Ellen Degeneres, who hosted the 79th Annual Academy Awards in 2007, was, in my opinion, the best host that the program has seen. 

In her opening monologue, she tried to “relax” the audience by reminding them how much was on line if they won or lost. Her comments to the crowd about how to craft a good acceptance speech and her appropriate jesting with nominees was charming and entertaining.

My favorite moment of the evening, however, was when Ellen came down from the stage to chat with Clint Eastwood. She asks someone to take a photo of the two of them for Myspace, but when Clint’s date volunteers, she skips over her and asks Steven Spielberg, sitting nearby, to take the photo instead. 

Let’s hope that Anne and James can live up to Ellen’s performance at this year’s Academy Awards. 

Help give me the opportunity to be at the Oscars this year by VOTING for me to be MTVu’s Student Oscars Correspondent!