© 2015 American Broadcasting CompaniesNeil Patrick Harris is already breaking the rules as this year's Oscar host.
But it's totally OK.
NPH was the surprise guest today at the Oscars Nominees Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton. He was a surprise because the show's host doesn't usually attend the annual soirée.
And, of course, he was awesome funny self.
"Some of you are good friends and some of you I just got a chance to meet for the first time but we are all going to be spending Oscar night together, where everything will be hilarious," he said.
And then he took a hypnosis spiral out from his jacket, pointed it to the 195 nominees and their guests and mock-hypnotized everyone. "Everything will be hilarious," he repeated. "Everything will be f—king hilarious!"
Calling the hosting gig "a dream come true," the Gone Girl actor said, "Thanks again for inviting me to the party today and the big dance on the 22nd. We're going to have a great deal of fun."
Just like everyone seemed to have had at the luncheon, which included each nominee being called individually to a set of risers for the Oscars' annual "class picture."
Before the photo, Academy president Cheryl Boone-Isaacs and Oscar telecast producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan also gave remarks.
Oprah Winfrey (a producer nominee for best picture for Selma) was quite the social butterfly. At one point, she dashed across the ballroom to Clint Eastwood. A few minutes later, she was back on the other side chatting with Wild's Reese Witherspoon and Laura Dern and laughing up a storm with Common, who not only appears in Selma but is also a nominee for original song for the film's "Glory."
When Winfrey went to give Michael Keaton a hug, the Birdman star politely backed away and explained he had a bit of a cold. Winfrey said, "I don't care. I've had a cold."
And then they hugged and high-fived.
FYI: Winfrey won't let the Oscar voters overlooking Selma star David Oyelowo for a Best Actor nomination get to her. "There will be more, many more" nominations for the British actor, she told me. "It was just a really tough year in that category."