Stars defend Oscar host's jokes

Host Seth MacFarlane performs onstage during the Oscars in Los Angeles. Photo / AP

Russell Crowe and Steve Martin are among the stars to have defended Seth MacFarlane's stint hosting the Oscars.

The Family Guy creator has come under fire for some of his more daring jokes at the Academy Awards but the Les Miserables star and comic actor Martin - who has hosted the ceremony three times, in 2001, 2003, and 2010 - thinks he did a great job.

Russell tweeted: "Congratulations @SethMacFarlane , you did great mate, handled it all with grace, #topjob (sic)"

Steve added: "Seth MacFarlane was wonderful and who knew? I did. But then, I wrote "Cruel Shoes"."

The Office actor Rainn Wilson was also a fan of the 39-year-old star's presenting style, as were Kristin Chenoweth - who performed a musical number, Here's to the Losers, to close last night's show at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles with Seth - and funnyman Seth Green.

Rainn wrote: "Truly, @SethMacFarlane did a great job. Funny, self-deprecating and surprisingly fresh. (sic)"

Kristin tweeted: "I had a blast tonight singing with @sethmacfarlane. He KILLED it! So good! (sic)"

And Seth added: "Congrats on a great Oscars @SethMacFarlane Thanks for making that so fun #NewClassic (sic)."

The Ted director has been slammed for his controversial jokes, which saw him mock the newly-reconciled relationship between Chris Brown and Rihanna, who originally split in February 2009 after he assaulted her.

Speaking about Django Unchained, Seth said: "This is the story of a man fighting to get back his woman, who's been subjected to unthinkable violence. Or as Chris Brown and Rihanna call it, a date movie."

Drawing on the film's foul and racist language for another gag, he said: "I'm told that the screenplay was loosely based on Mel Gibson's voicemails."

A reference to the actor's taped abusive calls to former girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva.

Additionally, he poked fun at Ben Affleck, whose admission from the Best Director shortlist had caused surprise ahead of the ceremony.

Speaking about his film Argo, he said: "The film's director is unknown to the Academy."

And Seth also joked about 52-year-old George Clooney's preference for younger women.

Discussing nine-year-old Best Actress nominee Quvenzhané Wallis, he said: To give you an idea of how young she is, it'll be 16 years until she's too old for Clooney."

- Bang! Showbiz