Neil Patrick Harris 'Anti-Campaigning' as Oscar Host

Neil Patrick Harris 'Anti-Campaigning' as Oscar Host - Neil Patrick Harris says he is "anti-campaigning" for the coveted role as host of the Oscars, even though his name is being mentioned for the gig after his well-received bouts as host of the Emmys and the Tonys.

The star said that unless the host was Billy Crystal, it was going to be difficult to live up to high expectations for the must-see event. Past hosts such as Jon Stewart, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin have hosted the Academy Awards to groans from the audience. Most recently, James Franco and Anne Hathaway co-hosted and got slammed in the media coverage after the event as being unfunny.

After their dismal showing, the Academy began throwing around names for the next possible host. Neil Patrick Harris was added to the mix, according to a report from E!. Some stars started actively campaigning for a role, even the legendary Billy Crystal, but the picky Academy hasn't responded favorably to the active campaigns, saying they don't want to be pressured into a pick that ends up failing.

"I am actively anti-campaigning. I don't think it's the big job everyone thinks it is. It's one night when people win awards. It's a year's worth of people over-thinking that night. Whether it's Oscar campaigns or specific campaigns, and then you have publicists and studios and everyone has such a vested interest in that one night, that's a pressure cooker," said Neil Patrick Harris, quoted in HitFix.

Harris works now on the CBS sitcom 'How I Met Your Mother,' and in addition to his hosting gigs on the Emmys and Tonys has also appeared recently in 'The Smurfs' and will be in the upcoming holiday Harold and Kumar 3D movie.

via: thirdage