Ever since the end of February, fans of jokes about boobs, lazy pop culture references and dinner theater crooning have had one question: would Seth MacFarlane return to host the Oscars? The “Family Guy” creator and “Ted” director was a divisive choice for this year’s ceremony, some finding him a breath of fresh air, some finding him laugh-less and not that much more modern than Billy Crystal the year before (guess which camp we’re in…)
Since Oscars night, there’s been a bit of back and forth about whether MacFarlane would return; he initially indicated that he wouldn’t be back, but returning producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron were reportedly asking him to be back as host only last month. Well, MacFarlane seems to have just confirmed that much, saying in a tweet that he was approached, but that he’s ultimately turned it down.
“Traumatized critics exhale,” MacFarlane tweeted. “I’m unable to do the Oscars again. Tried to make it work schedule-wise, but I need sleep. However, I highly recommend the job, as Zadan and Meron are two of the most talented producers in the business. My suggestion for host is Joaquin Phoenix” Joaquin Phoenix! Oh my days! Can you imagine!
Jokes rejected from Jay Leno‘s writer’s room in 2008 aside, it’s not terribly surprising that MacFarlane can’t find room in his diary; he’s currently directing and starring in comedy western “A Million Ways To Die In The West,” and after a half-billion dollar gross for “Ted,” there’s bound to be a certain amount of pressure on him not to take a few months out to do an awards show. So who should replace him on stage in 2014? We have our own suggestions, and you can make your own in the comments section below.