Jimmy Kimmel is ready to host the Oscars again, completing a trilogy that started with him presiding over the chaotic 鈥渆nvelope-gate" ceremony.
The late-night talk show host will preside over the ceremony in March, the show鈥檚 producers said Monday.
鈥淲e鈥檙e super thrilled to have Jimmy score his hat trick on this global stage,鈥� executive producers and showrunners Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner said in a joint statement. 鈥淲e know he will be funny and ready for anything!鈥�
Kimmel has hosted the show twice before, in 2017, when he managed the chaotic final moments in which the , and then the next year, which came just months into the #MeToo reckoning.
鈥淏eing invited to host the Oscars for a third time is either a great honor or a trap,鈥� Kimmel said. 鈥淓ither way, I am grateful to the academy for asking me so quickly after everyone good said no.鈥�
After the 90th Oscars in 2018, which Kimmel hosted to generally positive reviews, the Academy Awards went without a host until the when Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes shared the stage.
鈥淛immy is the perfect host to help us recognize the incredible artists and films of our 95th Oscars,鈥� added academy CEO Bill Kramer and academy President Janet Yang. 鈥淗is love of movies, live TV expertise, and ability to connect with our global audiences will create an unforgettable experience for our millions of viewers worldwide.鈥�
Molly McNearney, who is the co-head writer and executive producer of 鈥淛immy Kimmel Live!鈥� and is married to Kimmel, will also serve as an executive producer Ratings have been a bit a of a rollercoaster for the esteemed Hollywood awards show. The 94th Oscars was an , but that was also in comparison to the , which befell many COVID-modified awards shows. As always ratings will be paramount for broadcaster ABC.
鈥淗aving Jimmy Kimmel return to host the Oscars is a dream come true. As we see every night on his own show, Jimmy can handle anything with both heart and humor, and we know that he will deliver the laughs and celebratory moments that define the Oscars,鈥� said Craig Erwich, president of ABC Entertainment, Hulu & Disney Branded Television Streaming Originals. 鈥淲e love being the home of Hollywood鈥檚 biggest night and can鈥檛 wait to toast the success of this year鈥檚 cinema and storytelling.鈥�
This next event is a landmark anniversary year for the show, and the first to follow The Slap, in which Will Smith struck presenter Chris Rock on stage. Smith, who went on to win best actor that night, . The organization's leadership has said that they'd like to and focus on a ceremony that celebrates cinema.
The 95th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 12 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and will be broadcast live on ABC in more than 200 territories worldwide.
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Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press
