After a series of successful hosting gigs in some of the most important ceremonies in the entertainment industry (including the Broadway Tony Awards and the television Emmys), the world expected Neil Patrick Harris' Oscars to be nothing short of amazing - but was he able to deliver?
While a lot of expectation was surrounding the star of shows like "Doogie Houser, M.D.," audiences and critics alike seem to agree that Neil Patrick Harris' Oscars hosting wasn't nearly among his best, as it's been said that he fell flat with different gags and altogether choked at the grandness of being a part of such a huge ceremony.
The Guardian's review of Neil Patrick Harris' Oscars performance doesn't leave the Emmy-winning star in the best possible spot, stating that, while hosting the Oscars was one of the most "thankless" jobs in Hollywood, he still often fell flat during his own performance, with some unfunny and downright groan-inducing jokes and puns about the presenters during Oscar night, including a cringe-worthy one when Josh Hutcherson stepped out, comparing his "Hunger Games" character name to PETA, the animal rights' organization.
Time Magazine's review of the night wasn't very different, as the famous outlet stated that Neil Patrick Harris' Oscars performance, unlike the acceptance speeches of some of the winners (like Eddie Redmayne's, Julianne Moore's and Alejandro González Iñárritu's), seemed unprepared for the role he was about to be playing, then stepping into the first commandment of hosting: "do no harm."
Slate Magazine's review of Neil Patrick Harris' Oscars performance stepped on a similar issue, though the magazine seemed convinced that at least part of the issues with the actor's hosting had been in the material, stating that the head writer for the telecast, Greg Berlanti, isn't really one for comedy, having worked on things like "Arrow" and "Dawson's Creek."
In any case, it's unfortunate that Harris, who's hosted the Tonys 5 times and the Emmys twice, didn't achieve what audiences expected of a Neil Patrick Harris Oscars performance.
