'A DECIDEDLY DIFFERENT TONE'

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The choice of DeGeneres suggests the Academy is turning to a more amenable host who has shown in the past to be skilled at poking fun at Hollywood without rankling its biggest egos.

Last year, MacFarlane, the creator of animated sitcom "Family Guy," got mixed reviews for his song and dance routines, including one about on-screen female nudity, and jokes that were often aimed at the expense of the biggest stars in attendance.

"Choosing DeGeneres, known for her kindler, gentler humor, signals that the Academy's next awards show will have a decidedly different tone than the 85th Academy Awards," trade magazine The Hollywood Reporter wrote.

DeGeneres also earned praise for her performance as the host of TV's Emmy awards in 2001, which was twice delayed because of the September 11 attacks, memorably lightening the somber mood by asking, "What would bug the Taliban more than seeing a gay woman in a suit surrounded by Jews?"

The announcement of DeGeneres as host also comes on the heels of Hollywood marketing executive Cheryl Boone Isaacs being elected as the first African American president of the 6,000-member Academy, which has made an effort to diversify its ranks after coming under fire for being too male, old and white.

Trade publication Variety saw the choice of DeGeneres as a continuation of the Academy's "Year of the Woman," writing that the Oscars "will put women in the driver's seat."

Disney-owned ABC will broadcast the Oscars on March 2.