An Online Split Decision for Oscars Host Seth MacFarlane

Anne Hathaway and James Franco, last year's Oscars hosts, were criticized harshly for their performances. So Seth MacFarlane was expected to step it up at the 85th annual Academy Awards on Sunday evening.

However, the "Family Guy" creator didn't seem to live up to those expectations, at least judging from reaction across the web where he was pilloried for a series of jokes that many considered sexist, homophobic, and in poor taste.

His opening monologue also had many cringing.

Is the 24 Most Sexist/Racist/Homophobic Seth MacFarlane Jokes piece up yet?
— Jon Caramanica (@joncaramanica) February 25, 2013

I still haven't laughed at any of Seth MacFarlane's "jokes."
— Emily Hogan (@emilyhogan) February 25, 2013

All that irony, #SethMacfarlane, just seemed like a permit for misogynous jokes to me. #Oscars
— Ruth Stavric (@RuthStavric) February 25, 2013

The theme was "Seth MacFarlane's fever dreams about being an old-timey crooner mixed with cries for help about his problems w women," right?
— Lindy West (@thelindywest) February 25, 2013

"Ok, here's what you don't *get* about Seth MacFarlane," he mansplained redditly.
— Mobutu Sese Seko (@Mobute) February 25, 2013

Seth MacFarlane kicking himself in the bathroom at an after party for totally dropping the ball on some "Susan Lucci never wins" jokes.
— Mobutu Sese Seko (@Mobute) February 25, 2013

Seth MacFarlane must have incriminating information about someone powerful in Hollywood
— Anthony De Rosa (@AntDeRosa) February 25, 2013

seth macfarlane's palpable, oozing desperation to be liked was a pretty funny joke
— Chris Randle (@randlechris) February 25, 2013

Just admit that there was literally nothing Seth MacFarlane could have said or done that would have made any of you like him
— Dan Amira (@DanAmira) February 25, 2013

#Oscars McFarlane's total aura removal procedure now complete.
— walter kirn (@walterkirn) February 25, 2013

it would be really great if an asteroid hit Seth MacFarlane sometime soon.
— maura johnston (@maura) February 25, 2013

Sequestration was Seth MacFarlane’s idea.
— Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias) February 25, 2013

Everyone who interacts with Seth MacFarlane on stage tonight and doesn't punch him in the face on national TV is a paragon of self-restraint
— David Uzumeri (@DavidUzumeri) February 25, 2013

Seth Macfarlane needs to learn that simply acknowledging your being sexist while your being sexist does NOT magically absolve you of sexism.
— Jonathan McIntosh (@radicalbytes) February 25, 2013

SETH MACFARLANE REALLY WISHES HE WAS BORN EARLIER SO HE COULD BE IN THE RAT PACK. THAT WOULD RULE, HE'D BE DEAD BY NOW
— BIG DOGS (@Big_Dogs) February 25, 2013

Alternative title to Seth MacFarlane hosting the Oscars? "Why Family Guy isn't funny."
— Jamelle Bouie (@jbouie) February 25, 2013

say what you will but seth macfarlane certainly has all his teeth
— Chris Randle (@randlechris) February 25, 2013

For others, the expectation to hate MacFarlane for his performance was offset by what they considered to be an entertaining performance.

Biggest Oscar disappointment: not hating Seth MacFarlane as much as I was hoping to
— David Thorpe (@Arr) February 25, 2013

Seth Macfarlane taking flak for his Mel Gibson and Chris brown zingers. Yeah, haven't those two been through enough already! #Oscars
— jared (@jarednieters) February 25, 2013

@sethmacfarlane Well done last night, you nailed it! #Oscars
— Prudietwoshoes (@Prudietwoshoes) February 25, 2013

Idk why everyone is so butthurt about Seth McFarlane at the #Oscars. I thought he was hilarious.
— Tariq (@TDanzley) February 25, 2013

Hey @sethmacfarlane thanks for making the #oscars fun.Keep rocking.
— Kirk Fox (@kirkfox) February 25, 2013

The best thing about Seth MacFarlane is that you can never tell when he's setting up a joke. The guy is seamless.
— Richard Lawson (@rilaws) February 25, 2013