Before I tear into the Academy Awards for deciding to forgo a host for the second year in a row, I would like to preface my argument by saying that I fully understand this is a very “Kim, there’s people that are dying” issue. The Oscars have much bigger issues to address (you know, like nominating and awarding anyone other than straight, white men), but having a capable host would certainly be a start.
To be fair, last year’s hostless ceremony wasn’t a disaster. The internet was pretty thrilled to see Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, and Maya Rudolph crush the opening monologue. Unfortunately, their super-brief appearance was the awards show version of a Costco free sample you know you won’t buy, and the rest of the ceremony paled in comparison. Twitter couldn’t understand why the three couldn’t just host the whole thing, and honestly...that’s a solid point.
As viewership continues to sink, awards shows from the Grammys to the Oscars are scrambling to appeal to everyone. This has resulted in long, drawn-out productions filled with jokes that don’t land and performances that make no sense. Remember the 2019 VMAs? In its attempt to entertain every age group, it turned into a spectacle of awkward jokes about safe spaces and appearances from celebrities that felt out of place. (John Travolta? The Sopranos cast? WYD?!)
If the goal is to entertain as many people as possible, it makes sense that awards shows are trying to avoid polarizing hosts. I mean, the reaction to Ricky Gervais’s last shot at hosting the Golden Globes was incredibly mixed. Sure, this resulted in a few celebrity memes we didn’t know we needed (thanks, Tom Hanks), but it made for an awkward night overall.
These dumpster fires would probably be a nonissue if awards shows could just book hosts that don’t suck. Alicia Keys handled the Grammys like an absolute pro, which most people in Hollywood would not have been able to do following a tragedy like Kobe Bryant’s passing. The Grammys could have been a total flop, but Alicia was able to create a night that the country honestly needed. She memorialized Kobe and his daughter honorably and eventually transitioned the vibe of the show into something more celebratory.
Given the scrutiny surrounding the Oscars, a qualified host could really help turn things around. May I suggest booking the flawless trifecta that is Maya, Tina, and Amy? Maybe even a comedian like Awkwafina, Tiffany Haddish, or Jenny Slate? Honestly, I’m down for anyone who could coddle us through the show so we don’t have to listen to a slew of presenters make the same few off-color comments about the current state of the Oscars all night long.
