Groan pains: host garners mixed reviews SETH MacFarlane was always going to be a contentious choice as Oscars host. But with jokes about domestic violence, breast-baring actresses, picking up Sally Field and a presidential assassination, not everyone is certain he'll have the chance to do it again. MacFarlane, the writer, actor and comedian behind Family Guy and Ted, has the good looks and suave manner of a typical show host. But his performance in the role made famous by comedian Billy Crystal polarised many. After MacFarlane appeared uncomfortable telling jokes in the opening monologue, he brought on William Shatner via video hook-up for an extended riff on Shatner as a time traveller appearing from the future trying to save MacFarlane from himself. It sent MacFarlane into some high-concept comedy. He was shown in a song-and-dance routine, backed by the Los Angeles Gay Men's Chorus, naming famous actresses and the films where they displayed their breasts. During a quick cutaway, Charlize Theron, one of the actresses named, did not appear amused. In another skit, referencing scenes from Flight, he was shown wearing a Flying Nun costume in an attempt to pick up Field backstage. MacFarlane drew groans with a reference to pop stars Rihanna and Chris Brown, back together as a couple four years after a domestic violence incident involving the two. Talking about the movie Django Unchained, MacFarlane called it "the story of a man fighting to get back his woman, who's been subject to unthinkable violence. Or as Chris Brown and Rihanna call it, a date movie. MacFarlane drew more groans from the audience during a discussion of the movie Lincoln and actors who had portrayed the president. "I would argue that the actor who really got inside Lincoln's head was John Wilkes Booth," MacFarlane said. He seemed to delight in the response. One hundred and fifty years and it's still too soon, huh? I've got some Napoleon jokes coming up. MacFarlane appeared to loosen up once his opening routine was over. He drew some laughs with a handful of solid jokes when talking about Quvenzhane Wallis, the nine-year-old best actress nominee for Beasts of the Southern Wild. George Clooney smiled at a joke about Wallis being a future date. Some of MacFarlane's jokes drew rebukes by tweeters, while his supporters countered that the Oscars should have known what they were getting when hiring him. In the weeks before he took the stage, MacFarlane predicted he would be savaged by critics. And it was difficult to tell how much he was joking when he introduced Sandra Bullock for an award presentation. "Our next presenter portrayed a raging alcoholic in the movie 28 Days, which is kind of a weird coincidence because I'm going to be playing one in about an hour and a half," he said.