People News

Oscar host DeGeneres mixed bag of reviews

By Stone Martindale Feb 26, 2007, 17:38 GMT

Ellen DeGeneres was comparatively a mild mannered host at last night's Academy Awards.  Her usual wry style and under the radar zingers either charmed people or bored them, depending on whose reviews you read.

DeGeneres noted the diversity of the industry. "If there weren't blacks, Jews, and gays," she said to applause, "there would be no Oscars."

During breaks between awards DeGeneres went into the audience and did a cute bit with Spielberg and her digital camera, and in the in between award process proffered a script to the willing to play along with the gag, director Martin Scorsese.

All this was played out right on the heels of a visibily smarting Mark Wahlberg who was seated directly behind Scorsese, after he had just lost his bid for best supporting actor to Alan Arkin.

Oscar telecast producer Laura Ziskin put together a funny song and dance schtick with Will Ferrell, Jack Black, and John C. Reilly about the Oscar's snub of comedic movies. 

Michael Mann put together a montage of clips meant to portray American history as seen through movies. It wasn't clear what the intent was, and why we were watching this.

The funniest editing moment was when Al Gore and Leonardo DiCaprio were going on about green awareness and reducing carbon emmissions, when the cameras panned to Jerry Seinfeld, who everyone knows owns about six mega luxury homes that require copious amounts of energy to run, and over 50+ high powered gas guzzling sports cars like Porsches, Ferraris and other un-earth friendly vehicles.  Seinfeld will not be driving a Prius hybrid anytime soon.

 



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MoonracerFeb 26th, 2007 - 19:09:36

I thought Ellen did a great job, it was one of the best awards shows I have seen in many years.

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BGFeb 26th, 2007 - 19:21:08

Ellen did a GREAT job, no matter what my mother-in-law says.

Lesbian comediannes are the FUNNIEST women EVER!!!

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timjhFeb 26th, 2007 - 19:29:05

Ellen did a great job. Mark Wahlberg wasn't the one hurting, that was Eddie Murphy. Maybe he'll figure out that he can't do one real movie and then regurgitate the same crap on the public that he's been doing for years now.

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UnrulyJulieFeb 26th, 2007 - 19:41:47

Ellen was dull. Her schtick might be fine for a tv talk show but it was too unsophisticated for the Oscars. She was too hell-bent on being uncontroversial. And let's face it', it's just not the Oscars without some trenchant political humor and liberal outrage.

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anonymousFeb 26th, 2007 - 19:58:36

Ellen was funny! Unlike all of those tired old men who stand at the podium and make lame jokes, she is refreshing and made the program something that outsiders - we legions of fans not in 'the industry' could enjoy and laugh at.

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lkratzFeb 26th, 2007 - 20:05:13

Ellen did an excellent job hosting the Oscars last evening. Actually, although the event was still long --they always are -- I felt this was one of the best produced Oscar Award Shows that I have seen. The show had an organic continuity that held together. Let's face it... the Oscars is not about the host ... it is about the awards. Ellen should be invited back to host the Oscars again.

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fizzpopFeb 26th, 2007 - 20:10:35

I think Ellen was cooool. get a grip if you really think anything more than low keey will go over with a MASS audience, under the circumstances I think she was the best bit!!

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bandana bluecheeseFeb 26th, 2007 - 20:39:00

Bored me to death. Had to turn it off. Ellen made Whoopi look good.

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nywatcherFeb 26th, 2007 - 20:41:09

The show dragged and was full of lame comedic bits. I thought Johnny Carson was her idol? She fell far short of Johnny, or Billy Crystal for that matter.

What was up with the sound effects choir? Like we really needed to see that? They looked like out-of-work actors hoping for their big break.

And the shape shifters (excuse me, modern dancers)? If I wanted to watch adults contort themselves into different shapes and misrepresent themselves as various things (a bus? a penguin?) I would pay more attention to the 2008 presidential candidates.

