Prepare for the Oscars- NPH Style! Watch the Top 5 Neil Patrick Harris Tony Host Performances!

By: Feb. 16, 2015
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The 87th Annual Academy Awards are now in less than a week, and we can't wait to see what host Neil Patrick Harris has in store! Of course, Broadway fans are well-acquainted with the Tony Award-winner's hosting abilities, having seen him host the Tonys four times already. If audiences are expecting anything from him on Sunday at the Oscars, it is a big musical number... Or two. So as you prepare for the film industry's biggest night, take a look back at our favorite performances by NPH as a Tony host!

Throughout the week, be sure to keep checking BroadwayWorld as we bring you full Oscars coverage, including nominee profiles, a special interview with the Oscars set designer, and of course our winner predictions!

5. "It's Not Just for Gays Anymore"
2011 Tony Awards Opener
Best lyrics: "It's a 2-hour live-action, barely affordable, un-lipsynced version of GLEE."
I love that this performance offers a great segment of audience participation invovling some of the Broadway stars in attendance. And then it gets really fun when Brooke Shields tries to sing her bit. Bless her heart.

4. "What if Life Were More Like Theatre?"
2012 Tony Awards Opener
Best lyrics: "What if all of your colleagues were hotties with freakishly flexible bodies, and none of them needed to sleep or eat or pee?"
The Patti LuPone cameo is undoubtedly the best part of this whole thing! Because, you know, everyone "casually" mows the lawn in a gorgeous dress and flawless hair. Can I be her when I grow up?

3. "Dueling Hosts"
2011 Tony Awards, featuring Hugh Jackman
Best lyrics: "Your show is HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER. I'll do this show, you do another. Stick to your sit-coms, stick to your situation comedies."
I think it's safe to say that adding Hugh Jackman to anything makes it better, but this rivalry song made of Broadway parodies and over-exaggerated dance moves really is perfection.

2. "It's Bigger"
2013 Tony Awards Opener
Best lyrics: "They're the reason this whole season seems to look like Chuck E. Cheese."
Debra Messing's face towards the end of this performance sums up my thoughts perfectly. Getting the casts of just about every Broadway musical up on stage at the same time AND bringing in a giant Tony Award? Now that's how you host a show.

1. "I Like to be on a TV Show"
2013 Tony Awards, featuring Megan Hilty, Andrew Rannells, and Laura Benanti
Best lyrics: "Both my shows were cancelled, it's true. No joke, haha! Not one show, but two. And so I raise a bottle to you, television sucks!"
This one made the top of the list because of the sheer number of Broadway inside jokes included. I mean, how can you beat references to not only the number of Broadway stars trying to make it on TV, but two-show days, Equity insurance, and of course the obligatory jab at SMASH?

So what are you hoping to see from this seasoned host at this year's Oscars?

The 87th Oscars will be held on Sunday, February 22, 2015, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be televised live on the ABC Television Network at 7 p.m., ET/4 p.m., PT. The Oscars, produced by Zadan and Meron, also will be televised live in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide.


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