The Best And Worst Oscar Hosts Of All Time, Ranked
Given recent events, you’re probably aware that the Oscars can be a mixed bag when it comes to entertaining the masses. A particularly cringy exchange between celebs or a skit-gone-wrong can totally derail the show — and it's up to the host to save the day. But as we've seen, some hosts soar while others sink. So which hosts are the best, and which are the worst? By adding the celebrity's overall hosting experience to the public's reaction to their performance, we've calculated the best and worst Oscars hosts of all time. Some hosts had that special something, but others definitely didn't...
40. Amy Schumer
When: 2022
Standout moment: She caused some controversy
There were so many upsets and controversies at the 2022 Oscars that it’s easy to let some slip past. However, host Amy Schumer is considered one of the least popular Oscars hosts, perhaps because of a joke that didn’t happen. The comedian revealed how she planned a bit regarding the tragedy on the set of Rust. Needless to say, the idea didn’t go down well with fans, and it might explain the hit to Schumer’s popularity.
39. Anne Hathaway & James Franco
When: 2011
Standout moment: A Bob Hope hologram
Widely considered one of the worst Oscars pairings ever, Anne Hathaway and James Franco had completely clashing energies. Hathaway bordered on manic, buzzing around like a mosquito on 300 cups of coffee. Franco, on the other hand, seemed so bored and lethargic it was almost contagious to the guests. The Bob Hope hologram was the highlight, though, simply because it gave the viewers a reprieve from the disturbing duo. Better luck next time, guys!
38. Seth MacFarlane
When: 2013
Standout moment: He pushed boundaries a little too far
Family Guy writer Seth MacFarlane’s humor has always been divisive, but this has never been more clear than when he took to the Oscars stage. It was the wrong venue for cracks about which female actors appeared topless on-screen, and it hasn’t aged any better since. Still, MacFarlane seems to have learned a valuable lesson if his inclusive hit Sci-Fi TV show The Orville is anything to go by.
37. Steve Martin & Alec Baldwin
When: 2010
Standout moment: The odd couple
Both Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin are great hosts as individuals, but together they just had weird chemistry. It wasn’t that they were bad so much as they didn’t gel or bounce off each other, leading to some weird comedic timing that felt almost like two different acts with awkward pauses in between. To their credit, the duo did get some laughs at Helen Mirren’s expense — many of them from the Dame herself.