James Franco a 'Disaster' at Oscars; 'Draft Billy Crystal' Movement Begins

By Rob Shuter Posted Feb 28th 2011 08:51AM

The reviews are rolling in for James Franco's hosting performance at last night's Oscars, and they aren't good: "Distracted and blasé," writes The New York Times, while The Hollywood Reporter comes right out and says he straight-up "bombed." My spies behind the scenes tell me producers knew before the show was even over that trying to go after a young, tech-happy demo by hiring James and Anne Hathaway was a huge mistake.

"This was a disaster," one TV executive tells me. "Before the show began something was wrong with James. His live interview on ABC backstage should have been a warning sign. He was awkward and looked as if he knew what a terrible evening was ahead for all of us."

Throughout the night, James seemed to be distracted with his cell phone and more concerned with making and sending off little videos to his Twitter followers. He seriously created and published more than 20 short and grainy videos and even published a photo of Oscars writer Bruce Vilanch sleeping at his computer. (So, THAT explains the lack of jokes!)

WATCH: James Getting a 'Belated Hand Massage' From Anne, Moments Before the Final Act >>

Lack of preparation is another factor to the rough evening. James admitted that he had only the weekends to rehearse for the biggest performance of his life, choosing to fly back to the East Coast weekdays to attend classes at Yale University. Even so, his energy level surprised everyone including executives at ABC.

"I'm not sure what happened," one insider tells me. "At rehearsals James and Anne were on fire. It seemed 20 minutes into the show as if James lost interest and just gave up while nerves might have gotten the better of Anne."

Anne has to be given points for trying hard, especially in the face of having a sluggish and ineffective co-host.

Producers immediately took note when eight-time host Billy Crystal walked on stage and the audience acted as if a grown-up had finally shown up to break up an obnoxious backyard party.

"When you're upstaged by a hologram of Bob Hope, you know it's time to go home," my TV exec source snarked.

Which is exactly where James and Anne will find themselves watching next year. Academy sources tell me they are already hoping Billy will return again next year and provide the evening with the one thing it totally lacked -- energy!

Tags: James Franco, oscars

Comments

(315)

Monday 28 February

By Barbara

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Huh?? I thought they did really well. They seemed to be playing off each other--you know, perky one and low-key one. I was very entertained.

By Nancy

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I agree with Barbara 100%

By squirrelgp

What show were you watching? HE WAS AWFUL !!! Half the time he looked as if he was going to sleep...AWFUL...

By Karen

You must have set your entertainment bar very low Barbara. This was terrible. Akward and boring. The hosts came off silly and if these writers are getting paid for those jokes that fell flat time and again it's time for Oscar to get his money back. Enough of this show, time to turn the channel.

By Bob

Barbara, you must be entertained by watching paint dry also !

By The Taxman

No Barbara, not entertaining. I am in the middle of some tax appointments today but couldn't let this slide. James was so bad I felt sorry for him. Like the way I would feel if my son tried something like this. I am more entertaining with my tax clients than James was. I felt sorry for Anne who tried to catch James but just couldn't hold him up...

By ofalaska

What's Franco's trip? When he's not acting he going around in drag, blank-faced and boring. The perfect L.A. cypher of a human being...NOT!!!

By lavelle

it was worse than a never ending skit on SNL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Nenny

I agree totally! They were adorable, dressed to perfection and had charisma.

By big time liberal

when was the oscars on. i was watching rerund the view. was glued to my seat.

By May

i loved it...sometimes other host try to be too funny and they end up drunk!! but they were perfect!!!!!!

By mhcsls

Uh....Poor Anne was stressed having to hold the entire show up on her tiny shoulders and James...well I think he should have put down the joint before showing up last night!

By ethan

leave Barbara alone! i'm with her...I'm a big fan of Franco's work and I thought he did just fine. he walks to the beat of his own drum. don't listen to these haters barbara, they just simply aren't intelligent enough to "get" it.

By brdz63

@ethan "Not intelligent enough to "get" it?" What was to "get"? The writers sending out James Franco in drag for a cheap laugh? The opening skit where the hosts(s) are inserted into the nominated work like Conan O'brien did in the Emmys a couple years ago, and Jack Black & Sara Michelle Gellar did on the MTV Movie awards in like 2001? Because I "got" that... Thaught it was unoriginal, unfunny, and lifless, but I "got" it.

By Lee

I think that James was better than Anne. She was over the top with her "adoration" of some of the presenters.
Not only do they need to stick with a more mature host, they need to lose the BS crap that just helps lead the show into overtime. Did we really need to hear Anne Hathaway sing or some of the other filler stuff? NO. Kirk Douglas was ridiculous. Yes, he's old and I'm sorry that he had a stroke but it WAS NOT CUTE or funny when he kept torturing the nominees. It was mean and took up valuable time.

By Diane

You must either be very,very young with little experience with good entertainers, or your standards for excellence are very low. Worst Hosts I have ever seen and I've been watching Oscars since 1954!!!!!

By bigD

I'm with you Barbara. It's probably the older folks that the Oscars don't care about that didn't enjoy the younger hosts. I thought James Franco was cute and Anne was her usual chipper self. The ratings will tell the tale.

Tuesday 01 March

By Phlegmbot

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Sooo, you've never, ever watched television before I take it.

By Kermonk

Aha. How old are you? Are young? They were trying to catch younger viewers.

I thing Franco looked like he was drunk, or doing drugs or both and Anne was just way over the top most of the time.

By John

The entire show was a disaster. Franco on drugs and Hathaway, although a good actress, acted like a 12 year old cheerleaders. Nothing funny, just totally awkward. Until they bring Billy Crystal back, this is my last time watching this disaster.

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