Jimmy Kimmel to return as Oscars Host for Third Time in 2023
The late-night talk-show host will be hoping for less drama when he emcees the event on Sunday, March 12 next year.
Jimmy Kimmel to Host the 95th Oscars. Photo: ABC/Jeff Lipsky.
Given that the first time Jimmy Kimmel hosted the Oscars, we got the memorable ‘La La Land’/’Moonlight’ Best Picture mix-up, you might think he’d be wary of coming back.
But that was in 2017, and Kimmel actually came back in 2018 for a less dramatic ceremony. Now, after five years away, he will once more lead the show for the 95th Oscars, which will be held next year.
The announcement was made by Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner, the executive producers and showrunners for the next show.
Kimmel, who hosts popular late-night show ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ joins a three-peat club that also includes Jerry Lewis, Steve Martin, Conrad Nagel and David Niven. He has some way to go, however, to compete with the likes of Billy Crystal, who has wrangled the show nine times and Bob Hope, who hosted 11 times in his career.
“Being invited to host the Oscars for a third time is either a great honor or a trap,” Kimmel says in a statement. “Either way, I am grateful to the Academy for asking me so quickly after everyone good said no.”
“We’re super thrilled to have Jimmy score his hat trick on this global stage,” Weiss and Kirshner said in a joint statement. “We know he will be funny and ready for anything.”
“Jimmy is the perfect host to help us recognize the incredible artists and films of our 95th Oscars,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy president Janet Yang enthuse. “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.”
Chris Rock presents the Oscar® for Documentary Feature during the live ABC telecast of the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Photo Credit: Blaine Ohigashi / A.M.P.A.S.
Naturally, neither the Academy nor the producers are speaking as to whether anyone was asked before Kimmel, though there had been speculation that producers reached out to Chris Rock in the wake of last year’s Will Smithslap incident.
The Academy and those running the show have struggled with plummeting ratings and finding the right hosts in recent years. In 2020, the show relied on a variety of hosts after first choice Kevin Hart left the gig under fire for problematic attitudes on social media.
In 2021, the pandemic forced the ceremony out of its usual Dolby Theatre home and once again employed a changing roster of presenters instead of the traditional host for a muted ceremony. This year represented a return to a more normal ceremony, albeit with three hosts – Amy Schumer, Regina Hall and Wanda Sykes.
Bringing Kimmel back points to all involved hoping that a familiar face will draw people back in, and that popular big movies with Oscar buzz such as ‘Top Gun Maverick’ and, potentially, ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ and ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’.
The 95th Oscar nominations will be announced on January 24th, 2023, with the ceremony to be held on March 12th.
Will Smith accepts the Oscar® for Actor in a Leading Role during the live ABC telecast of the 94th Oscars® at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles, CA, on Sunday, March 27, 2022. Photo Credit: Kyusung Gong / A.M.P.A.S.
