Seth MacFarlane was an unusual choice as host for this year’s Oscars. To liven things up, he’s breaking a 40-year tradition on Thursday when the 2013 Oscar nominations are announced live. On Jan. 8, ABC network officials announced that MacFarlane would join actress Emma Stone when she names this year’s Academy Awards nominees. This will be the first time since 1972 that an Oscar host has participated in the nominations announcement.
MacFarlane and Stone will unveil the nominations at 8:30 a.m. EST on Thursday, Jan. 10 from the Academy’s Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, where hundreds of media reps from around the world will be gathered.
Since the first nominations announcement in 1964, one or more co-announcers has joined the Academy president at the event. This year the Academy will break with tradition when MacFarlane, who was named Oscar show host in October, joins Stone on Oscar nominations morning. Charlton Heston was the only other show host to participate in the nominations announcement. He did so in 1972, four decades ago.
ABC officials announced in October that Seth MacFarlane was tapped to host the 2013 Oscars, a gig usually reserved for the hottest comedians and actors. After being named as the host for the upcoming Academy Awards, MacFarlane joked, “My thoughts upon hearing the news were, one, I will do my utmost to live up to the high standards set forth by my predecessors; and two, I hope they don't find out I hosted the Charlie Sheen roast." He then added more seriously, “It’s truly an overwhelming privilege to be asked to host the Oscars.” This will be Seth’s first appearance on the Oscars stage.
Seth MacFarlane joins a very distinguished list of Oscar hosts. In the past decade, the following stars have stepped up to host the Academy Awards:
- Billy Crystal (2011)
- James Franco and Anne Hathaway (2010)
- Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin (2009)
- Hugh Jackman (2008)
- Jon Stewart (2007)
- Ellen DeGeneres (2006)
- Jon Stewart (2005)
- Chris Rock (2005)
- Billy Crystal (2003)
- Steve Martin (2002)
Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2012 will be presented on Oscar Sunday, Feb. 24 at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.
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