Comedian and talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel will officially host the 95th Academy Awards in 2023. This will be Kimmel’s third time hosting the annualOscarsaward show, which he also hosted in 2017 and 2018.
Kimmel is best known as the host of his late-night talk showJimmy Kimmel Live!, which was recently renewed for a three-year extension by ABC. In recent years he has also made a name for himself as an award show host. Along with theOscars, Kimmel has hosted the Primetime Emmy’s on more than one occasion, including this year’s ceremony in which he took some flack for playing dead on stage duringAbbot Elementarycreator Quinta Brunson’s acceptance speech (the two later reconciled on his show). This was far from the first award show controversy that Kimmel has been linked to. His first outing as an Oscar host was for the 2017 Academy Awards, during whichLa La Landwas accidentally awarded Best Picture instead ofMoonlight.
RELATED:Weird Al Yankovic’s Chance At Oscar Glory May Have Been Ruined By Roku
Oscar producers Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner shared a joint statement, saying, “We’re super thrilled to have Jimmy score his hat trick on this global stage. We know he will be funny and ready for anything!" Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences CEO Bill Kramer and newly elected president Janet Yang also shared a statement regarding the news, saying, “Jimmy is the perfect host to help us recognize the incredible artists and films of our 95th Oscars. His 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." Kimmel reacted to the news by joking that “Being invited to host the Oscars for the third time is either a great honor or a trap. Either way, I am grateful to the Academy for asking me so quickly after everyone good said no.”
Recent Oscar ceremonies have been marred with controversy and low viewer turnout. Last year’s awards saw actor and Oscar winnerWill Smith slap comedian Chis Rockon stage during the live ceremony after the comedian and presenter made a joke at the expense of Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett-Smith. The incident sparked a huge reaction from viewers as well as fellow Hollywood stars and nominees. Recent ceremonies have also seen a huge drop in viewership numbers. Last year’s ceremony brought in roughly 17 million viewers, which was considerably more than the previous year, but much less than the usual numbers, which typically range from 32-40 million viewers.
Last year’sOscars ceremony was hosted by Amy Schumer, Regina Hall, and Wanda Sykes. This marked the first time the award show used multiple hosts since James Franco and Anne Hathaway’s disastrous tenure in 2011. In 2019, the Academy chose to present the award show without a host for the first time since 1989. Kevin Hart was initially selected to host the ceremony, but the comedian backed out after he received backlash for his past homophobic jokes. As a third-time host, Kimmel joins the ranks of other three-time Oscar hosts, including comedians Jerry Lewis and Steve Martin.
