For more than a month, the Academy has been trying to figure out what to do about their Oscar-hosting dilemma. Kevin Hart quit that bitch in a flurry of homophobia and controversy in the first week of December. Since then, it’s honestly felt like the Academy has been frozen, like deer in the headlights. They couldn’t figure out who to get to replace Hart, and they’ve got an enormous list of names of people who they could ask, and an even bigger list of names who will never be asked. This is now the latest the Academy has ever gone without confirming a host. So… what’s their solution? Their solution sounds like it was made by a committee, and that it will please absolutely no one.

The Oscars are poised to embark on one of the most radical reinventions in the awards show’s long history. For the first time in nearly three decades, the biggest night in movies plans to go without a host, individuals with knowledge of the plans told Variety.

Producers will select a crop of A-listers to introduce various segments instead of relying on one marquee name to kick things off in a monologue filled with Trump zingers, said the insiders. The producers and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the group behind the Oscars, are scrambling to line up top talent needed to carry the telecast, which is just six weeks from airing live — on Feb. 24 — from Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre. Hand-wringing at the Academy has been palpable.

As it stands, no new offers are out, nor are any expected to be made to a single potential host to fill the void left by Kevin Hart, who dropped out within hours of being selected when he refused to apologize for his past homophobic remarks that had resurfaced on Twitter.

Barring an eleventh-hour pivot by the Academy — in the event that a superstar host materializes — the show producers are moving forward with a broadcast that will focus on starry skits and play up a high-profile year for music in film, thanks to likely nominees Lady Gaga, Dolly Parton, and Kendrick Lamar, one individual involved with the show said.

[From Variety]

Variety goes on to detail how Kevin Hart could have potentially come back if he showed real remorse and issued a substantive apology, but the sources say that his “woe is me, gay people are bullying me” drama on Ellen DeGeneres’ show backfired with the Academy, and so Kevin is persona non grata now. As for the Academy’s idea to have no madman (or madwoman) helming the SS Oscartastrophe, obviously I think that’s a sh-tty idea. They’re trying to have it every way possible, rather than making a concrete decision and sticking to it. Mark my words, this year’s Oscars telecast is going to be a disaster with this format.

Speaking of disasters, The Hollywood Reporter claims that A-list celebrities were told, ahead of the Golden Globes, that if they decided to present at the Globes, they would not be invited to present at the Oscars. As in, celebrities had to choose – Globes or Oscars. The Oscars are more prestigious, obviously, but besides that, the Oscars have a MUCH better presenter gift bag. So obviously, some celebrities declined to present at the Globes. Margot Robbie was one of the people who declined, and now I wonder if they’re going to get Margot to do one of the big presenting-chunks at the Oscars.

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.