Will Jimmy Fallon and Lorne Michaels Host and Produce the Oscars? (Probably Not ...)

Word got out today that Tom Sherak, the outgoing president of the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, attempted to hire Lorne Michaels and Jimmy Fallon as the producer and host of the 85th Academy Awards. Sherak's plan appears to have failed, as his term as president of the Academy ended on Tuesday, leaving incoming president Hawk Koch with the responsibility of finding a host and producer.

The Los Angeles Times reported on the deal a few hours ago, pointing out that ABC wouldn't be pleased if the Oscars, an awards show that the network broadcasts, were to showcase one of NBC's rising stars. Deadline Hollywood is now reporting that the deal is dead.

After the Brett Ratner/Eddie Murphy Oscar debacle last year, Fallon was a name that immediately started getting tossed around as a replacement host. While the job eventually (and unfortunately) wound up going to Billy Crystal, people were still talking about Fallon as a future Oscar host.

Fallon would be the perfect type of talent to step in and host an Oscar ceremony. The guy clearly loves pop culture. He's proven himself with an Emmy hosting gig, putting on a great song-and-dance opening number (and not the paint-by-number kind that Crystal now drags out every time). Jimmy Fallon and Lorne Michaels are exactly what the Academy need to turn the Oscar ceremony around. He's safe enough to satisfy the older audience yet cool enough to bring in the younger audience.

I realize that ABC has reservations about bringing in an NBC star, but if Fallon could deliver ratings, he'd be delivering those ratings for ABC. C'mon, Academy, don't screw this one up too.