JA from MNPP here. Here's what Nikki Finke is saying today:"The Academy Awards is going international with its emcee choice -- Australian actor Hugh Jackman, star of X-Men, Australia, and the upcoming Wolverine, as well as People Magazine's 2008 "Sexiest Man Alive".
But, and it's a BIG but [ed. - Mmhmm], while the 40-year-old Sydney-born thesp of English parentage has received the AMPAS offer and is very interested, I'm told that he's not yet fully committed. Because there's still a lot of negotiating ahead between his showbiz representatives and AMPAS."
She goes on to explain that the show would have to be different - Hugh's not a stand-up comedian - but that the producers might want to exploit Hugh's singing and dancing skills (duh).
When was the last time anyone got great reviews hosting the Oscars anyway? I remember loving Ellen Degeneres but then the consensus ripped her to shreds. Same with Jon Stewart. Then again, I liked Letterman too. Obviously, I have no idea. If Jackman promises that ,at some point during the night, he'll come out in his Wolverine wife-beater/jeans ensemble and do some back-flips, I'm sold.
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