Host choice highlights Oscars, Globes divide

No matter the mixed reactions to his biting humor as of this years Golden Globes, Ough Gervais will probably be to host Januarys kudocast. The VoteIf yesteryear week of honours-related turmoil has layed out anything, it is the Academy of motion Picture Arts & Sciences as well as the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. have two different groups of points of interest if the involves their kudocasts.Wednesday's confirmation of Ough Gervais since the host in the Golden Globes highlights the versions a lot more clearly. Both organizations appear at first sight considering creating bigger ratings, but one of these brilliant orgs is not like the other.Because the Academy greatly desires to keep ABC happy about its hefty license fee by getting inside a youthful demo, it's equally attempting to uphold tradition and the brilliant -- but frequently staid -- luster that's Oscar's prepaid calling card.Display A: prospecting Brett Ratner as producer for your 2012 ceremony, then being shocked (shocked!) when his well-recorded rough edges increased being headline news. AMPAS prexy Tom Sherak wanted attention when he hired Ratner, which he might have accomplished by utilizing some damage control following a director's gay slur increased to become flashpoint.Rather, the Academy moved quickly to distance itself within the whole, wanting the easy-listening stylings of John Grazer and Billy Very would wipe the incident within the town's awareness. It's as if the Academy walked outdoors, first viewed it was flowing lower rain, and made a decision to not venture out again.Incidentally, it's challenging youthful audiences considering watching a 3-hour ceremony that honors films they haven't seen while stars thank people they've never learned about, regardless of host and producer handling the telecast.The HFPA, however, is reaping helpful benefits on its status to become the higher fun counterpoint for the Oscars (even though it has labored for respectability lately) by welcoming back Ough Gervais for round three as host.For your HFPA, ratings factors clearly trumped any residual bad feelings its people may have had over Gervais' Globes emcee stint a year ago. Despite the fact that NBC's standards and practices overseers might blunt his edge, Gervais likely registered using the caveat that no celebrity or written content might be exempt from his ridicule. It is not like he needs the task.Certainly, it is necessary for your Oscars to remain Hollywood's finest recognition, which supplies the Globes a little more leeway. But it's essential for your Academy to find out who the Oscars are for: the tv audience or perhaps the industry.It's pretty tough to serve both well. Contact Christy Grosz at christy.grosz@variety.com