Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane to host 2013 Oscars

by Michelle da Silva on October 1st, 2012 at 10:32 AM

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The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced today (October 1) that Seth MacFarlane will host the 85th annual Academy Awards, scheduled for February 24, 2013. This will be the first time that the American actor, writer, and comedian, best known as the creator of animated television shows Family Guy, American Dad!, and The Cleveland Show, will host the Oscars.

"We are thrilled to have Seth MacFarlane host the Oscars. His performing skills blend perfectly with our ideas for making the show entertaining and fresh," Academy Awards co-producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron stated in a news release. "He will be the consummate host, and we are so happy to be working with him."

McFarlane most recently appeared on stage as a presenter at the 2012 Primetime Emmy Awards. In the same news release, McFarlane stated his reaction to being selected as host of the highly watched awards show: "It's truly an overwhelming privilege to be asked to host the Oscars. My thoughts upon hearing the news were, one, I will do my utmost to live up to the high standards set forth by my predecessors; and two, I hope they don't find out I hosted the Charlie Sheen Roast."

Past hosts include Billy Crystal, Steve Martin, Whoopi Goldberg, Hugh Jackman, Ellen DeGeneres, Jon Stewart, James Franco, and Anne Hathaway. The 2013 Academy Awards will take place at the Dolby Theatre in California.