Will Billy Crystal return as Oscar’s host? That’s the question today.
You know, it’s kind of amazing that as telecast ratings for the the Academy Awards sail over a cliff, the Academy appears to be in complete denial over what the real problem is. For starters, a large number of their recent hosts — Alec Baldwin, Whoopi Goldberg, David Letterman, Chris Rock and Jon Stewart — are polarizing and divisive figures who turn off well over half the country. Those of us who don’t live on the coasts don’t like these people, and why should we? They continually insult us, who we are, and what we hold dear. No Bitter Clinger in their right mind wastes a Sunday night with their guts in a knot waiting for a Leftist sucker shot.
Oscar has the same problem with presenters and winners. Every time some mouthy jerk grabs a trophy we sit there on edge waiting, waiting, waiting for it.
If you believe in traditional marriage, love Jesus, adore America, hate terrorists and have finally figured out Obama’s a failed president — watching the Oscars sucks.
Billy Crystal does, however, transcend that problem. Not 100%, but he is a national figure who isn’t polarizing, puts on a great show, and in the talent and class department comes as close to a Bob Hope and Johnny Carson as anyone today. And sadly, he’s about it.
If Crystal were to return to hosting duties, I have no doubt ratings would improve thanks to the enormous amount of goodwill he’s built up over the last few decades. However, if Hollywood ever wants to return to that golden era when watching the Academy Awards telecast was a national viewing experience, they have much, much bigger issues to deal with.
Hey, Hollywood: You can add 100 best Picture categories for all we care and hire all the young, pretty hosts most of us have never heard of like James Franco — but your real problem is that most of America is just not-liking you back.