Steve Martin/Alec Baldwin

It made sense in theory.

But the result was a mishmash, with Martin’s lackadaisical delivery playing awkwardly alongside Baldwin’s antic energy.

(The “30 Rock” star looked visibly nervous at times.)

10. Neil Patrick Harris

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Neil Patrick Harris

“What’s in the box?”

That’s the question Harris hoped you were asking watching the 2015 Oscars.

But despite a musical number showing off his stage talents, Harris mostly stumbled on the Academy stage.

James Franco, Anne Hathaway, … | The Academy tried the cohosting gambit again the following year, this time with relative toddlers James Franco and Anne Hathaway. An attempt to grab the

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It was a long joke without a punchline.

To counterbalance, Hathaway brought enough energy for five hosts.

That didn’t happen.

Whoopi Goldberg, Oscars 1999 | The first woman to host the Oscars solo, the beloved EGOT winner headlined the show on four separate occasions. But the two tiers of Goldberg’s

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Stewart’s problem might have been that he didn’t let that sensibility shine through enough.

It’s only gotten more timely!

But give MacFarlane credit: His Bob-Hope-as-a-spoiled-12-year-old persona was a genuinely transgressive departure from the typical putting-on-airs host mentality.

Jon Stewart, Oscars 2008 | Stewart and his Daily Show team practically defined an entire decade of comedy, crafting a hybrid form of crusading cerebral cynicism and influencing a whole

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In fact, studio accountants have never had to work harder to prove nothing made a profit."

“He’s in everything!”

But to quote Homer Simpson: That Jude Law rant was funny because it was true.

Oscars 1995, David Letterman | Letterman usually gets a bad rap for kickstarting his monologue with the non sequitur ‘‘Oprah-Uma’’ gag. But there are two important things you don’t know

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Sean Penn angrily defended Law later in the ceremony.

Surely, anyone who can make Sean Penn angry is doing their job right.

Billy Crystal

Crystal is indisputably the defining Oscar host of the modern era.

Seth MacFarlane certainly left his mark on the Oscars — though no one ever really figured out exactly what kind of mark that was. The

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He’s a host that everyone of all ages from anywhere can enjoy.

Which is also a kind way of saying that Crystal is the most inoffensive choice.

So anticipation was high when he returned for his ninth go-round in 2012.

Chris Rock, Oscars 2005 | Another host who gets an unjustly bad rap, Chris Rock seemed to surprise the Academy by doing exactly what everyone expected Chris Rock to do:

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Unfortunately, Crystal’s reheated-Catskills routine felt crusty at best, lazy at worst.

Sometimes, the ’90s are best left in the ’90s.

Jackman’s parodic song-and-dance number was simply the best opening sequence in recent Oscars history.

Billy Crystal, Oscars 1992 | Crystal is indisputably the defining Oscar host of the modern era. He set the standard: A little casual and a little formal, and he’s gently

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To Peter O’Toole: “Congratulations on your eighth nomination!

You know what they say: Third time’s the charm!”

On her childhood goals: “Most people had a dream of winning an Academy Award.

Hugh Jackman, Oscars 2009 | If we were to spend decades chemically breeding the perfect Oscar host in a top-secret subterranean laboratory — combining the class of Johnny Carson, the

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I had a dream of hosting.

Let that be a lesson to you kids out there: Aim lower.”

It’s not that we don’t have time for long speeches.

Ellen DeGeneres, Oscars 2007 | The brilliance of DeGeneres' stint as host is that she came off like the anti-Rock — all effusive, chatty charm — while fitting in a

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We don’t have time for boring speeches."

Steve Martin

Put Martin on stage by himself, and the result is pure fizzy perfection.

But it seems like ever since you got caller ID, you’re never home."

Steve Martin, Oscars 2003 | Put Martin on stage by himself, and the result is pure fizzy perfection. Years before he became a profuse Tweeter , Martin filled his Oscar

Kevork Djansezian/AP