Modified On December 13, 2008
Sharp-eyed reader John Wessling sends us a link to a Newser.com (?) article that contains the following quote:
“He is an actor with big movies behind him and one coming this summer,” a Jackman rep notes. “He didn’t work the last 20 years to suddenly be a stand-up comedian.”
Wessling wonders (and we can’t help but wonder along with him) if the quote from the “Jackman rep” is a snide swipe at comedians.
Is he saying that Jackman is an actor and, as such, deserves respect (and a shot at hosting the Oscars)? Is he saying that his client shouldn’t be expected to sling gags, like so many past Oscar hosts? Is he saying that Jackman isn’t some clown who makes his living by telling jokes?
Whatever he’s saying, he seems to be a bit… defensive. Hmmm… Whichever way it is analyzed, it seems that Jackman rep is trying to put some sort of distance between his client and the long line of decent, respectable artists (who happen to be comics) who have ably handled the gig before him.
Or is he trying to prep the public for Jackman being… not funny?
It all seems like a rather bizarre way of getting press for a broadcast that is attracting fewer and fewer eyeballs with each passing year.