I only realized last week that no one had been hired as the Oscar host yet, and even more…the Golden Globes don’t have a host either? The host for the Academy Awards is more important than the Globes, especially as viewership has plummeted steadily for years. Just yesterday, the Hollywood Reporter did a piece on how Oscar-hosting is the worst gig to get, and how it’s become an impossible task.
Well, AMPAS announced their 2019 Oscars host and it’s… Kevin Hart? Hart is a popular comedian who sells out shows regularly. His films are usually hits. He’s “popular” with a younger demographic. But the list of his shenanigans knows no bounds: JUST LAST YEAR he cheated on his pregnant wife, lied about it, made fun of the cheating rumors, then admitted the rumors were true and he was being blackmailed about it. His stand-up comedy is riddled with homophobia, and within the last week, he stepped in sh-t again for throwing a “cowboys and Indians” themed party for his son. I’m not saying there’s some perfect candidate for Oscar host out there – I’m just saying that Kevin Hart probably isn’t the best choice right at this moment?
Kevin posted this confirmation on Instagram and talked about how it was always his dream to do this. *sigh* We’ll see.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
my exact reaction was “ew.”
he’s not that funny and was overexposed, and then all that stuff with him cheating on his pregnant wife just sealed the coffin for me.
also, as a half Cherokee person, the fact that he threw a cowboys and Indians party and then continued to defend it? EW.
Yeah, hard pass. He’s incredibly annoying.
I literally came her to say, “Ew.” He’s just gross.
Completely annoying, i hate his loud shrieking and unfunny jokes and equally unfunny plot lines for his movies. Do you have to get a comedian, maybe they should try a new angle?
they’ve tried that route, and I think they’ve had their best success with comedians. I might be wrong but I kind of think the last time they tried non comedians was with James Franco and Anne Hathaway, and we all know how that went.
Yes, this guy is problematic.
Bunof they want to fix the Oscars, they’re going to have to hire new writers.
Nooooo!
I was hoping for Gritty
He cheated on his first wife too.
Anyone who wants the job is gonna be problematic somehow no one wanted this job for a reason. He might bring in a younger demographic. Still wish it was Amy and Tina. Do you think they even got offered it?
I love Amy and Tina, but I just watched Baby Mama and it was TERRIBLE. Not funny at all. Very few jokes. I kinda lost my faith in them as writers.
They hosted the globes after that movie came out. And they were still hilarious and had a great vibe and energy when hosting.
I am underwhelmed by this choice, and a little puzzled. But then again, I wouldn’t don’t blame any of the past hosts or the new ones that got the offer for not taking that gig – it seems like a fairly thankless job. And I say that as a dedicated Oscars viewer.
I didn’t realize the Globes also hadn’t chosen a host. I would have thought would have been a more popular gig to have.
They shouldn’t have gotten a host for this year. See how it is without one.
No one wants to sit through Kevin Hart’s unfunny jokes and shrieking. I guess I’ll just look at the winners the next morning.
I’ve been doing this for the past 15 years. Winners and dresses the next day. Trust me, we don’t miss out.
I don’t think they need a host either. They have a zillion presenters, why not have them introduce the next person before leaving? Just have the Academy president open the show and go from there. It would also cut way down on the time.
Either way, I’m not really a fan of Kevin Hart, I find him kind of obnoxious, plus his recent behavior is pretty gross, but that’s between him and his wife (who looks gorgeous in that photo).
I’m not sure what they’re trying to accomplish with this pick. He can’t be any worse than Franco and Hathaway but that’s a really low bar. I thought Kimmel did a decent job. Hart will send it in a different direction. I wonder how safe he’s going to play it.
Thank you! After everything that’s happened in Hollywood in the past couple years, do we really need this serial cheater hosting the Oscars? Ugh.
A change of writers is more important than the host(s). The humour has always been weak and recently been embarrassingly bad.
Or just give the host task to Ricky Gervias and watch everyone go mental and get offended!
That would be amazing! But they will never have the guts. They praise themselves too much and take themselves too serious for that.
My dream host would be Paul Mooney.
yes! yes! yes!!!!!!
He is a MESS. The lady with him in pic #1 does not look too impressed, either. I never watch award shows so I’m neutral about him as a host… I love his fake feud with The Rock, though, if you follow them on Insta it can get pretty amusing.
I think it would be funny if they played that up at the Oscars and the Rock walks out like he’s back in the WWF attitude era and pulls a wrestling move on him. Maybe not appropriate for the Oscars but who cares at this point.
I wished they asked the Rock to cohost. Seriously I watched some of their press interviews for Jumanji and they were funny together. Hart alone can be overwhelming – not in a good way.
His films and jokes are terrible.
