This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
I don't know if there's any kind of generational shift at the Oscars this year, but it sure looks like a generational shift in the Oscar hosts. The combined ages of James Franco and Anne Hathaway, who host this year's Academy Awards (Sunday, 6:30 p.m., ABC/4) is 60; the combine ages of last year's hosts, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin, was 114 at the time of the telecast.
I am hoping Franco and Hathaway do better than the awful "wardrobe malfunction" commercial that ABC has been airing ad nauseam.
At the age of 28, Hathaway is the youngest Oscar host in history. But just barely. She's about four months younger than Donald O'Connor was when he hosted in 1954. (O'Connor co-hosted with Fredric March, then 56.)
At 32, Franco is the the sixth-youngest host. He's older than Diana Ross (who was 30 in 1974); Goldie Hawn (30 in 1976); Jerry Lewis (29 in 1956); O'Connor; and Hathaway.
Elsewhere on Saturday ...
College basketball: BYU at San Diego State (noon, CBS/Ch. 2); Utah State at Idaho (7 p.m., Ch. 30)
NBA (5:30 p.m., FSN): Utah Jazz at Detroit Pistons
Being Human (8 and 10 p.m., BBC America): George and Nina take in a vampire named Adam. (This is the British version, not the American version.)
Spirit Awards (8 p.m., IFC): Joel McHale hosts these independent film awards.
An Idiot Abroad (8 and 11 p.m., Science Channel): Karl Pilkington travels to Brazil.
Date Night (9 p.m., HBO): Steve Carell and Tina Fey star in this 2010 comedy. (PG-13)
The Karate Kid (10 p.m., Starz): Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan star in this 2010 remake. (PG
Elsewhere on Sunday ...
60 Minutes (6 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2): Hidden cameras expose medical-treatment conmen in one report, and Chinese spies buying American military secrets in another.
Amazing Race: Unfinished Business (7 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2): The teams continue to race through Australia. And they have to wear kangaroo suits for one of the challenges.
Masterpiece Classic (8 p.m., PBS/Ch. 7): "Any Human Heart" continues.
CSI: Miami (9 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2): A high school bully is stoned to death.
Big Love (10 p.m., HBO): It's Nicki's wedding day, and there's a shocking development that could affect the family forever.
Shameless (11 p.m., Showtime): Sheila is worried when Frank goes on the wagon.