Why can't they do an artsy-fartsy award and then an acting award, and then an artsy-fartsy award and then an acting award? It would certainly make it more interesting!

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MeltdownFeb 26th, 2007 - 20:41:52

I thought I was the only one who thought it was terrible. I couldn't understand what everyone was laughing at. Nothing was funny. Bring back Steve Martin or Billy Crystal. Or prop up the rotting corpse of Bob Hope.

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WoobergooberFeb 26th, 2007 - 20:43:01

Oh I get it now, SHE'S GAY!!! Now that's funny!!!! Yuck, yuck, yuck!

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AYFeb 26th, 2007 - 21:23:59

She was just OK, i expecteed more. it wasn't extraordinary memorable performance though.

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nollidFeb 26th, 2007 - 21:24:54

phenomenal job. totally classy, funny, and provided the right amount of distraction throughout the night. one of the best hosts in a long while.

if you found ellen boring and 'had to turn it off', you have a terrible sense of humor. seriously.

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TexmanFeb 26th, 2007 - 21:26:14

Ellen was boring and very unoriginal. Where did she get that crappy material?. I expected more from her.

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tlmontanaFeb 26th, 2007 - 21:27:33

she did a great job. Best awards show in a long time.

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PaulaFeb 26th, 2007 - 21:42:53

I have to say I had really high hopes and expectations for Ellen. I was a little disappointed. I think some things worked and some didn't. The problems is, they all need to work in order to make it a successful hosting night. I think she had more but held back for some reason.

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OscarellaFeb 26th, 2007 - 21:44:33

The ads this year were GREAT...did anyone love the Wes Anderson American Express one? And the GM sad robot? That was wonderful-the ads kicked the super bowl's butt...

The entire show was a bit heavy Lesbo though, Queen Latifah, Jodie Foster, Melissa and her 'wife' Ellen and Portia...ay yi yi

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CanadianAndreaFeb 26th, 2007 - 23:48:01

I thought Ellen was fantastic and authentic! She was herself and brought her own humour and flare to the award show. It was clean, funny and a breath of fresh air. Love that lady!

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senFeb 27th, 2007 - 03:49:57

Ellen was actually the only best thing in the oscars. She was very funny. She is so amazing!

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MarkFeb 27th, 2007 - 04:05:04

Ellen did a really commendible job with this year's Oscar presentation. I thought both the vacuum cleaner piece (the rolling papers must belong to the band!) and the Martin Scorsese film script routine were very funny.
They've come a long way in streamlining the show. Thank God those lame, time consuming and useless 'Solid Gold Dancers' numbers are gone! Ellen does a great job of melding into the theme and keeping the show moving.
Billy Crystal's interludes always seemed like a pause in the show for Billy to try out ideas for another Vegas stand-up routine.

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ΆμΆιΆυΆρΆυΆρFeb 27th, 2007 - 05:59:35

Billy Crystal or Robin Williams would have me on the floor laughing to death after the first 2 minutes of Oscar! I can't see why Ellen was chosen, or if she did get to play the host, can there be a better opening script?

I am with you:

bandana bluecheeseFeb 26th, 2007 - 20:39:00
Bored me to death. Had to turn it off. Ellen made Whoopi look good.

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Straight ManFeb 27th, 2007 - 07:31:04

Ellen managed to be funny without being mean-spirited. More power to her. I think she's sweet, even if she does play for the other guys/gals.

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huh?Feb 27th, 2007 - 13:00:14

Ellen hosted the Oscars?
They gave awards to movies?
There were movies worth giving awards to?

That's like giving an award to mouse turds because they're easier to clean up than cow sh!t...

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clown dottieFeb 27th, 2007 - 15:08:46

For her first time out, I think Ellen did a fantastic job at the Oscars; how many of us show up the first day on the job and do an excellent job? She did great as far as I'm concerned, and she'll get better with each succeeding Oscar Night just as we get better on the job on the job;

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