Some very insightful post-mortem comments on the Oscars.
Re the Jackman hosting --
*He did NOT bomb as someone alleged in the earlier part of this thread. His Opening number drew an instantaneous STANDING OVATION from his peers ( most of the nominees were seated in the front part of the hall) and you can hear the thundering applause from the general audience as well as the gurgle of laughter as the opening number went on. Plus, one does not say "Thank You" at the end if you think your efforts were not truly well-appreciated.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Terhj8mjPwY
*I do not know what the situation was for the more recent Oscars, but Jackman once shared that he was left pretty much on his own to devise his opening number. He narrates that in their first meeting, he was given a number of minutes for that part but no other help was offered. His own team found the right team to write the Opening Number - which turned out to be relevant, amusing and funny, well-segmented, and which showered attention on the nominees and not on the host ( although he turned out to be gracious, seemed sincere, self-deprecating, and who performed his gig very well). Perhaps his being a major film star added to his appeal to the audience in the hall?
One of the members of that team, Joel Stein, wrote about the effort (and how Jackman was with them all the way) in his column in Time magazine. I think the team was not really known for writing for awards shows but probably had a feel for the public pulse. The number eventually won an EMMY for the writing team!
*The number continues to get attention - a recent check shows a close-to-10 million hits on YouTube, more than any other Opening numbers of recent history.
*The other major musical number ( The Musical is Back) won audience approval for its showy spectacle ( compared to the Opening number and provided the right balance) and featured not just a known pop star ( Beyoncé) but also two love teams from that year's movie musical triumphs ( Mamma Mia! and Hairspray). It was worked out together with Baz Luhrmann. It heralded the return of the genre. Les Miserables, Into the Woods, Pitch Perfect being the more recent commercial hits.
*Also, the 2009 show did not shower too much attention on the host alone. I remember two distinct features which were not just informative but also appealing. The show featured slices of the fine attributes of film-making narrated by other teams of movie stars ( movie audiences want to see other beloved faces, too). Also, it innovated on how the acting nominees were presented ( with other actors giving individual tributes to each nominee) and instead of lumping together the best picture nominees ( as it did in the 2015 Oscars) spent a bit more time on the individual movies ( the audience is there to root for the movies they liked best, not for the host).
*He also shared that there was a monitor in the wings ( or wherever the host stayed) because he said he was elated to have Steven Spielberg watching parts of the show with him. Spielberg who was part of the group/committee which planned and oversaw the Oscar ceremonies then was actually the one who offered the hosting gig to Jackman.
*One other comment offered by CBS re that gig - during the intervals, Jackman sang, joked around, and offered a bit of food to some starving people in their gowns - it kept the energy level high and that resonated to the audience in the hall so they looked like they were actually enjoying the show.
*Btw, it was a different set of producers at that time. I think film producer Laurence Mark ( Dreamgirls) was one of them, who will soon be working with Jackman on GREATEST SHOWMAN ON EARTH as producer for this new live-action movie musical.
Updated On: 2/24/15 at 07:56 PM
eliminate the tribute to dead people (should I clap or not clap) 
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