I wont be watching this year. I can’t stand him. And I don’t find him funny
I used to love the Academy Awards. Loved them. But during the last several years, I’ve gotten so tired of them trying to make it into some kind of hokey variety show for ratings. Just play it straight—announce the awards, sing the nominated songs, and be done with it. Stop with the time-wasting comedy bits scattered throughout the show. Just get on with it. Stop trying to make it more than it is. Let me enjoy the fashion, pretty people, and film performances in peace.
I know that makes me sound like a little old man screaming, “Get off my lawn.” So be it!
What you want is literally what everyone wants though lol No one likes those stupid comedy bits
Just show us the winners and get on with it.
I’m with you. I’m here for the awards, not the long drawn out skits and terrible “funny” dialogue between presenters. Devote that time to the winners so they’re not constantly played off stage!!
I completely agree. There’s no reason for this show to go on for 3 hours. They really need to rethink their formula. Nowadays people really only watch for the dresses and the acting categories. Nobody will google Kevin Hart’s opening number the day after the Oscars, but lots of people will google the winners.
Sometimes I feel like network TV is so out of the loop in regards to modern technology. People have so many options for entertainment, and everything important about the show will be uploaded to youtube the next day. If you want me to tune in that day while it’s airing, you’ll have to make it less tedious to watch.
The only benefit is the cameos during his turn as host. Seeing Dwyane Johnson and Jack Black in a skit will not be the worst thing in the world. Karen Gillan is funny and charming as hell as well (RIP Selfie).
just bring back Ricky Gervais and tell the care bears to stay home. He was fantastic!
So funny!
I like Kevin Hart. I think he’s incapable of monogamy but as a comedian he’s hilarious. We’ve been fans of his for years when he was doing stand up. And I don’t think he’s all that problematic either. Not compared to a lot of the folks in Hollywood right now. I think he’s actually a pretty safe choice. His comedy isn’t political or edgy but it’s funny.
Nope. Just nope.
I cannot stand this dude. He’s horribly unfunny, annoying and a cheater. His whole deal is scream-yelling. He must have his fans somewhere because he keeps getting gigs but I think the majority of people think he’s a pervasive gnat flying around our heads.
The millennials love him, I think AMPAS is hoping he’ll get their dismal show ratings up. We’ll see.
I imagine that they’ll hire writers who will tailor jokes for him, and that he also will revise his own style for this particular gig (no profanity, or hugely insulting jokes to the attendees/nominees, etc). He’s been angling for this hosting gig for a while. I’m willing to see what he can do with it, the awards show format has been stagnant for a long time and needs refreshing.
For the first time in 40 years…I have NO INTEREST in watching the Oscars…NONE! I’ll get the recaps the next morning….
I know I am in the minority here but Kevin Hart is hilarious to me. I’m not sure how he will be as host, but I have always enjoyed his stand ups. His banter back and forth in Instagram with Dwayne Johnson have been priceless. Anybody has got to be better than Anne Hathaway and James Franco. Plus Jimmy Kimmel sucked BIG TIME.
And his birthday party with the cowboys and Indians theme?? Come on people. It was just a party and I seriously doubt there were any demeaning connotations to it. Stop being offended by every damn thing! Next thing you know, they will want to ban A Christmas Story because they are giving a kid a gun!
Wow. You’re right. The genocide of people makes a perfect birthday theme. Because culture is a thing to be mocked and used as a party favor! Especially by people who are fighting for their own equal rights. Hopefully the blankets draped over the adults didn’t actually have disease hidden in them. Or maybe that’s the party favor? My next party theme will probably be Jews and Germans. No ill intent! /s/
Didn’t read the comments, but I’m here to say Original Jenn is spot on. Listen to Native people and you will hear them saying that appropriation of their cultures and use of stereotypes for entertainment is NOT okay. Come on, people. If it was blackface, we’d all understand why it is wrong. It is the same thing.
You are dense.
Ugh, HIM? He beat his first wife, cheated on his second, and has gone on record as one of his biggest fears being that his son turns out to be gay. He’s just awful.
No, no, no, no, no! He totally just had a racist birthday party for his kid (cowboy and Indian theme). NO!
Gritty or GTFOH, Academy. You had one job. ONE. 😉
His voice alone is enough of a reason that I don’t want to watch him but I have never in all my 40 years that I can remember, not watched the Oscars so I’ll be watching. Probably cringing and muting but I’ll be watching.
This is so uninspired casting. Anyone follow Randy Rainbow? I saw an article suggesting he be host. He would be awesome! These award shows need to start thinking outside of the box.
I don’t understand his appeal. He is not funny at all.
The numbers will be so low this year. He’s funny but not well-liked. The producers should look at YouTube comments and pick someone like David Spade or Busy, story-tellers rather than joke tellers.