Neil Patrick Harris recruited “Selma” star David Oyelowo for a little Oscars bit Sunday evening.

Testing the theory that jokes are funnier if delivered by Brits, the host read the set-up of one and then asked Oyelowo to deliver the punchline. After a pretty meager laugh from the audience, Oyelowo appeared pretty unconvinced that the theory was true.

Harris also managed to get a dig in at the Academy for failing to nominate the “Selma” actor in the category of Best Actor. Responding to audience applause for Oyelowo, Harris said, “Oh sure, now you like him.”

That joke seemed to go over a little better.