Jimmy Kimmel, the renowned host of ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’, is set to return as the host for the 96th Academy Awards. This marks his fourth time hosting the Oscars, and the second consecutive year he has been chosen for this prestigious role. The event is scheduled for March 10 and will be broadcast on ABC, a Disney-owned network.
Kimmel humorously commented on his recurring role as the Oscars host, stating “I always dreamed of hosting the Oscars exactly four times.”
His previous stints as the host were in 2017, 2018, and the most recent ceremony in March. Notably, the 2018 Oscars, under Kimmel’s hosting, experienced record low ratings, leading to a hostless format in the subsequent years of 2019, 2020, and 2021. These years were particularly challenging due to the pandemic, resulting in significantly reduced ratings.
Kimmel’s hosting history includes a memorable moment from the 2017 Oscars, known as the “envelope-gate” incident. During this event, presenters Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway mistakenly announced ‘La La Land’ as the Best Picture winner due to being handed the wrong envelope. The error was soon corrected on stage, revealing ‘Moonlight’ as the actual winner. Kimmel, present during this chaotic moment, returned as host the following year, alongside Beatty and Dunaway.
Jimmy Kimmel Celebrated as Host of Oscars
Craig Erwich, president of ABC Entertainment, Hulu, and Disney Branded Television Streaming Originals, expressed his delight at having Kimmel back on the Oscars stage in an interview with Deadline.
“After his triumphant return to the Oscars stage last year, we are honored to have Jimmy back to guide us through one of the most beloved celebrations in entertainment,” said Erwich. “He is such a valuable member of our Disney family, and we could not be more appreciative of him and his entire team.”
This year, the Oscars production team will include ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ executive producer and co-head writer Molly McNearey, who will serve as an executive producer alongside Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan. The event will be directed by Hamish Hamilton.
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Bill Kramer and Janet Yang, CEO and President of the Academy respectively, shared their excitement about Kimmel and McNearey’s return. They emphasized their commitment to delivering a dynamic and entertaining show for a global audience and expressed gratitude for the partnership and creativity of Kimmel, McNearey, and their teams.
Kimmel’s show has seen significant success, leading in viewership among late-night shows, especially after returning from the WGA strike. The show marked its highest-rated season opener in six years this October.
The Academy Awards ceremony will once again take place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, continuing its tradition as the event’s iconic venue.
