Neil Patrick Harris has 'epic' week with book, Oscars gig

These are heady times for Neil Patrick Harris. Fresh off a Tony Award win for his last Broadway performance, as a transgender singer in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, the multifaceted star popped up in a prominent role in one of the year's hottest movies, Gone Girl.

On Tuesday, Harris, 41, published a memoir, Choose Your Own Autobiography. The following day, it was announced he would host the Oscars in 2015.

Oh, and his twins by husband David Burtka, Harper and Gideon, turned 4 a few days ago.

"It's been a week," Harris said on Thursday, speaking with fans and Entertainment Weekly editor Matt Bean for Sirius XM's Town Hall series. "It's been epic, yeah."

Harris is hardly unprepared for the Academy Awards gig: He has hosted the Tonys four times — in 2009 and from 2011 to 2013 — and earned wide praise for his buoyant wit and unforced charm as master of ceremonies.

But during the session, which will air Friday at 1 p.m. ET on Sirius XM's Entertainment Weekly Radio, Harris said he was keen that his Oscars not "be derivative of other shows that I've done," adding, "It'll be interesting to figure out how to make it movie-centric."

Asked who his dream duet would be for a musical segment, Harris said "Snow White," than started pondering possible pop-star partners "Gaga? But again, you have to think is that movies? ... Adele? That would be cool. We could do circus things."

Harris pointed out he was "a big fan with what Seth Meyers did with the Emmys ... It wasn't mean; it wasn't jokes about people who were sitting there hoping they'd win, and are nervous about what they'd say."

He added, "I also want to make sure it's just a classy event." Harris expressed admiration for Johnny Carson, and another successful host of yore: "I really love what Billy Crystal brought to that table. I really loved his skill set ... He was able to be so respectful and classy and sharp and yet still funny."

Though "Ellen did such a great job last year with making everyone feel comfortable, and that's a big part of it," he noted. "She did a great job too."

Harris naturally discussed his book, which allows readers to "choose your own adventure" by selecting different paths through his life story.

"I didn't want it to just be fluffy comedy bits," he said. Asked what was the "toughest thing" to include, he said, "probably the sex stuff — the first time I had sex with a guy ... I didn't want to feel like I was being salacious ... I wanted to explain what was going in my head while it was happening."

One fan inquired which of his characters Harris could most relate to. "I'd probably say Barney Stinson (on How I Met Your Mother), which is a weird answer," Harris responded, noting Barney's "overtly alpha male" traits. The actor pointed out the character's ... and striving for adventure, and his willingness to have stories that don't necessarily have good endings ... to live a life where lots of excitement happens."