Will they be winning Oscar hosts?

Bob Hope. Jerry Lewis. Billy Crystal. And the job of hosting next year's Academy Awards goes to . . .

James Franco and Anne Hathaway?

Ever since the academy made the announcement earlier this week, onlookers have been wondering: Why them? They're obviously attractive and relatively young (Franco is 32, Hathaway, 28), which must make them appealing to a show that has declined in viewership over the years. That, however, is only part of the story.

There's also the question of whether Franco and Hathaway have increased or decreased their Oscar-winning chances. Franco seems likely to earn a nomination for his gut-churning role in "127 Hours." Hathaway seems less of a shoo-in: Her highest-profile movie this year was the tepidly received "Love and Other Drugs." At any rate, it's exceedingly rare for a host to win a statue. (David Niven is a notable exception, co-hosting in 1959 and winning best actor for the drama "Separate Tables.")

Most important, can Franco and Hathaway liven up a buttoned-down show that still relies on scripted banter and canned sketch comedy? Some of the funniest people in modern memory have tried and failed: David Letterman didn't quite fit in; Steve Martin's dry wisecracks sailed past a broad audience; the usually outspoken Jon Stewart played it disappointingly safe.

Franco is no stranger to comedy ("Pineapple Express," "Date Night"), and Hathaway impressed Oscar viewers by soft-shoeing it with Hugh Jackman in 2009. The two new hosts will have their work cut out for them when they enter the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood on Feb. 27.