Who Should Host the Oscars? (With UPDATE)

Robert Downey Jr. can wear a tux, yet he still turned down the Oscar hosting job.

The MTV Movies Blog reports that the Oscar hosting gig was offered to Robert Downey Jr. and Ben Stiller–as a pair, apparently, rather than individually–and they turned it down. Last year’s host, Hugh Jackman, also turned down a repeat performance (I know not everyone loved his turn, but I did–any failures were more of the material than the man). Soooo…step right up–someone? Anyone? Ricky Gervais is booked for the Golden Globes. Neil Patrick Harris has proved his hosting chops at the Emmys and Tonys, but his presence on the big screen has been next to nonexistent.

MTV offers these suggestions:

Billy Crystal - He made the job a hard act to follow with his nominee song parodies, but he’s turned it down a number of times this decade. I think he feels like it’s too hard and he’d rather go out on top.

Larry David - Funny guy, but a) he’s a bit too TV for me (yes, I know he’s made movies, but they haven’t been exactly memorable) and b) there’s something about his humor that I don’t think fits the hosting gig thing. He’s really situational rather than presentational, if that makes any sense.

Stephen Colbert - I like this one. I know he’s not film at all, but he’s at least nationally known for hosting something.

Vince Vaughn & Owen Wilson - They’re comic actors, not comedians; they’re not hosts; and while they have appeared in a lot of movies that make money, there’s a kind of lack of “wow” factor when I say, “…and now your hosts for the Academy Awards…Vince Vaughn & Owen Wilson!!”

Robert Pattinson - Okay, I know they have to suggest it because it’s MTV and they’re required to make a certain number of “Twilight” references per day, but ummmm…no. He’s an actor (sort of), not a comedian, not a host, and doesn’t have a big enough offscreen personality to carry a show.

Who else? I wonder if Steve Carell could pull it off, or would take it. He’s been successful in both TV and movies, and he’s a comic. Hey, you could reunite Carell and Colbert, like their old “Daily Show” days. Or…I’m trying to think…another big star who has a big offscreen personality, has wit, has at least some comic ability…

Okay: George Clooney. I bet he would turn it down, but I also think he’d be great–he’s smooth and excels at the quick ad lib. Come on, George. Please?

(*****UPDATE****)

Well, never mind, George. It appears that Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin will be working the Oscars together. Again, there’s a little bit of an “Okay…” rather than “Wow!” feeling, but they’re both experienced comics, so it could work…