Family Guy Creator Seth MacFarlane To Host The Oscars
Laying down the CG motion capture get-up that led him this year to impersonate a pot-smoking, foul-mouthed teddy bear, creator of Family Guy, American Dad, The Cleveland Show and writer-director and star of Ted Seth MacFarlane is now all set to host the 85th Annual Academy Awards taking place on February 24, 2013.
Unveiled to be under the Oscars limelight yesterday, MacFarlane responded by saying it was a “truly overwhelming privilege to be asked to host.” He joked, “My thoughts upon hearing the news were, one, I will do my utmost to live up to the high standards set forth by my predecessors; and two, I hope they don't find out I hosted the Charlie Sheen Roast.” The undeniably charismatic MacFarlane even found the time to announce his appointment in an amusing video with his dad, below.
“We are thrilled to have Seth MacFarlane host the Oscars,” producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron are reported as saying in the official press release. “His performing skills blend perfectly with our ideas for making the show entertaining and fresh. He will be the consummate host, and we are so happy to be working with him.”
Still, you'd have to say MacFarlane is a bold move by the Academy. Despite proving some of his comedic chutzpah and showmanship with the likes of Family Guy, his performance at the BBC Proms and his arrival on the Saturday Night Live scene – MacFarlane recently hosted SNL to mostly positive reviews – his comic style is certainly divisive, while his very background means he has so often been hidden behind animated characters. Will MacFarlane be able to pull off one of the most coveted presenting roles in the industry? Only time will tell, roll on February.
Richard Birkett
