Chris Rock to host the Oscars

[MrMastodonFarm]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movies/10/...k.ap/index.html
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Thursday announced Chris Rock will host the next Academy Awards telecast.

This is shocking to say the least. Chris Rock is a far cry from Billy Crystal, alot less "safe".

I watch the long boring Oscars, I am a big movie geek, so this should be entertaining.

[arsenal]

I might actually watch this time. Just go to the bathroom when they are giving awards away or something. Just watch it for The Rock.

[Agamemnon]

Yes! Chris Rock is freaking hilarious. I couldn't see him doing a worse job than Dave "Uma... Oprah" Letterman.

The guy's social commentary is bang-on sometimes... and funny too! I recommend to everyone to download some of his 60-70 minute bits, you can download them from most file-sharing programs. They're called "In with the New", "Bigger and Blacker"... and I forget the other two.

[Incinerator]

Sweet, this will be the first time I watch the Oscars haha

[Jiggy_12]

wowzers. This will be interesting to say the least. I just cant picture him hosting this.

[troutman]

Best of Chris Rock on SNL (Memorable Quotes from imdb.com):

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0255574/quotes

from "Never Scared:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0405832/quotes

From "Bigger & Blacker":

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0206636/quotes

oops, Parental Advisory.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

I'm just wondering how good he'll be as I'm sure he'll have to de-tune his usual schtick some what. His "angry black man" routine may not play well to all audiences.

I still remember when he hosted some music awards show. Some boy band had just finished performing and when they cut back to him at the podium he says..."Oh C'mon.....like they needed mikes!!!". Implication being of course they they lip synched the entire way.

[Red]

I guess I am different. I don't like the guy one bit, he is an annoying loud mouth
________
Medical marijuana patients

[albertGQ]

Rock's hosting of the VMAs a couple years back was the bomb. His shot at R.Kelly, Justin Timberlake, Jay Z was awesome. I hope he continues his "angry black man" gimick

[JiriHrdina]

This is surprising news. Wonder if they will try to reign Rock in? Probably and they will probably fail meaning this is the last time Rock will host the Oscars. He'll leave an impression though.

[Ro]

Good time to mention his new routine, "Never Scared" is out on DVD.

Amazing comedy. I picked it up the week it came out, and highly recommend it.

[Lanny_MacDonald]

I think this is not going to work at all. Chris Rock is going to offend way too many people. He's funny, but he's not Oscar funny. Billy Crystal can be fun in an unoffensive way. Chris Rock is always offensive and that's what makes him funny. I think he's going to bomb at the Oscars. His comedy just ain't high brow enough for the high brow set. They can flash the camera on Will Smith laughing only so many times during the show. I'll go out on a limb and say this blows up in Rock's face.

[Frank the Tank]

Best Chris Rock quote I have ever heard (not exact, but you get the picture);

"They say the Blair Witch Project cost $60,000 to make. That means somebody is running around with $59,000 in their pocket"

Ha! So true!

[Ro]

Originally posted by Lanny_MacDonald@Oct 15 2004, 11:02 AM
I think this is not going to work at all. Chris Rock is going to offend way too many people. He's funny, but he's not Oscar funny. Billy Crystal can be fun in an unoffensive way. Chris Rock is always offensive and that's what makes him funny. I think he's going to bomb at the Oscars. His comedy just ain't high brow enough for the high brow set. They can flash the camera on Will Smith laughing only so many times during the show. I'll go out on a limb and say this blows up in Rock's face.

I don't know about that Lanny.

His routines aren't based around offensive ideas or comments, but around the observations of daily life that, when you break them down, are pretty damn absurd or baffling.

Sure, he swears more than a guy like Billy Crystal or Seinfeld, and his style of speech and mannerisms might be a jolt to some who haven't seen him much, but his humour can be much the same. And like a Jon Stewart or George Carlin, his comedy is highly literate, intelligent, and, I believe, plays just fine to a highbrow audience.

He'll do fine.

[Lanny_MacDonald]

I'll disagree Ro. You take the words mother#####er, n*gger and sh*t out his vocabulary and he's lost 20-25% of his act. I like Rock, but I don't see him playing well to a predominantly white and Jewish crowd without becoming tiresome and offensive. We'll see, but I don't think this is the venue where Chris Rock can show his brilliance.

[Mean Mr. Mustard]

lanny I am tempted to agree with you. Rock while he is very funny, is only funny toa select crowd. And that crowd is not the aging, white, (you mentioned Jewish?), crowd that watches and is in attendence at the Oscars. Now by no means am I saying that Rock isn't funny, but much like Conan O'Brian he is funny to a select audience, and I am unsure as to how well he can pull off being funny in different situations. Personally I have the feeling he is going to be given the cue-card jokes just like every single host that has been there for better or for worse.

[kipperfan]

Originally posted by Mean Mr. Mustard@Oct 16 2004, 04:16 PM
lanny I am tempted to agree with you. Rock while he is very funny, is only funny toa select crowd. And that crowd is not the aging, white, (you mentioned Jewish?), crowd that watches and is in attendence at the Oscars. Now by no means am I saying that Rock isn't funny, but much like Conan O'Brian he is funny to a select audience, and I am unsure as to how well he can pull off being funny in different situations. Personally I have the feeling he is going to be given the cue-card jokes just like every single host that has been there for better or for worse.

No way. They may give him the cue cards, but they KNOW he isnt goin read them, thus the enormous 30 second delay on this years show, the longest ever used on network tv. If you have followed Chris Rock, you would know he wont break out with lame takes, fed to him by netowrk drones, dude will say whatever the hell he wants. For this reason I think that the Academy has to be trying to broaden its viewership past the 65 year old blue hair and the star wars geeks. By bringing in Rock the whole feel and atmosphere of the show is going to change. Its obvoius "the academy" has had enough of the "middle aged white man" type hosts as they dont attract younger viewers like a Rock will.

I wish I could be there to hear what he actually says, not the network dubbed version, should still be entertaining though, you know this guy despite netwrok plees will break out the racial takes, and seeing steven spielberg's reaction after being called a "cracker" should be great.