Exit the Comedy, Cue the Song and Dance

Apparently, Hugh Jackman has been announced as the new host of the Oscars http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/12/hugh-jackman-to-host-academy-awards/. Yes, he did a fine job at the Tonys but his skills are better suited to the let's break into a musical number vibe of the Tonys. I am of the opinion the Oscar ceremony is helped by a nice injection of real humor and I think Steve Martin and Jon Stewart have been great recent examples of that. I am skeptical that Hugh can make it feel like anything except the long wordy haul that it is but I guess we will see come February 22nd.