Christmas comes early for Joan

When Melissa e-mailed to let me know that Hugh Jackman was hosting the upcoming Oscars, I begged her not to tease me. Thank God, she wasn't teasing. I'm gonna need a cigarette.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Australian actor Hugh Jackman was named on Friday as host of February's Oscars in a departure from the tradition of picking U.S. comedians on Hollywood's most prestigious night....Jackman's choice heralds a new direction for the 81st Oscar ceremony after recent years of falling TV ratings.Typically, the program has been hosted by U.S. comedians, and in recent years, show organizers have experimented with a variety of hosting styles ranging from political satirist Jon Stewart, to edgy Chris Rock and popular Ellen DeGeneres. Mark and Condon have axed the famous opening monologue for the February 2009 show, hoping for more spontaneity overall. They said there may be a stronger element of music and dancing than previously."We want it to be more of a party and a celebration and a departure from the late-night talk-show format," Mark told Reuters. Mark and Condon have a background in musicals and worked together on the 2006 film hit "Dreamgirls". [reuters]