MANILA, Philippines - Family Guy creator and Ted director Seth MacFarlane (photo) will take the Oscar’s stage for the first time to host the 85th Academy Awards on Feb. 25 live on Velvet Channel.
“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. He will be the consummate host, and we are so happy to be working with him,†said the show’s producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. “It’s truly an overwhelming privilege to be asked to host the Oscars,†adds Seth. “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.â€
He also recently announced the nominees — the only Oscar host to do so since Charlton Heston in 1972 — along with Emma Stone.
Seth made his debut as a film director in the box-office hit Ted which he also co-wrote and produced. He was also the voice behind the foul-mouthed teddy bear, the title character. Ted has brought in over $420M worldwide, making it one of the highest-grossing films of the year. Apart from Family Guy, he’s also the co-creator of American Dad! and The Cleveland Show. His work on Family Guy has earned him two Emmy Awards and 13 nominations. An accomplished live performer, Seth has played to sold-out audiences at the London’s Royal Albert Hall and New York’s Carnegie Hall. In 2011, he released his debut album, Music Is Better Than Words, which earned two Grammy nominations.
The live and complete telecast of the 85th Academy Awards will premiere on Philippine television via Velvet Channel on Feb. 25 starting at 6 a.m. with the red-carpet/arrivals special followed by the main ceremony at 9:30 a.m. Velvet (SkyCable Channel 53) is available on SkyCable Platinum, SkyCable Gold, SkyCable Silver and other quality cable operators nationwide.
For updates, log on to http://www.velvet.com.ph/ and http://www.facebook.com/VelvetChannel.