I held off on commenting about this until I knew they were more than just rumours, but it turns out that Nikke Finke's scoop has been confirmed by Entertainment Weekly.
The selection of Anne Hathaway doesn't surprise me so much. She did seem a natural fit onstage with Hugh Jackman during his opening number for the 2009 show, and she's clearly a charming and beloved young member of the industry. That sits quite well with me (for now).
It's James Franco that's had a lot of people scratching their heads. I don't believe a nominee has ever hosted the show in my lifetime, but more perplexing than that is that Franco just doesn't seem like a host personality. Maybe he's a natural and I just don't know it yet. His involvement in this year's telecast also raises the question of how it will affect his Best Actor campaign. Will it earn him additional goodwill and respect? Will it overburden him with more obligations and preparation time on top of working the circuit and promoting 127 Hours? Interesting...
At any rate, I'm pleased to see AMPAS taking a chance on an unconventional choice. Last year's "perfect-on-paper" teaming of Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin fell flat on its face. Perhaps this unlikely duo will be a much-needed shot in the arm.
