Seth MacFarlane to Host 85th Academy Awards

As the writer/director of this year’s very successful “Ted” starring Mark Wahlberg, Seth MacFarlane certainly caught the eye of the movie world. Obviously, many in the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences were fans of the TV series McFarlane created and provided a range of voices for, from “American Dad!” and “The Cleveland Show” to his enormously popular “Family Guy,” which has been going strong for well over a decade. But apart from “Ted,” McFarlane’s movie work has been limited to a few voices and an appearance in the live-action “Tooth Fairy” starring Dwayne “the Rock” Johnson. So it was with a fair amount of surprise that the Motion Picture Academy confirmed today that MacFarlane will host the 85th Academy Awards which take place on February 24, 2013.

“We are thrilled to have Seth MacFarlane host the Oscars,” wrote Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, this year's producers, in a press release. “His performing skills blend perfectly with our ideas for making the show entertaining and fresh. He will be the consummate host, and we are so happy to be working with him.”

MacFarlane’s recent hosting of “Saturday Night Live” must have served as a public audition tape for the prestigious Academy Awards gig. Certainly his impressive repertoire of voices and his smooth singing style will be called into play during the Oscar broadcast. Will he be able to keep his natural irreverence in check or will the ABC censors have their finger on the switch, ready to bleep McFarlane at any given moment? McFarlane’s mishap at last week’s Emmy Awards (he couldn’t find the mic!) probably helped get him the assignment since the way he recovered from that mistake was funnier than most of the scripted comedy on the show.

“It’s truly an overwhelming privilege to be asked to host the Oscars,” MacFarlane said in the press release. “My thoughts upon hearing the news were one, I will do my utmost to live up to the high standards set forth by my predecessors; and two, I hope they don’t find out I hosted the Charlie Sheen Roast!”

Check out the video (after the break) that MacFarlane posted on YouTube after he found out the good news. A glimpse into the sensibilities of the next Oscars presentation?