Oscars 2015: Worst Hosts Of All Time
But while being funny and politically correct comes naturally to Ellen DeGeneres, some hosts in the past didn’t do so well when it came time for them to host the event.
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James Franco and Anne Hathaway (2011)
Yes, there is something James Franco isn’t good at, surprisingly! As much as we adore the Renaissance man, he should stick to acting, writing poetry, painting nude pictures of Seth Rogen and teaching at USC. The Oscars attempted to bring a youthful spin to the 2011 festivities, but Franco’s hosting gig was slightly cringy—even Anne Hathaway couldn’t save him.
David Letterman (1994)
As painful as James Franco was to watch, many regard David Letterman as the worst host ever. Though Letterman has had a Late Show for as long as many of us have been alive, he failed to deliver his hosting duties. His late night show spiel and sardonic humor did not translate to the Oscars. It’s no wonder he wasn’t asked to host again.
Chris Rock (2005)
Though he did a better job than Dave Letterman, it’s hard to make a case for Chris Rock as the best host ever, to say the least. Yes he’s funny, and his stand up shows are laugh out loud funny, Rock’s crude attitude comes across as crass when it’s in context of hosting the most prestigious entertainment award show in the world. At one point in the telecast, he even said some of the nominated films “sucked.”
Chevy Chase (1988)
While Chevy Chase, an "SNL" alum and comedic genius, shines bright in TV shows and films, he is not the best fit for the Oscars. When he hosted the awards in 1988, he opened the show saying, “Good evening, Hollywood phonies.” Though some probably found this true and funny, he probably should not have said that to the Academy audience. His opening line was pretty much indicative of how the rest of his gig went (poorly).
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