We don’t yet know who the leading candidates are for the 87th Academy Awards. At this point on the calendar, many of the films that could be nominated for Best Picture, along with the possible nominees for the leading and supporting actor awards, haven’t even been released in theaters yet. (Although based on Argo and 12 Years a Slave winning during the past two years, releasing an Oscar hopeful in October is probably a good idea.)
Yet the Oscars may already be worth watching. As originally reported by BuzzFeed, Neil Patrick Harris has been tabbed as host for the event, scheduled for Feb. 22, 2015. Harris has already shown his talent for hosting awards shows, having emceed the Tonys and Emmys in 2013. He also appeared in the opening number for the 2010 Oscars.
Song-and-dance numbers can be an eye-rolling, tedious way to begin the Academy Awards. But that’s often because the host isn’t suited for such productions. Watch Harris’ opening number for the 2013 Tony Awards and tell us if that applies.
http://youtu.be/danBaPWT09A
Harris also might pass what I like to call “The Mom Test,” being famous enough to be recognizable to someone who doesn’t necessarily follow pop culture devotedly. Besides his famous roles on How I Met Your Mother and Doogie Howser, M.D., Harris is coming off a key part in Gone Girl, released an autobiography, and is frequently on your TV in Heineken ads.
That sort of awareness and recognition is never a bad thing for an Oscar host, though being part of the Hollywood community and having a talent for comedy definitely helps.
