Funny and clever

competent

2008 Update:  I think he did a fine job especially considering the entire broadcast had a bit of a thrown together feel because of the writers strike.  I'm upgrading him from a 3, which was the 2006 rating, to a 4.  He was good enough to be able to think on his feet and handle the broadcast with the right amount of knowing wit, especially given that there wasn't much time put into the pre-production.

Original review from March 2006:  I think he came out flat and lacked punch but got better as the show went on. I think he's late night's biggest talent, but like Letterman, he basically brought his show to the Oscar Broadcast with limited appeal and success. The filmed comedy bits were right out of the writers' room of the Daily Show and fine for that broadcast but not great stuff for a live awards telecast. The gay imagery from old westerns montage was the best of that lot. He was witty, clever, cynical but not personable, too detached. Ultimately, I think he failed because he was too "New York" for Hollywood's Biggest Night.  

Were the Oscars on? According to the ratings many people either didn't care or didn't know. With Stewart as the host I am even more glad I didn't watch!  I am a fan of the movies, but not of the Academy.

Not unacceptable but came across rather as the outsider. Billy Crystal has managed to make the crowd more his own.

Jon Stewart gave a fine performance as host of the Academy Awards this year. Much better than the last time he hosted. He kept away from the political humor (mostly) and kept the show moving. I think that he may have been wearing a little too much lipstick however.

I thought Jon Stewart did an excellent job as host tonight, and think he should probably be invited back again. He delivered his jokes in a classy manner that fits the mood of the event. He wasn't over the top, but wasn't boring either. He mixed in some political humor without overdoing it. I liked his comment to the Hollywood crowd after making a joke about Hilary Clinton that was not too well received that went somewhat along the lines of, "Your people can get it too."

Jon Stewart did much better than I figured he would but he lacked the luster good ole Billy Crystal gave the show.

Stewart is not the one...Steven Colbert would have been the better choice.

I think Jon did a great job. What was disappointing to me was the lack of response from the crowd of Hollywood celebs. I think many of them take themselves way too serious. They didn't laugh when he motioned towards the wealthy actors and actresses, and told the viewing audience "These are the people you are stealing from when you pirate movies." Pretty much the entire night, Jon seemed to strike out with the crowd, making sarcastic jokes that the general American population was most likely cracking up about, but our "beloved" movie stars sat silently through. When Jon pretended to be in the midst of a newscast, and said "That is why Scientology isn't just good for me, it's good for the country" or something to that effect (making fun of people like Tom Cruise) you could almost hear a pin drop. I found it super funny, and that's why I gave him 4 stars.

Though not to the level of Bob Hope of Johnny Carson, I thought Jon did a great job. That said, I surmise that Bob Hope's humor, great as it was, would not work as well in the 21st century. I knew Stewart and his Daily Show crew of writers would come through. While Stewart's monologue didn't hit any grand slams, he was more like Wade Boggs, banging out a succession of good, witty, fresh takes with a bit of bite and few Whoopiesque Groaners. He actually did his best work with the inter-intro banter. His best line was: "Martin Scorcese - 0 -- Three 6 Mafia - 1." Hey, he had Jack Nicholson in stitches. I've been a fan of Jon Stewart since 1988, when he hosted a hilarious show on MTV called "You Wrote It - You Watch It." The Daily Show (along with Colbert report) is what me and my wife watch to catch National News. Stewart's real name is Jon Leibowitz. A graduate of William & Mary, he was a star soccer player who scored the winning goal to give W&M the Colonial Athletic Conference Title.

Jon Stewart proved to be a decent enough host, though some would say he had more singles and foul tips than comedic homeruns. Like Chris Rock in the prior year, Jon Stewart excels at the kind of sarcastic observational humor that rips at the establishment. The kind of stuff that can make a Hollywood audience squirm behind their smiles. The Daily Show comic came more into his element as the night went on, as he shifted from poking fun at the audience to poking fun at the spectacles on stage. Many think an Oscar host needs to give the show a feel-good warmth, in the charming traditions of Billy Crystal, Johnny Carson and Steve Martin. I agree, but would add that a host should balance feel-good entertainment with enough of any kind of belly laughs that keep a long show from becoming too boring or insufferably pretentious. Jon Stewart may not have dazzled, but he was good enough in these aims.

Tall order to crack a smile on 3,500 botoxed super egos.

All of his "jokes" seem to be falling flat. It takes more than lukewarm stand-up to make it as a host.