Chris Rock As Oscars Host Receives Mixed Response

Chris Rock has been confirmed to host the Academy Awards in 2016. Variety has the news.

“Chris Rock has been confirmed as host of the 88th Academy Awards, producers David Hill and Reginald Hudlin announced on Wednesday… The veteran comedian takes over for as MC after Neil Patrick Harris hosted last year’s telecast, which drew the show’s lowest ratings in six years.”

Variety adds that Rock previously hosted the Oscars in 2005. He also is close with new Oscar co-producer Reginald Hudlin, who directed the pilot to Rock’s former television series Everybody Hates Chris. One would think that such a veteran comedian as Rock would be celebrated for this honor. However, that hasn’t quite been the case. The comments after an article on the topic by Entertainment Weekly are very anti-Rock.

“Ugh, he was terrible as emcee the first time around. He tried his brand of edgy and it didn’t fit well with the Oscars at all,” says commenter @Blueducky.

“Nooo, maybe because I just don’t find him funny and last time he hosted was terrible in my opinion,” writes @PurpleApple.

However, the comments after an article on the topic by the Hollywood Reporter were more balanced.

“Chris has aged considerably and hasn’t churned out much noteworthy works in a while… risky risky,” says commenter mizuno10k.

“In my opinion he is in the top of great past host. So yeah, this is great news if he gets it,” says Patrick Pierre.

The responses to Chris Rock hosting the Academy Awards in 2016 on Twitter are very mixed.

Chris Rock received mostly negative reviews for his hosting gig at the Oscars in 2005. Indiewire did not think Rock was up to the task.

“From the moment Rock made it onstage, he was rushing through his material, skipping over pauses for laughter and applause whenever he sensed a joke wasn’t landing. Even if the bits themselves were good, Rock didn’t handle the lack of an audience response particularly well.”

Indiewire adds that Rock’s most obvious lows included a joke about Jude Law and a misguided sketch about The Passion of the Christ. The Associated Press seemed to like Chris Rock more and thought he was edgy.

“Rock kept it clean compared to the profanity that fills his standup comedy routine. But he slung the mud in a way that kept the audience laughing.”

There have been some people calling for Chris Rock to return to the Oscars after several years of poorly received hosts, which include Ellen DeGeneres and Seth MacFarlane. In January of 2015, the Los Angeles Times wrote an article titled, “Why the Oscars should be all over Chris Rock.” The most interesting thing about the story, in retrospect, is that columnist Steve Zeitchik predicted that Rock would not get the gig again anytime soon. Mr. Zeitchik is most likely eating his words now.

The Academy Awards will be held next year on Sunday, February 28. Last year, ratings for the Academy Awards fell 16 percent from 2014. Perhaps Chris Rock’s brand of controversial comedy can save the show this year. What do you think of Chris Rock hosting the Academy Awards? Let us know all your thoughts in the comments section.

[Feature photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images]