Read all Slate’s coverage of the 2015 Oscars.
After wasting no time in addressing the much-discussed lack of diversity in this year’s Oscar nominees (“Tonight we honor the best and the whitest—er, brightest”), Neil Patrick Harris launched right into a clever musical number, complete with the cheek and polish we’ve come to expect from the host. Plus, there were some great special effects and some solid cameos from Anna Kendrick (decked out in her Cinderella best) and Jack Black, who balanced things out with some welcome cynicism.
We’ve had high hopes for NPH as an Oscars host, and with this, at least, he delivered. If you missed it, you can check out the whole song and dance below.
