Rock. He can be very funny, but he just doesn't fit Oscar, like many of the hosts. Martin was good, because he had the right balance. Crystal was good, because he put on a show. Sometimes Goldberg was fun, but very uneven. Stewart was Ok. Letterman tried to do an Oscar Edition of Late Show, but he was so nervous that it just didn't work, although I don't think he was as bad as the reputation suggests. DeGeneres was fine, but very low-key.
But who could bring back the kind of hosting ability that people look forward to? Like Bob Hope or Johnny Carson?
"Because here’s the thing about life: There’s no accounting for what fate will deal you. Some days when you need a hand. There are other days when we’re called to lend a hand." -- President Joe Biden, 01/20/2021
The problem with Chris Rock was he hosted in the wrong year. What the fuck does Chris Rock have to say about 'The Aviator' or 'Sideways'? Chris Rock has done some of the most relevant comedy in thirty years and it sucks that he was so mediocre. I don't entirely blame him.
I think the most delightful show in 13 years I've been watching was in 2001 with Steve Martin, with 1996 and Whoopi Goldberg, 1997 with Billy Crystal close behind, and 2006 with Jon Stewart very close behind. What Billy Crystal did so masterfully in 1996 (and would repeat to death later on) was validate these small films by appearing in them. Jon Stewart was hilarious although his show was deathly boring.
I would say that Ellen DeGeneres poorly hosted a FANTASTIC show in 2007 with very limp hosting skills. The show was masterfully produced with fairly limited excess, but Ellen barely made a presence. Jon Stewart's show this past year is almost not his fault...Chris Rock in 2005, Steve Martin shaking like a leaf in 2003...
The falling down worst instance of hosting in terms of total miscalculation of audience reaction and holding a show together was Whoopi Goldberg in 1999. Just painfully crassy and self-satisfied. The show itself was replete with embarrassments but you could tell that Whoopi knew she was bombing. She's been fine in other instances but Whoopi Goldberg in 1999, Ryan Seacrest, and whatever you'd call the motley that hosted the Emmys this year. Christ...
No, Letterman was awful, he was the one who was smug and unfunny. He walked on with a chip on his shoulder and resented the fact that audience didn't like him. A vaguely similar thing happened with Chris Rock, I think.
"...it is the weak who are cruel, and...gentleness is only to be expected from the strong." - Leo Reston
"Cruelty might be very human, and it might be cultural, but it's not acceptable." - Jodie Foster
