Fansided

25 best award show hosts

By Reed Gaudens

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 13: In this handout photo provided by NBCUniversal, L to R Tina Fey and Amy Poehler host the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel International Ballroom on January 13, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Paul Drinkwater/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 13: In this handout photo provided by NBCUniversal, L to R Tina Fey and Amy Poehler host the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel International Ballroom on January 13, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Paul Drinkwater/NBCUniversal via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
11 of 26
Next
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 22: (EDITORS NOTE: NO ONLINE, NO INTERNET, EMBARGOED FROM INTERNET AND TELEVISION USAGE UNTIL THE CONCLUSION OF THE LIVE OSCARS TELECAST) Host Hugh Jackman (C) performs on stage during the 81st Annual Academy Awards held at Kodak Theatre on February 22, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 22: (EDITORS NOTE: NO ONLINE, NO INTERNET, EMBARGOED FROM INTERNET AND TELEVISION USAGE UNTIL THE CONCLUSION OF THE LIVE OSCARS TELECAST) Host Hugh Jackman (C) performs on stage during the 81st Annual Academy Awards held at Kodak Theatre on February 22, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) /

16. Hugh Jackman

Show: 57th-59th Tony Awards (2003-2005), 81st Annual Academy Awards (2009), 68th Tony Awards (2014)

Memorable Moments: After hosting the Tony Awards for three consecutive years, Hugh Jackman took his talents to the ultimate award show imaginable. His opening number at the 2009 Academy Awards consisted of everything a movie and musical fan could have ever wanted. Jackman plucked future Les Misérables co-star Anne Hathaway (who would host a heavily debated Oscars with James Franco two years later) from the audience for a song, then continued to perform with Beyoncé and bring back musical spectacles at award shows.

Public Reception: Musical numbers can be divisive, but there’s not a whole not of negativity you can throw at Hugh Jackman’s performance as a first-time Oscars host. Although a show of this nature might not work today, Jackman did what he needed to do and could be the reason why the ratings increased compared to the previous year’s telecast (no shade to Jon Stewart). Perhaps the public saw a new side of the performer otherwise known as Wolverine that they hadn’t before.

Why They’re One of the Best: He wasn’t the star of The Greatest Showman for nothing. Hugh Jackman brought what only Hugh Jackman could bring as the host of the Oscars. His musical numbers and audience participation portions were energetic and compelling when they can typically veer toward awkward and tedious. Having since been nominated for an Oscar in 2013, it’s a shame he hasn’t returned to host a jovial and upbeat ceremony, something the award show circuit could desperately use from one of the best award show hosts to ever put his spin on it.

Home/Entertainment