Oscar worthy

Wanted: Oscar host able to get laughs from star-studded in-house audience, keep at-home viewers glued to marathon show and mollify network censors.

Pay is scale, exposure is worldwide and reviews sometimes are harsh.

No wonder few people want to host two years in a row, according to Bruce Davis, executive director of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

The search for someone to preside when the golden boys are handed out for the 78th time in March 2006 gets under way soon.

Come August, Frank Pierson calls it quits as academy president, having completed a four-year term. Before leaving, he’ll select the next Oscar producer, who in turn chooses the host in consultation with the academy.

This year, Gil Cates produced his record 12th Oscar show and boldly picked acerbic first-timer Chris Rock.

Rock helped ABC attract 41.5 million viewers. That was down 2 million from 2004, but ratings were up from last year among viewers aged 18 to 34 – those most coveted by advertisers paying millions of dollars for time on the Oscarcast.

“We were very, very happy,” Davis said. “We noticed the ratings of other movie award shows and everybody was in free fall this year. There was every chance we would’ve had a huge drop as well, so a drop of (2 million) was pretty good.”

Davis attributed the boost in younger viewership to Rock.

“Almost everybody onboard was willing to give him complete credit with bringing that audience into the tent,” he said. “When you have a new host that strikes some sparks, there is evidence that ratings go up.”

Afterward, Rock said he hoped to host the show again, although “who knows if they would want me again.”

Davis was mum on Rock’s chances.

“I really shouldn’t speculate,” he said. “We have our own list of needs. If we did the Oscars by polls, we’d give the nominations to the top five box-office films.”

Asked about future hosts, Davis demurred, saying: “I won’t play that game.”

But we will.