ACADEMY AGREES: FRANCO AND HATHAWAY WERE A POOR CHOICE
The selection of James Franco and Anne Hathaway to host this yearís Oscars telecast was a mistake, a high-ranking member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has acknowledged.
In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, the member, who asked not to be identified, said, ìA lot of us said Franco, who is a good actor, is the wrong guy when it was announced. Ö We questioned the TV value of both hosts, and it turned out to be right.î
The member also complained about allowing the showís producers to select the hosts, without any input from the Academyís board of governors. But Academy President Tom Sherak disagreed, saying ìWhen you hire producers, you have to have confidence they are going to put on the show you are looking for.î
Yet Sherak himself voiced discontent with the performance of the two hosts, remarking that ìthe chemistry seemed to be offî between them and adding: ìThe problem is, in the past when you have a comic, that comic can play off what happens on the show. Ö I think that was missing. I think they were doing their job. Franco is a very charming guy, but sometimes you need a comic to make fun of things.î
Categories