KIDS FIRST! Jury Blog

It’s a wonderful night for Oscar! Oscar, Oscar, Who will win?

Ladies and Gentleman, the biggest night in Hollywood is coming up, the Academy Awards. The time to honor the films from the past year. What makes award shows like this amazing? For me it’s the host. The one who sets the tone for the night, keeps the show moving forward, all while having the audience rolling in the aisle. The Academy, throughout the years, have hired the best hosts. In honor of the 87th annual Academy Awards, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris, I have compiled a list of the top five best Oscar hosts. These are the hosts that I think are the most memorable, creative and funny.

Note: I am judging the hosts by their opening act. Also, only solo hosts. No groups or duos.

Number 5: Jon Stewart
Kicking off the list is satirical comedy by Stewart. He has hosted two times and is an entertaining host. Stewart is known for poking fun at political affairs. When Stewart hosted in 2008, the Writers strike just ended and the nominated films were No Country for Old Men and There will be Blood. Stewart replied “Does this town need a hug?” He was still able to create a light heated atmosphere.

Number 4: Hugh Jackman
Next on the list is this handsome and talented Australian actor. Hugh has hosted the Oscars only once, but left an impact with his opening musical number. The high energy, choreographed number was stupendous. Plus, as a host, Hugh was charming, classy and had a great sense of humor.

Number 3: Johnny Carson
The king of late night television hosted the Oscars five times and never failed to make the audience laugh. Carson was not only a charismatic person, but he was a born host. Everyone of his opening monologues were welcoming and amusing.

Number 2: Whoopi Goldberg
The first female to host the Oscars and one of the best. Whoopi hosted a total of four times and each one was better than the last. Her first time hosting the Oscars in 1994 was just after Billy Crystal’s three-year run as host. That was a tough act to follow. However, Whoppi managed to be a sassy and witty host.

Honorable Mentions: Steve Martin (Hosted three times), Bob Hope (Hosted 18 times. Mote than any other.)

Number 1: Billy Crystal
What can I say? Crystal hosted nine times. He knows what he is doing. Crystal is known for singing the nominations for Best Picture to the theme of show tunes. For example, when Titanic was nominated, he sang to the style of Gilligan’s Island. The man is the Oscars. He’s experienced, hilarious and the best Oscar host ever!

That was my personal list of the Best Oscar Hosts. Who is your favorite and why? I can’t wait to watch the 87th Academy Awards on February 22nd. I’m eager to see what this year’s host, Neil Patrick Harris has in-store.

There are a lot of American females who led other fellow women in the film industry, but we often forget to look and appreciate females outside the United States of America. There is a lot we can learn from other countries, cultures, and people. Representing Japan, as the first Asian to win an acting Oscar, is Miyoshi Umeki for her supporting role in Sayonara.

Miyoshi Umeki was born on May, 8, 1929, in Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan. She was the youngest of nine children and showed signs of interest at an early age in music and performing. She used her passion to learn to play a few instruments, piano being one of them.

Sticking with music, Miyoshi traveled with an U.S. Army G.I. jazz band under the name of Nancy Umeki. Her earlier interest and practice in American pop music, against her parents’ will, paid off when she recorded American songs and landed a job on the show Arthur Godfrey and His Friends. She was a one-season regular from 1955 to1956.  Mercury Records signed with Miyoshi, and she released two albums with the record company.  After that, things started falling into place for Miyoshi. She performed in Sayonara in 1957, Flower Drum Song in 1961, Cry for Happy in 1961, The Horizontal Lieutenant in 1962, and many more. She isBriannaHopeBeaton2.jpg best known for her role as Mrs. Livingston in the TV Series, Courtship of Eddie’s Father. Though she had dry spots in her career she made the best of her situation and she showed assertiveness.

Ms. Umeki was a long time resident of Hollywood, California and later moved to Missouri where she died of cancer at age 78 on August 28, 2007. To her, we tip our hats and thank her for being the role model she was.