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As I noted elsewhere: Hugh Jackman as Oscarcast host? Hey, why the hell not? He looks great in a tux. He can sing all of the nominated songs. He's already warmed up by hosting the Tonys. And all the comic-book geeks will tune in to see Wolverine. Genius choice. Really.

But, seriously, David: What is your beef with someone breaking a story when they have the correct info? Sorry, but you sound like someone who's pissed that he got scooped.

No way in hell Jackman's going to sing. You think him or his reps want to potentially damage his image in front of the largest audience imaginable? Even if they thought they had something good or funny for him to do, there's always the chance it could blow up in his face.

Wouldn't expect him to do any dancing, either. The guy was picked because he's attractive but seems down-to-earth and personable, has a good sense of humor, and has already proven he can handle this type of production.

And he's not going to be their little monkey.

"The only downside here? Jackman is the front man for, perhaps, this year’s biggest money losing movie."

That would have to be Emile Hirsch or Eddie Murphy. But yeah, that "Wolverine" trailer looks baaaaad.

Sometimes I tune in for the host. I'd be much more likely to watch it again if they brought back Steve Martin again, for example.

Can someone please explain what the hell lazarus is going on about?

AUSTRALIA will probably be hitting DVD right about the time of the ceremony. Having Jackman as host gives it plenty of free publicity.

I was going on about Joe Leydon's comment that Jackman "can sing all the nominated songs".

Didn't know I came off that left field. It wasn't exactly T. Holly-level stuff.

You know, Joe, I write what I actually think.

You don't know what I do know. You don't know when I have been scooped and when I have known to keep my mouth shut. You don't seem capable of understanding when some are upstaging and undermining others by rolling stories out to those who have no ethics.

With all respect, you don't get it and you don't have the information to know the difference. And you embrace the notions that keep getting people fired and lowering the standards by which we all live.

Here's my basic principle... very little of the entertainment news is actually news. It is someone releasing information so that it will either have the biggest audience, the kind of audience they want, or the spin they want the information to be presented with. It's not complex.

All I do is remind people - which you don't like hearing - that there is a price to pay for everything being rolled out by gossip... same as in the early AICN days. And that price doesn't affect you, so you don't care. Selfish, not progressive.

Okay, but what does Jackman hosting the Oscars have to do with the collapse of the auto industry and layoffs at this 'Reelz' thing? Aside from the fact that those matter and the other one is fluff, I don't see the connection.

Jackson didn't, from what I know, sign up with any qualifiers as to what he will or will not do.

Of course, he is relying on the producers to show class, which they have, from the start.

That is the only connection, J-Mc.

The point is, this is not news that needs leaking or breaking or jumping on prematurely... except to self-aggrandize. And on whatever level releases like this are timed, it damages The Academy to release it poorly, hand forced by a leak from someone selling a version of the story to a "reporter" who is interested in "the scoop" and not the truth.

That's all.

Is it me or did The Academy just commit Hara-Kiri today? This feels like the end of the line.

The reason you ALWAYS get a comic to host the thing is because the whole idea of art in competition with other art is silly. Someone is needed to get up and establish that right off the bat... which even the worst hosts have done. I sound like a broken record every year saying this but THAT IS THE JOKE.

By recruiting a non-comic personality for the job, -- especially after the worst year for movies in a generation -- they're taking the process more seriously than it's ever been taken. And making it Wolverine, a month or so before the next Wolverine movie, is kind of sad. It really is the Oscar parody scene in Tropic Thunder brought to life.

If ever there was a year to bring Chris Rock back and give him carte blanche, it's this one. Hell, for the Obama jokes alone he'd be worth it.

David: Actually, I know quite a bit about journalism. And in our very limited area of that field -- as you yourself admit, "very little of the entertainment news is actually news" -- the name of the Oscarcast host is, well, news. The Academy obviously wanted to control when it would release the info about Jackman. If, as you seem to imply, you knew about this beforehand, but decided to play ball with the Academy, that is, of course, your prerogative. That makes you a good sport. Nikki definitely knew, and decided not to play along. This makes her a good journalist. You want to debate this at any major journalism school in this country? Fine, let's go ahead. But as a j-school grad, let me warn you: You'll get laughed off the stage if you try some obvious stunt like referencing the collapse of the auto industry to support your case.

David, there are time when I suspect that, like many political reporters who get too close to politicians they cover (in other words, like many of the folks who covered John McCain), you've gotten too close to the people you cover. Yeah, I know, I know: As you never tire of telling us, you got principles because you know oh so many things, much more than a mere mortal like me, but you don't report them because it might hurt somebody's feelings. And that, too, is your prerogative. But don't be surprised if some of us wonder whether you've become, well, co-opted.

Crow, Chris Rock was the worst host out of there recent revolving door of Oscar hosts. Not least of all because everyone had already heard his jokes on chat shows as she talked up his appearance. Oh, there's no acting at the Oscars? Wow. Shocking revelation there.

Isn't Billy Crystal usually seen as one of the best hosts? He sings and it's not like Jackman doesn't have a sense of humour to crack a few jokes. And, hey, he won an Emmy for his hosting job at the TONYs so there's something there, surely.

Oh, and haven't we already established that the Oscar ceremony is hemorrhaging ratings points at a rapid rate (or so the negative nellies will tell us) so clearly the lefty comedian thing just isn't working.

And, hey, maybe not having a comedian on board will help make the ceremony go FASTER. No need for pointless skits (as funny as they can be) and weird acrobatics crews.

Here's the newsflash, Joe... if you knew shit about it, you would know something about it.

You think you know what Nikki knows because you read what she writes. That makes you a 100% sucker.

If you had the slightest understanding of how "news" is processed though Nikki, you would surely still be a 75% sucker.

Please believe what you choose to believe. We all get the representation we deserve.

Representation or reputation?

I think this is great. Not every host has to bring the funny. Why put on all that pressure?

Australia cemented Hugh can't carry on name, and his heavy involvement with Wolverine, as a producer, will make or break his short-term future. Hugh passed up Bond and a few other projects because he either has horrible intuition or he gets shit advice, such as his wife supposedly telling him to pass on Bond.

As for the Oscars, he's going to belt out at least one tune, maybe a not a full number, but something quite theatrical. It's the ultimate platform to show range and if Wolverine has issues, then he's going to need people to perceive him differently. I highly doubt he's going to just stand in a tux and be daper all night.

I'm fairly certain there will be comedy on display that night in one form or another. I'm frankly over the snark.

jackman is an old-fashioned all-rounder - he can act, sing, dance, plus he's a looker with charm to spare and a cheeky sense of humour - so i think he'll hold his own up there.

they are obviously trying something different, going in a new direction for the ceremony, and really, even if it doesn't work, could it be any more dire than it has been lately anyway?

Considering the comedians weren't bringing anybody new into the Oscar-watching arena why not something different?

Camel, with respect, do you know what Hugh Jackman hosting the Oscars is like?

It's like Hugh Jackman hosting the Oscars!

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