Does Oscar crown await Ben Affleck's Argo?

His skills also include crude humor, setting the stage for something livelier, more irreverent and less predictable than the usual ho-hum broadcast.

Producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron "have mixed it up quite a lot compared to Oscar ceremonies I've seen in the past," MacFarlane said. "Without it being a long ceremony — their goal is to keep it shorter than it's been — but they've managed to pack more surprises and more cool stuff into the ceremony than I think I've ever seen in any one Oscars. ...

"They have a real sense of command of what they're doing, but at the same time they've allowed me to play to my own strengths, or weaknesses, depending on how you look at it, and structure my own segments as I see fit."

ALSO READ

Friends Forever

Cannes helps actors Bejo and Rahim cross borders

Indian cinema on a mission at Cannes to dispel Bollywood image

'Indian Cinema's success lies in cinematic approach'