Chris Rock doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who gets nervous before he goes out to perform. If he did, though, he might want to heed a piece of advice from former Oscars host Hugh Jackman: Don’t look too closely at the stage manager.
Jackman, who presided over the show in 2009, said he was cool as a cucumber for most of the run-up to the telecast. He didn’t feel anxious at all -- not through rehearsals, not that morning, not even the time spent in hair and makeup before the show began.
Then something -- or someone -- kicked in.
“I wasn’t scared until right about 30 seconds before airtime,” Jackman recalled to the Los Angeles Times earlier this week.
OSCARS 2016: Full coverage | List of nominees | #OscarsSoWhite controversy
“And then I see Valdez [Flagg], who’s been the Oscars stage manager I think for more than 25 years. And I’m standing there in the wings and I look up and Valdez is giving me a countdown. Everything just slowed down, and I felt slightly nauseous. He goes ‘Ten seconds. Oh, and there are only a billion people watching you.’” Jackman laughed. “If you look at the tape of me entering you can still see me looking back into the wings.”
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After hosting the 2016 Emmys, Jimmy Kimmel will make his debut as host of the 2017 Academy Awards. In addition to his previous awards show experience, Kimmel has hosted the annual “Jimmy Kimmel Live: After the Oscars” special for years.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times; Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times; ABC ; Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) 2/14
In his second time hosting, Chris Rock addressed the #OscarsSoWhite controversy during the telecast of the 88th Academy Awards on Feb. 28, 2016 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
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After multiple stints hosting the Tonys and the Emmys, Neil Patrick Harris was a natural choice to lead the festivities at the 87th Academy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015.
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Ellen DeGeneres broke a Twitter record with her star-studded selfie as emcee of the 2014 Academy Awards and won the hearts of hungry actors with freshly delivered pizza. DeGeneres scored with audiences as host in 2007 (above right) with her crowd work as well. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. (Robert Gauthier, Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Though Seth MacFarlane was widely criticized for his 2013 Oscars hosting debut, the awards show saw its best ratings in years with “Family Guy’s” creator at the helm. According to Nielsen, an average of 40.3 million viewers tuned in to hear MacFarlane bash a slew of Hollywood’s A-list. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Considered one of the best of the contemporary comedic hosts, Crystal began his Oscar run with the 62nd telecast in 1990 and remained on the job through 1993. Also add 1997, 1998, 2000 (above left), 2004 and most recently 2012 (above right) to the list. (Bob D’Amico / ABC; Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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In an effort to boost viewership in young demographics, the producers of the 83rd Academy Awards tapped hot “of the moment” actors Hathaway and Franco as hosts for the 2011 ceremony. Many critics felt the hosts didn’t have much chemistry. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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When Martin teamed with his “It’s Complicated” costar Alec Baldwin to co-host 2010’s ceremony, it was his third Oscar hosting appearance. He made his solo debut with the 73rd award show in 2001 and returned to the job in 2003. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Hugh Jackman’s song-and-dance number at the opening of the 81st Academy Awards in 2009 drew barbs from TV critics. The Times’ Mary McNamara said of the performance: “Somewhere in New York, a huge weight has been lifted from David Letterman’s shoulders.” (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)
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The “Daily Show” host brought his outsider perspective into the heart of Hollywood for his stint as Oscar host in 2006. He poked fun at the awards-cast itself, which generally played better at home than it did in the theater. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)
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Rock hosted the 77th Academy Awards in 2005 and raised many eyebrows with his pointed barbs directed at the assembled celebrities. Years later, Ricky Gervais adopted this tone to great effect at the Golden Globes. (Brian Vander Brug / Los Angeles Times)
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Goldberg, the first African American to win the supporting actress Oscar since Hattie McDaniel won in the category in 1940 for “Gone With the Wind,” began her stint as host with the 66th award ceremony in 1994. She returned in 1996, 1999 (shown in a Queen Elizabeth costume) and 2002. (Timothy White / ABC and AMPAS; Los Angeles Times)
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The “Tonight Show” legend moonlighted as Oscar host beginning with the 51st ceremony in 1979; he went on to host the show four more times. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)
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The outrageous funnyman co-hosted the 28th Academy Awards in 1956 in L.A., while Claudette Colbert and writer-director Joseph Mankiewicz hosted a satellite ceremony in New York. He revisited the role in 1957. Lewis and his wife, SanDee, above, pictured at the Cannes Film Festival in 1983. (Larry Armstrong / Los Angeles Times)
Rock, of course, has hosted before -- a controversial appearance in 2005 -- and made his bones as a stand-up comedian. So he may not get those butterflies in the same way, no matter how many eyes are on him -- or how tricky the task of playing both to the room and the TV audience in these diversity-charged times.
But he might nonetheless appreciate a thought from Jackman, who himself received some advice from a past host before he went on.
“Steve Martin told me the first 45 minutes is the best audience you’ll ever have. And then the room starts filling up with losers, so just hurry up and get to the end.’
Jackman, who coincidentally has a new movie opening Oscar weekend -- the feel-good sports tale “Eddie the Eagle” -- has been working the road circuit himself on behalf of the movie, criss-crossing the country to promote the film. (He did the same for “Pan” in the fall.)
The actor said he did, however, have time to catch up with a number of Oscar movies. And there was one clear standout in his mind.
“‘Spotlight,’” he said, referring to Tom McCarthy’s journalistic procedural about the Catholic church sex-abuse scandal. “I don’t know if that’s the film that will win. But I think that’s the film that deserves to win.”
Twitter: @ZeitchikLAT
