LOS ANGELES - Seth MacFarlane accepted an assist from William Shatner to smooth nerves in his first time as Academy Awards host.

After telling jokes that included a poke at the Oscars for not nominating Ben Affleck as best director for "Argo," a giant screen descended on the Academy Awards stage with Shatner, who said he was returning from the future to save MacFarlane from himself. He showed a headline declaring MacFarlane the worst Oscars host ever.

In explaining why, it freed MacFarlane for a few elaborate jokes that supposedly showed his bad taste, including a song naming the movies where famous actresses displayed their breasts, and a routine greeting Sally Field as he was dressed as the Flying Nun.

As creator of "Family Guy," MacFarlane is best known for offscreen work.