Oscars 2014: First commercial with host Ellen DeGeneres features (you guessed it) dancing

Somewhere, we imagine that there was a massive bet going for whether or not Ellen DeGeneres would be busting out some moves in her first promo for the 2014 Academy Awards. Well, the person who bet on it is going to win big after watching the first commercial for the show below.

There is really not that much to this promo really other than dancing, since it starts and ends with a tuxedo / tennis shoe Ellen shuffling her feet while a group of other sharply-dressed folk do the same. In a way, we get it. This is something that Ellen does all of the time on her daytime talk show, and many people love her for it. But, at the same time, was this really the best way for her to promote the biggest night in film? We would have personally preferred to see something that played up more of her comedic sensibility, since that is what she is known for in the first place more so than dancing.

This show on March 2 will be the second time that Ellen has hosted, but the first in many years. This is looking to be quite a show as well when it comes to drawing big names, as Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Lawrence, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Tom Hanks are all heavily favored to be up for awards.

If you are interested in some of the finer details of the commercial, the song that you hear in the background is “The Walker” by the band Fitz and The Tantrums, and the ad was directed by Paul Feig of “Bridesmaids” fame. Even the Oscars manage to get big names for their ads!

As for the reason for the show airing in March this year, a few simple words: Blame the Olympics. ABC wants to steer clear of all of that, and create their own special night to remember.

But what do you think about this first ad for the show? Share some of your thoughts below.