Seth MacFarlane joins the ranks of Bob Hope, Fred Astaire, and Frank Sinatra Sunday evening as he hosts the Academy Awards.
"Certainly Billy Crystal, Johnny Carson and Bob Hope are the three that stand out as the paragons of class and effectiveness and comedic balance in the history of the Oscars," MacFarlane told the AP last week. "I'm going to go out there and certainly be mindful that that's what works but also try and inject some of what I do into the mix and hopefully come out with something that is fresh and surprising and has an edge but doesn't completely thumb its nose at the Oscars."
MacFarlane was seen as a risky choice by some for his boundary-pushing sense of humor.
"Ted," which MacFarlane stars in, is up for an Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Everybody Needs a Best Friend." The track will be performed at the awards show by Norah Jones.
MacFarlane followed Billy Crystal, who hosted 2012's 84th annual Academy Awards, and the awkward duo of Anne Hathaway and James Franco who hosted the 83rd annual Academy Awards in 2011.
MacFarlane joined actress Emma Stone in January to announce the nominees for the Academy Awards.
The show features some major musical numbers including numbers by Barbra Streisand and Adele. A highlight set for the show is a celebration of musicals of the last decade, featuring "Chicago," "Dreamgirls," and this year's Best Picture contender, "Les Miserables." Actors involved in the celebration included Jennifer Hudson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Hugh Jackman, and Anne Hathaway, among others.
It was also announced this week that Kristen Chenoweth and Seth MacFarlance would close the show with a musical performance.
The 85th annual Academy Awards were hosted by MacFarlane at Hollywood's Dolby Theatre.
More information about performances and winners can be found in the live blog below.
