That sound you hear is Justin Bieber crying into his mop-top as he’s just heard the news that he won’t be hosting the Oscars next year. No, while they are clearly aiming for younger viewers, the producers of the 2011 Academy Awards ceremony have instead reached out to Anne Hathaway and James Franco to serve as the hosts for the event.
"James Franco and Anne Hathaway personify the next generation of Hollywood icons – fresh, exciting and multi-talented. We hope to create an Oscar broadcast that will both showcase their incredible talents and entertain the world on February 27," producers Bruce Cohen and Don Mischer said in a statement picked up by The Wrap. "We are completely thrilled that James and Anne will be joining forces with our brilliant creative team to do just that."
While word first broke over at Deadline, the news is now official. Both are certainly interesting, slightly offbeat choices, and may prove controversial since Franco and possibly also Hathaway are likely to be nominated in the acting categories for their work in **127 Hours **and **Love and Other Drugs **this year.
Both actors have hosted Saturday Night Live, and Hathaway had a memorable moment at the Oscars two years ago when she sang and danced with Hugh Jackman. Both have also presented categories at the event in years past. But neither has experience hosting big awards events.
Which might be partly why they were picked, since the producers seem to be sticking with the current trend of going with actors who have comic chops rather than stand-up comics who can present. And both have an appeal for younger audiences, the sort of ratings demographic that don’t usually tune in to watch the show, but could possibly be tempted to see what the pair does.
Naturally, the nay saying has also begun, with other commentators dismissing them as lacking the required gravitas or spark to do the job. But the real challenge will come when the lights go up on February 27 next year at the Kodak Theatre in LA…