Oscars 2015: Neil Patrick Harris' Top 5 Moments
NPH's jokes included a jab at John Travolta.
— -- He sang, he danced, he even showed off his ripped abs. In case you missed it, here were the top five most memorable moments from Oscars host Neil Patrick Harris:
1. His opening number.
For any Oscars host the opening monologue is the most important part of the awards show, and certainly Neil Patrick Harris didn’t disappoint. Opening with a joke, NPH said, “Tonight we honor the best and whitest ... I mean brightest.” It was a clear jab at the Oscar’s lack of diversity in this year’s nominees. He then set the night’s tone with a performance of “Moving Pictures,” a song written by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, the duo behind “Frozen’s” “Let It Go.” The performance featured amazing visuals of Hollywood’s biggest blockbuster films along with appearances by Anna Kendrick and Jack Black. After the singing and dancing, Harris said the performance was “completely improvised.”
2. His controversial zinger.
After “Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1” won the Oscar for Best Documentary Short Subject, directors Ellen Goosenberg Kent and Dana Perry came up to accept the golden trophy, but it was Harris’ quip afterward that got a lot of laughs. Perry, who dedicated the award to her 15-year-old son who committed suicide, was wearing a black dress complete with fur balls. Not one to miss a beat, Harris said, “It takes a lot of balls to wear that dress.” While he did get laughs, many on social media thought the joke was a bit insensitive since Perry dedicated the award to her late son.
3.Harris’ love for the Brits.
During a bit where Harris claimed jokes said with an accent are generally funnier, Harris tapped “Selma” actor David Oyelowo to help him deliver some quips. After the audience applauded for Oyelowo, NPH threw in a quick dig at the Academy for Oyelowo’s Oscars snub in the Best Actor category. "Oh sure, now you like him," he said with a grin.
4. NPH’s underwear moment.
Harris’ parody of “Birdman” was spot on. When it appeared Harris was late for his cue, the cameras found him backstage with his robe caught in his dressing room door. Next you see him walking backstage in his underwear, as Oscar nominee Michael Keaton did in the film “Birdman.” In only white undies, Harris introduced the next presenters. Of course he couldn’t walk off stage without fiddling with his skivvies.
5. His jab at John Travolta.
Harris couldn’t resist taking a jab at John Travolta, who butchered the pronunciation of singer Idina Menzel’s name at last year’s Oscars. Instead, Travolta famously called her "Adele Dazeem." Harris quipped that Benedict Cumberbatch is what you get “when you ask John Travolta to pronounce Ben Affleck.”