Broadway star Neil Patrick Harris is about to embark on his biggest challenge yet – hosting the 2015 Oscars – and, naturally, sought advice from last year’s host, Ellen DeGeneres. The 41-year-old confided to the talkshow host that he’s been “having nightmares” about how to top Ellen’s record-breaking 2014 selfie.
"How do you beat the selfie that broke the internet?" he joked.
Ellen revealed that the selfie was complete luck and she had no idea if others, like Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper, would join in once she suggested it (luckily they all did and it was a smash hit!)
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"You can’t plan that. I hoped that it would happen. I hoped people would jump in," Ellen said. "So all you have to do is have a nugget of a good idea, and if everybody’s on board and they’re playing, whatever your idea is, they’re with you. That just was such a perfect fluke that happened and I was so lucky."
The How I Met Your Mother star said he would try to rise to the challenge: “Selfie’s into my brain. So I’m gonna try to do something better, I think.”
"You can paint them," Ellen joked.
Selfie aside, the first time Oscars host said he has been working closely with writers to prepare for Sunday.
“It’s a tricky process with the content,” he said. “I’m finding good jokes that we had that are funny and strong, then I’ll watch a late-night talk show and they’ll say the same joke… the Grammys, Saturday Night Live… I just want everyone to stop talking until Monday!”
Neil previously revealed that he has been practicing his material at home on his husband David Burtka, telling People magazine: “He is a tough critic. But his notes and ideas are uniformly excellent. Many will be implemented on the 22nd.”
The 78th Oscars will be held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Sunday 22 February.
HELLO! Online will be providing live coverage throughout the night.
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