Neil Patrick Harris 'Nervous' And 'Boring'

We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.

Neil Patrick Harris' debut as the host of the Oscars appears to have failed to live up to expectations with audiences around the world.

The How I Met Your Mother star was drafted in after a lacklustre few years with organisers hoping his song and dance background might reverse a fall in television viewing ratings.

:: See the full list of winners

Harris kicked off the proceedings on an edgy note, saying it was a night to celebrate "Hollywood's best and whitest - sorry, brightest" - a cutting reference to this year's total lack of non-white acting nominees.

But the reaction on Twitter to his efforts has been mainly negative and in some instances quite brutal.

One viewer, tweeting as MikeSheaAP, said: "Neil Patrick Harris is hemmed in by bad jokes. He also acts like he has so many restrictions on him he's nervous on how to improv safely."

Journalist Tina Brown called him "smirking" and "clueless", while Empire Magazine's Chris Hewitt said: "As star of How I Met Your Mother, Neil Patrick Harris has form with unfunny formats being stretched out beyond their natural finishing line."

1/21

Gallery: Who Won What On The Night?

Julianne Moore was thrilled with her win for Still Alice

Moore received the prize from Matthew McConaughey

]]>

Eddie Redmayne was almost speechless after his win for best actor

]]>

Alejandro G Inarritu walked away with best director and original screenplay for Birdman

]]>

American TV journalist Katie Couric tweeted: "It's official. I'm bored.#Oscars2015"

Variety's Brian Lowry wrote: "Too much clunky scripted material flummoxed even Harris' impish, good-natured charms."

The New York Times' Alessandra Stanley called Harris' performance "bland".

Another viewer, @SpindriftBeck, said: "There's still time to tack on 'Neil Patrick Harris's Career' to the end of this In Memoriam package."

Some said that while Harris started off well he appeared to lose confidence as some of his jokes fell flat with Hollywood's A-listers.

His appearance in his underwear - or his "tighty whities" - got some laughs and was described as "a ballsy move".

On Twitter, he acknowledged the support of his gag writers toiling behind the scenes.

"I'm super appreciative for the group of writers we hired for my #Oscars content. If only they could write everything I say always. #proud," he tweeted.

Among those praising Harris was Seth MacFarlane, whose 2013 turn as Oscars host was judged by many to be a shade too edgy for prime time.

1/32

Gallery: All White On The Night At Oscars

Nominee for best actress Marion Cotillard arrives on the red carpet for the 87th Oscars ceremony

Best supporting winner Patricia Arquette

]]>

"Fantastic as usual. There's nothing this man can't do brilliantly," the Family Guy creator said on his Twitter feed.

Recommended by Outbrain Recommended by Outbrain

Stop Narkoba