After the highly publicized departure of host Kevin Hart, after offensive tweets were discovered in his Twitter history, the Academy has been completely silent about who it might name as the comedian’s replacement. And according to a new report, that’s for good reason. You see, this year’s Oscars might go back to a formula of multiple hosts that they last did three decades ago.
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Deadline is reporting that their sources are saying that calls have been made for multiple hosts to potentially lead the Oscars in two months. Here’s what is reported [Their emphasis, not ours]:
“Deadline is hearing from (highly) reliable sources that since no one appears to want to take on the mantle of Oscar host in 2019, particularly after the Hart debacle, that calls have gone out to create a lineup of multiple hosts — such as a quartet of major names, or even more — who wouldn’t even necessarily be called hosts.”
You can’t blame anyone for turning down this year’s Oscar hosting duties. After Hart was raked over the coals, comedians have probably either been too scared to have their history vetted or showing solidarity with one of their own being shunned. Either way, it’s clear that no one is beating down the door to help the Academy for the 2019 telecast.
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Names mentioned in the report as possibilities include Hugh Jackman, who in an interview with Deadline, said that he’d come back if asked (and if his schedule permits). Obviously, that’s far from a confirmation, but you wouldn’t blame the AMPAS putting a call to Jackman’s people. Otherwise, it appears film fans can brace themselves for no single host, but instead multiple personalities driving the show.
Honestly, with how the hosting has been decidedly hit or miss over the last several years, maybe that’s not such a bad thing.