John Shearer/Invision/AP"That whole thing? Completely improvised."
And that's how you open your first Oscars, people! Hosting the big award show for the very first time, Neil Patrick Harris went all out when he took the stage at the Kodak Theater on Sunday night. And, of course, the Gone Girl star opened with a musical number!
The song "Moving Pictures," was written by Oscar-winning Frozen duo Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez, and found Harris marveling in "the glamour, the glitter" (and the magic, complete with a trick performed by the host!) of the big night.
The opening performance contained so many great moments, but seven really stood out...
1. Anna Kendrick appearance: It's everyone's favorite celeb tweeter and she's in costume as her Into the Woods character! The duo sang about happy endings in movies, before Kendrick spoiled the fun, singing, "Except in Gone Girl when that lady slit your throat!" Um, like NPH said, "Spoiler alert!"
2. Jack Black stopped by, too: And tried to kill the mood by pointing out all the negative about Hollywood, including all the sequels and superheroes. Harris eventually ended his rant with Kendrick then throwing her shoe at the Tenacious D rocker, yelling, "Beat it!"
3. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck's "tension" finally addressed: "Oh my stars," Harris said while fanning himself as an old scene from the BFF's Oscar-winning film Good Will Hunting played on-screen. Thank you for finally addressing that ridiculously hot elephant in the room, sir!
4. That epic and timely reference. "I secretly hope somebody pulls a Kanye West," Harris sang. A+ reference! Even better? He pointed to Clint Eastwood right after. Go on, make his day, Mr. Eastwood.
5. Sharon Stone's shadowy surprise: Harris' shadow shielded viewers from Stone's iconic and, um, revealing Basic Instinct moment, with the How I Met Your Mother star singing, "When Sharon went commando and unsettled us all!"
6. Benedict Cumberbatch sneaking in a flask: As Harris sang about no one being drunk and bitter yet, the camera cut to The Imitation Game nominee drinking from a flask. "Go away," he mouthed. The man was born to be a meme!
7. Best line of the night: "Magic Meryl Effin' Streep." Feel free to come back and host next year, NPH!
What did you think of NPH's "Moving Pictures?" What was your favorite moment? Sound off in the comments!