I will readily admit that I frequently disagree with the common consensus when it comes to host of the Academy Awards. I thought that such nearly universally panned hosts like David Letterman and Seth McFarland were just the edgy shaking up that the sometime staid ceremony can get while such audience favorites as Billy Crystal and last year’s Ellen DeGeneres have left me cold. But I think that the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences’ choice for next year’s Oscar ceremony host is one that makes me happy and sounds like a crowdpleaser as well.
The Academy has announced today that Neil Patrick Harris will be the master of ceremonies for the 2015 Academy Awards on next February 22.
Harris has already proven himself capable with well lauded gigs hosting both Emmy and Tony Award shows in previous years. A consummate entertainer in the best sense of the word, Harris has some serious cross-generational appeal that should guarantee good television ratings for the program.
And, let’s face it, with this Oscar gig, that leaves Harris just a Grammy hosting job away from a full hosting-EGOT.
