Dear Gossips,

The Academy Museum Gala will take place this coming Saturday 19 October kicking off the next phase of Oscar campaigning. The Oscars are still five months away but the race is taking shape and it is time for show producers to start figuring out key elements for the show. At the top of the list of priorities: finding a host. Or hosts. Or no hosts. That’s been the conversation taking place over the last few days as Matthew Belloni was first to report over at Puck that the Oscars are considering a “rebrand”.

As previously noted, both Jimmy Kimmel and John Mulaney turned down the invitation. Hosting the Oscars no longer has the appeal that it used to. It’s two months, or more, of work, with very little pay, and it’s a thankless job since someone somewhere will find a way to bitch about it. Instead of one host, then, Puck says that they’re looking to “lighten the lift” and “would prioritize stacking the telecast with more stars and performers who go beyond simply presenting—stuff like Mulaney’s great Field of Dreams routine from March’s show, or the extended Tina Fey–Amy Poehler–Maya Rudolph moment at the hostless 2019 show. Or more stunts, live performances, ambitious tributes, and incorporating music (like Slash and Mark Ronson this year) and social media stars and exclusive trailers into what essentially becomes a Comic-Con-style extravaganza of promotion for movies. In these scenarios, the host would essentially be a circus ring-leader rather than a headlining act.”

Deadline yesterday elaborated further on Matthew Belloni’s initial reporting. According to Deadline, the structure of the show is what Puck first described but now they have specific names that have been approached: Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds have apparently been asked to participate, as have Will Ferrell, Amy Poehler, and Dwayne The Rock Johnson, all of whom are involved in movies that could be a factor at the Oscars. Yes, they’ve launched an Oscar campaign for Deadpool & Wolverine and, yes, the Academy wants Hugh and Ryan to bring their schtick to the Oscars.

The question is whether or not they would do it. They certainly don’t need to do it. And it’s not like doing it would increase their chances of winning. That said, Hugh is doing a 12-show residency in the new year. Hugh Jackman Live: From New York with Love will kick off at Radio City Music Hall for two performances January 24 and 25 and then there’s a break until April so … there is time in his schedule for the Oscars. And, perhaps, he could use that opportunity at the Oscars to promote the show?

In other Hugh Jackman news, it was announced that he and Kate Hudson will co-star in an upcoming film called Song Sung Blue, based on the true story of a married couple who start a Neil Diamond tribute band. Kate released her first album earlier this year; I’ve not listened to a single song but I do see her singing a lot on Instagram so you could say that the album has done its work because it’s brought her more work.

Here's what I’ll say as someone who will always watch the Oscars, no matter who is hosting and no matter how long it is…

I get it that the Academy is trying to update and produce the most entertaining show possible so I appreciate the creative efforts behind the scenes and reimagine the cultural institution that is the Oscars broadcast. They want to attract the people who are always on TikTok, like everyone else. What people don’t often pay enough attention to, though, is the fact the people on TikTok still aspire to be at the Oscars. For all their millions of followers, whether it’s TikTok or YouTube, legacy media still has allure for them – it’s still a symbol of status and success. So not everything old has to be thrown out.

When the time comes, will you be watching? Let us know your thoughts at The Squawk. (App link here.)

Yours in gossip,

Lainey

Hugh Jackman Gossip

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