How NOT to host an awards show
The US star is no stranger to live television after years anchoring Weekend Update on Saturday Night Live, and has been the host of NBC’s Late Night since February this year.
But just to help him out we’ve come up with a few tips on what he can learn from previous awards hosts’ mistakes…
Try to act professional
When James Franco and Anne Hathaway hosted the Oscars in 2011 it was widely panned as one of the worst efforts in the history of the Academy Awards.
Hired in an effort to attract a younger “hipper” audience, James filmed the star-studded auditorium on his mobile phone while Anne went on an awkward rant about not getting nominated despite getting naked in her film Love & Other Drugs.
Everyone loves a joke, but try not to insult your audience too much…
When Tina Fey and Amy Poehler hosted the Golden Globes earlier this year they made a joke about George Clooney, saying that Gravity was a movie about how “George Clooney would rather float away and die than spend another minute with a woman his own age.”
His stony face did not seem to be taking it well.
Ricky Gervais had hosted the Golden Globes for three years from 2010 to 2012 and his snide jokes led to critics speculating he had taken it too far.
His notable insults included poking fun at Mel Gibson’s battles with alcohol, introducing Bruce Willis as “Ashton Kutcher’s dad” and repeatedly slamming Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp’s performance in The Tourist.
In 2011 Robert Downey Jr lost his patience and hit back on stage: “Aside from the fact that it’s been hugely mean-spirited with mildly sinister undertones, I’d say the vibe of the show is pretty good so far.”
Chris Rock’s sharp-tongued humour hasn’t always gone down well at the Oscars either.
In 2005 Sean Penn failed to see the funny side when Chris said of Jude Law, “Why is he in every movie I have seen in the last four years? Even if he’s not acting in it, if you look at the credits he makes the cupcakes or something.”
When Sean came on stage he snapped: “Forgive my lack of humour… Jude Law is one of our most talented actors.”
Remember whose night it is
James Corden made a lot of enemies when he hosted the BRIT Awards in 2012, and cut off golden girl Adele’s acceptance speech before she’d even got started.
Avoid sex and politics
When Russell Brand hosted the MTV VMAs in 2008 his attempts to tell the American celebrities who he thought they should vote for did not go down too well.
But what upset the audience the most was self-confessed sex-addict Brand’s repeated jokes about the Jonas Brothers’ virginity.
American Idol winner Jordin Sparks called the British comedian a “slut” when she came on stage, prompting him to apologise to the boy band.
Don’t make it too obvious you’re reading an autocue…
Page 3 model Sam Fox and Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood’s presentation of the Best International Male at the 1989 BRITs is famous for its awkwardness.
The height difference is just the start of the reasons these two make a terrible paring.
Make sure you announce the right name!
Kendall Jenner messed up at the Billboard Music Awards by introducing Australian boy band 5 Seconds of Summer as One Direction.
She then tried to blame the autocue, squinting and saying, “Guys, I’m the worst reader.”
But Kendall’s looks got her through and she and sister Kylie recently winged their way through hosting the entire MuchMusic Video Awards in Canada – distracting everyone with costume changes. Including this dress…
