# How did Seth MacFarlane do as Oscar host? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 25, 2013, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-seth-macfarlane-do-as-oscar-host/651352 "2013-02-25T15:25:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-seth-macfarlane-do-as-oscar-host/651352/1 "2013-02-25T15:25:09Z")
If you watched it, how do you think he did? ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-seth-macfarlane-do-as-oscar-host/651352/2 "2013-02-25T15:26:50Z")
I thought he did great and had a good balance of edgy and reverence. I hope they have him back again. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-seth-macfarlane-do-as-oscar-host/651352/3 "2013-02-25T15:29:16Z")
I thought he did a good job. Not up to the standards of greatness set by Johnny Carson and Billy Crystal their best years, but not bad at all. I laughed. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-seth-macfarlane-do-as-oscar-host/651352/4 "2013-02-25T15:32:54Z")
He did fine – somewhat above average. There were some awkward parts of the ceremony, but nothing that he had anything to do with. I liked the sock puppet version of the movie “Flight”. And the joke about actors getting inside the head of Abraham Lincoln (too soon?). ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-seth-macfarlane-do-as-oscar-host/651352/5 "2013-02-25T15:35:13Z")
I found him surprisingly non-loathsome. I mean, I still hate him, but he did a decent job. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-seth-macfarlane-do-as-oscar-host/651352/6 "2013-02-25T15:52:43Z")
I thought he did great, as did most of the people at the party I attended. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-seth-macfarlane-do-as-oscar-host/651352/7 "2013-02-25T15:54:23Z")
I thought he did pretty well. I didn’t hate the musical numbers like most people seemed to, and except for a couple of tasteless jokes, he played to his strengths, including singing. The sock puppets and the Plummer joke were awesome, and the tap-dancing with Radcliffe and Gordon-Levitt was very cute. The sound problems were terrible, especially with Chenowith at the end. I’m going between a B and a B+. I wouldn’t object to having him back again. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-seth-macfarlane-do-as-oscar-host/651352/8 "2013-02-25T16:11:38Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > I liked the sock puppet version of the movie “Flight”. It might have been fun to do sock puppet versions of all the big movies. And I liked his joke during the commercials leading up to the awards night, “I’m Seth MacFarlane (ask your kids) and I’ll be hosting the Oscars (ask your parents).” ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-seth-macfarlane-do-as-oscar-host/651352/9 "2013-02-25T16:16:28Z")
He was terribly sexist and crude - but his stuff always is. No surprise. What did everyone expect? I hope Jimmy Fallon hosts next time. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-seth-macfarlane-do-as-oscar-host/651352/10 "2013-02-25T16:31:37Z")
> [@well\_he\_s\_back](#): > > He was terribly sexist and crude - but his stuff always is. No surprise. What did everyone expect? Terribly so? Really? He was pretty mild compared to Chris Rock (Oscars) or Ricky Gervais (Globes) when they’ve hosted those things. Seth had a few edgy jokes (mostly poking fun at himself, ie the clips from the future) but mostly kept that side of his humor in check. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-seth-macfarlane-do-as-oscar-host/651352/11 "2013-02-25T16:32:40Z")
He suffered from “Seth McFarlane Syndrome” – dragging out a joke until it stops being funny any more. It made no sense to say that everyone hated him for that “They showed their boobs” song, and then actually show the entire song – it should have been a quick hit; no more than five seconds. It dragged on and stopped being funny. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-seth-macfarlane-do-as-oscar-host/651352/12 "2013-02-25T16:50:11Z")
Boobs never stop being funny. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-seth-macfarlane-do-as-oscar-host/651352/13 "2013-02-25T16:54:11Z")
How much is written by him and how much is given to him? I was disappointed only because I adore him and was hoping for his brand of humor throughout. It just felt like he was doing the best he could with what he was given. Am I off-base on that? ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-seth-macfarlane-do-as-oscar-host/651352/14 "2013-02-25T16:57:31Z")
The boob song was funny, but I can see how people might find it objectionable. That’s the only time I thought he was close to crossing a line. I actually found him quite reverent overall. He may not have been as good as Crystal at his peak; but miles ahead of Crystal’s performance last year which was terribly unfunny. In general though I think people are way too hard on Oscar hosts (I actually liked John Stewart). I wouldn’t mind having him back, but like others have said, Tina and Amy would also be great to see. I also think Neil Patrick Harris would be a good choice. ---
**Author:** ![Eugene\_of\_Sandwich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c37758/32.png) [@Eugene\_of\_Sandwich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eugene_of_Sandwich)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-seth-macfarlane-do-as-oscar-host/651352/15 "2013-02-25T17:01:47Z")
> [@well\_he\_s\_back](#): > > \*\*He was terribly sexist and crude - but his stuff always is. No surprise. What did everyone expect? \*\* My thoughts as well. He get’s an “A” for being quite serviceable and hitting most if not all of his marks but hey! It’s Seth McFarland c’mon! ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-seth-macfarlane-do-as-oscar-host/651352/16 "2013-02-25T17:03:26Z")
He was tedious and smug. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-seth-macfarlane-do-as-oscar-host/651352/17 "2013-02-25T17:04:27Z")
A little too self-deprecating and smarmy (he always comes off as smarmy to me, though). I don’t think he is nearly as bad as folks (not here) are saying. I think he was pretty average. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-seth-macfarlane-do-as-oscar-host/651352/18 "2013-02-25T17:05:32Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > The boob song was funny, but I can see how people might find it objectionable. The fact that several actresses mentioned had the good humor enough to film reaction shots for the bit, and that the host’s chief goal is to entertain the audience in the theater - not us at home - I don’t think there’s much to object to. It’s not like the actresses are surprised to find out that lots of people have seen their boobs. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-seth-macfarlane-do-as-oscar-host/651352/19 "2013-02-25T17:05:35Z")
He was OK. I loathe Billy Crystal, so whenever anybody else hosts, I usually think they’re alright. I kind of like MacFarlane himself but I hate his shows, so except for the jokes that were just hackwork or felt like cut jokes from _Family Guy_, he did fine. I hope they actually do get Poehler and Fey next year because I expect they’ll be much funnier. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-seth-macfarlane-do-as-oscar-host/651352/20 "2013-02-25T17:08:06Z")
I thought he was great. One of the few hosts that made me want to watch the thing, and not read about it the next day. The boobs song was hilarious, and the traditional song and dance stuff was surprisingly fun to watch. He’s a good showman who obviously loves Hollywood but isn’t in awe of it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-did-seth-macfarlane-do-as-oscar-host/651352.md?page=2)