rod Hagen]

I can't understand how anyone would watch something hosted by seth macfarlane and be surprised and offended. It's Seth Macfarlane, he's the definition of offensive.

 

I was out of the country so only seen bits and pieces, but thought Boobs was funny, TED was funny, Barbara was as usual annoying, I knew no music by Adele or Hudson and now I do and wish I didn't. Goldfinger was amazing...still.

 

I mean come on, "And now here's someone who needs no introduction...." and he walks off the fucking stage?! That's fantastic!

 

That Amour didn't win best picture is a crime.

[operalover21]

I can't understand how anyone would watch something hosted by seth macfarlane and be surprised and offended. It's Seth Macfarlane, he's the definition of offensive.

 

I was out of the country so only seen bits and pieces, but thought Boobs was funny, TED was funny, Barbara was as usual annoying, I knew no music by Adele or Hudson and now I do and wish I didn't. Goldfinger was amazing...still.

 

I mean come on, "And now here's someone who needs no introduction...." and he walks off the fucking stage?! That's fantastic!

 

That Amour didn't win best picture is a crime.

 

Adele is a goddess. Period. Amour did win Best Picture ... Best Foreign Picture .... Who said anything about being surprised at how bad Seth MacFarlane was? I was hoping to be pleasantly surprised that he'd try to be a class act and not some homophobic, sexist, asshole. Alas, no.

 

And MacFarlane wasn't the only thing wrong with the show. There was little "right" with the show.

 

Yes, I agree, Fey and Poehler would be much better ...

[operalover21]

CZJ was fabulous. Years later, she can still wear the costume and nail the routine. loved watching her

 

mcfarland was smarmy. his fake sounding voice make the whole show sound like a used car sale

 

I hope by CZJ you don't mean Catherine Zeta Jones who can't sing or dance but attempted to do both. I understand hers was the only performance that was lipsynched because they really didn't think she'd pull it off. She was terrible. CHICAGO -- the most overrated Best Picture winner since CAVALCADE. I don't know how anyone could watch that mess especially if you've seen either the original or the revival on Broadway.

 

And I don't think it was an age thing with MacFarlane. I had around 20 people at my party. Youngest was 22, oldest 77. And pretty wide in between. Not a single person liked him or thought he was that funny. He certainly wasn't "edgy" as most of his jokes were old and slung at easy targets. The 22 year old said "if they want edgy where was the joke about Muslims or Obama? That would be edgy."

[operalover21]

So, if you were producing the 2014 Oscars show, whom would you hire as the "perfect" host? Just curious.

 

First, before picking a host, you have to decide what kind of show you want. That's the real problem. They find the host, then decide on the kind of show, and rarely do the two things go together. The biggest problem on Sunday night was that the show was a mess. Totally disconnected and disjointed. Why a comedian? Why all of that? Perhaps a comic is no longer the way to go ... the reason that Hope, Carson, and Crystal worked is that they appealed to a broad and wide cross-section of the viewing public. That kind of comic no longer really exists today. All of our media is fragmented. How many people watch MacFarlane's show each week? 3, 4 or 5 million? When the population of the USA is over 330 million? 50% of the country watched Carson on a nightly basis. People were more connected. I'd be willing to bet that most of America had no idea who Seth MacFarlane even was/is. So there's the problem.

 

If MacFarlane had really been "edgy" it might have made for an interesting show but ... would it have been the Oscars? Do the Oscars need to "edgy?" Is that their purpose? I don't think so. But I think they are rather bi-polar and are trying to have it both ways. They want to appeal to more people but they get a niche host. Makes no sense.

 

The ratings didn't go up because of the host but because, for the first time in a long time, they nominated movies that lots of people have actually seen. More people cared about who won than last year or the year before or the year before that.

 

Perhaps an actual bona fide movie star should host the show. Bradley Cooper is always charming (Channing Tatum showed in his presenting duties what a dullard he is). Perhaps he would do it. I thought Michael Douglas and Jane Fonda looked classy and dignified. If you're going for that, have them host the show. I bet George Clooney would be a TERRIFIC host.

 

They're not going to get obvious choices like Neil Patrick Harris or Fey and Poehler because they've done other shows and Oscar doesn't take other show's hosts.

[jimboivyo]

like that we all have different opinions for themost part. good conversation here

 

Benjamin Nicholas gave his thoughts on the show. Don't agree with everything, but was a fun read

 

http://15minutesmore.com/blog/2013/02/27

[bostonman]

Perhaps an actual bona fide movie star should host the show.

 

You think? (lol) After all, it IS a show/ceremony that honors the film industry - would it be too obvious a choice to actually have the show hosted by someone who identifies with the industry? ;-)

[bostonman]

I knew no music by Adele or Hudson and now I do and wish I didn't.

 

But of course, "And I Am Telling You" is not BY Hudson - it's from Dreamgirls by Henry Krieger and Tom Eyen, and if you want to hear the definitive take on the song, listen to Jennifer Holliday do it.

 

IMO Hudson's take on the song isn't bad at all, but Holliday's performance is, and will always be, the iconic one.