Oscars 2013: ABC airs new commercial featuring ‘Family Guy’s’ Seth MacFarlane

Do you want to ring in the new year with the Oscars? It seems like a strange time to do so, but it was during the first hour of “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest” when ABC decided that it would be best to unveil the latest promo for the 2013 Academy Awards with Seth MacFarlane as host.

The commercial itself was rather simple, and it chose to largely capitalize on Seth’s persona as a wild guy who often takes no prisoners and loves to have a good time. Specifically, the “Family Guy” creator started off in the ad by proclaiming that he was asked not to drink on live television during the show (after all, this is not the Golden Globes), so he then took a glass of something offstage to drink it. Really, the commercial could have done a better job of capturing who MacFarlane is as a personality: he’s edgy when he is not forced to be edgy, and this felt like the producers trying to tone him down a little bit while keeping some of that in there.

If the entire Academy Awards goes in a similar vein as this commercial, there are really two different ways that this can go. From one standpoint, he could be the next Chris Rock: a man who still finds a way to be edgy and hilarious despite the limitations put on him. He’s been proven to be a great host already courtesy of some Comedy Central roasts, and he is certainly quick on his feet. At worst, he could become James Franco: a talented man swallowed up by gimmicks and bad ideas pressed on him by other people.

Stay tuned, as we’ll have a copy of MacFarlane’s commercial posted here once it is available. For now, you can read more about his gig over at the link here.

Photo: ABC