Anne Hathaway Hosting Oscars, Come Again?

In 1989, someone at the Academy had a great idea, “Host? we don’t need no stinkin’ host!” Making 89 the first and hopefully last year of a host-less Oscars.

This year the Academy has another bright idea, a man and woman co-host. The man? none other than the red eyed Pineapple Express actor,James Franco, and the woman? (drumroll) It’s Bride Wars actress,Anne Hathaway, huh? come again?

Even Anne Hathaway was stumped as to why she was asked to host next year’s Oscars stating, “I’m still a little speechless about it, to be honest,” adding, “It seemed like such a wacky and wonderful thing to do.”

“Wacky” indeed. “Wonderful” we’ll see. “Speechless” It’s live TV Hathaway, you may want to avoid this one.

Usually I can figure these types of moves out, you know, the studio hiring Hansel to host, because he’s so hot right now, but Hathaway? I’m not saying it’s a bad idea but let’s just take a look at some of the past hosts (in no particular order) to gauge Hathaway’s chances on the big night, Billy Crystal, Whoopi, Letterman, Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, Chris Rock, Ellen, and lastly, the surprise hit, the burley Wolverine, Hugh Jackman. What am I getting at here? I admit it, I’m not so sure either.

Hathaway was nominated for an Oscar, so maybe that’s why she was, wait, no, that can’t be it. Could it have been Franco’s big idea? After all, Franco signed on before Hathaway so, maybe it was him that figured a little eye candy of a co-host was not such a bad idea, “James Franco was attached and agreed to do it before I had signed up,” says Hathaway. “getting to do it alongside of him was too good of an opportunity.”

Let’s face it, Anne Hathaway is an odd choice to host anything, much less Hollywood biggest night, and by “odd” I mean “wacky,” to coin Hathaway’s assessment of her own participation.

Maybe the host-less version of 1989 was not such a bad idea after all.

The Oscars air on ABC, March 7th 2011.

Anne Hathaway and Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President Tom Sherak announced the nominees for the 82nd Academy Awards on February 2, 2010.