Oscar Host Replacements: 5 People Who Should Be The Next Seth MacFarlane

Seth MacFarlane, asked if he expects to return to host the Academy Awards next year, already appears to have burned that bridge.

“No way,” the Family Guy creator answered on Twitter when a fan questioned whether he’d be back. “Lotta fun to have done it, though.” To his credit, MacFarlane held court on the film industry’s biggest stage. And while most have split as to whether he succeeded or failed as a host, he completed the task, which is more than can be said for, say, Eddie Murphy.

But that puts the Academy right back to square one when it comes down to finding and possibly grooming a regular Oscar host. Billy Crystal can’t keep coming back again and again to bail his friend Oscar out of a jam … can he?

As is usually the case around here, we already have an opinion as to whom we’d like to see on the stage hosting next year’s Academy Awards. We understand that the “body” has barely cooled, but if the Academy can secure a host soon, they’d have a calendar year to write jokes that are far better than the juvenile and insulting “We Saw Your Boobs.” So, who deserves the gig?

Neil Patrick Harris

Wait for it … yes, we’re saying that NPH would be ideal as an Oscar host. He already put in his time hosting – and killing – at the Tonys and the Emmys. He is a song-and-dance man with a tremendous sense of humor, a tremendous sense of self, and the proven ability to play to a tough crowd and make celebrities laugh at themselves. Like previous winning hosts, NPH has just enough experience in the movie-making field to understand the point of the show. But he’s comfortable as hell on live television, and would keep the slow parts of the show moving. How he hasn’t been asked to host the Oscars yet is beyond us. Hopefully next year.

Channing Tatum

After becoming an enormous star in practically no time last year, Channing Tatum proved that he can not only be charismatic, but convince a lot of people to love him with just a single performance. And if Magic Mike didn't convince you of his skills in front of an audience, his brief pas-de-deux with Charlize Theron sure should have. Tatum is a gifted dancer and performer, and has the kind of personality that makes you root for him-- the opposite of, say, Seth MacFarlane. Sure, he's not a comedian, and would probably have to adjust the opening monologue to something more in his wheelhouse. But we'd love to see them shake up the format to allow for a movie star like Tatum to show off his dance moves on the Oscar stage.

Hugh Jackman

We get that he was too busy being a nominee this year for his work in Tom Hooper’s Les Miserables. And yet, Jackman’s presence was felt. He was impressive in that musical montage with his Miserables cast mates. He heroically sprung into action when Jennifer Lawrence stumbled on the stairs on her way to the podium to collect her Oscar. And he’ll be done with The Wolverine press with plenty of time to prepare for next year’s Oscars. It’s time that you had Hugh back on your stage, Academy. He did an admirable job the first time he hosted for you back in 2009. He deserves at least one more dance in the bright Oscar spotlight.

Emma Stone

At last year's Oscars, with Billy Crystal doing such an innocuous hosting job that nobody noticed him, the best 30 seconds onstage came from Emma Stone, presenting an award opposite Ben Stiller and charming the entire audience into submission in no time. Half the Internet was immediately calling for her to take over as host, and a year later that hasn't changed. Stone is an even bigger star now than she was then thanks to The Amazing Spider-Man, and if she can figure out how to avoid the "bubbly little girl" trap that Anne Hathaway fell into, she'd have us all eating out of the palm of her hand all night.

The one that’s so likely to happen, MacFarlane even joked of its inevitability from the stage at THIS year’s Oscars. Life-long friends – and drop-dead funny comedians – Fey and Poehler destroyed at the Golden Globes, creating an airtight resume reel to show to the Academy. Yes, we understand your concern that the last time you tried two hosts, the audience endured Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin or, worse, Anne Hathaway and James Franco. These two are different, though. They have tremendous chemistry. They know how to playfully tease stars without stinging to harshly. They seem to excel at whatever they try, and they should try the Oscars, for all of our sakes.

Katey Rich

Staff Writer at CinemaBlend