First-time Oscar host Seth MacFarlane dropped a Hitler joke into his announcement of Academy Award nominees early Thursday morning, suggesting the potential for inappropriate comedy from an awards show host could shift from the Golden Globes to the Oscars this year.
MacFarlane, who is hosting the Oscarcast Feb. 24 at 8 p.m. on ABC, was co-announcing the nominees with actress Emma Stone when he paused on "Amour," which is considered the frontrunner for best foreign film.
"The last time Austria and Germany got together and co-produced something it was Hitler," he cracked. "But this is much better."
Stone moved right along and, later in the morning, so did ABC Entertainment President Paul Lee.
Asked at a TV critics panel in Pasadena about MacFarlane, Lee did not dwell on the Hitler joke, but praised MacFarlane as a host, saying, "He's a great choice. He really wants to be there. We're expecting a great show."
It may be a really great show for MacFarlane, who could take home an Oscar of his own. The 39-year-old director was a surprise nominee in the Best Original Song category - for "Everybody Needs a Friend," from his film, "Ted."
