Why Jimmy Kimmel Is the Pick to Host Oscars

Jimmy Kimmel will host the 89th Academy Awards ceremony, theWrap has confirmed.

The late-night comedian and talk show host has never before hosted the Oscars, but he has long been the preferred choice of ABC, the network that televises the Oscars and also airs Kimmel’s nightly talk show.

He received positive reviews for his recent job hosting the Emmy Awards — although that gig could also have hurt his chances to do the Oscar show, since the Academy typically doesn’t like to use hosts who have recently done other awards shows.

Also Read: Oscars Producers Michael De Luca, Jennifer Todd Say Awards Show Will Focus on the Funny

Kimmel’s lack of film experience is also seen as a drawback, as nearly all Oscar hosts have had some kind of big-screen presence since David Letterman’s ill-fated year at the helm in 1995 and Johnny Carson’s well-received ones in the 1980s.

But ABC has been pushing for more control over the show as ratings for all awards shows have declined in recent years, and the choice of Kimmel — a more-than-capable host, even if he isn’t cut from the usual Oscar mold — is a sign that the network is a major creative partner in the telecast.

The network and the Academy recently extended their deal for ABC to televise the Oscars through 2018, with the network paying AMPAS about $75 million per year to do so.

Also Read: 'Rogue One,' 'Jungle Book' Make the Cut as Oscars Narrow Visual Effects Contenders to 20

December 5 is the latest an Oscar host has been announced since 2008, when Hugh Jackman was announced as host of the 81st Academy Awards on December 12.

Producers Michael DeLuca and Jennifer Todd were not announced until November 3, which was also late in the game for the Academy to be securing producers.

The 89th Academy Awards will take place on Sunday, February 26 at the Dolby Theatre in the Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood.

10 History-Making Moments From the 2016 Oscars (Photos)

Among the surprises, milestones and rare moments at the 88th Academy Awards was one first that actually wasn't a first.
The 2016 Oscars were a "Spotlight" sandwich, opening the night with an original screenplay win before going silent for the rest of the night until its big Best Picture victory. "Spotlight" is the first Best Picture winner to bag less than three Oscars since "The Greatest Show On Earth" in 1953.
Boston Globe
The film with the biggest haul was "Mad Max: Fury Road." While it didn't win Best Picture or Director, it did come away with six Oscars in the technical categories. There's another wildly popular film that had the same results on Oscar night: 1977's "Star Wars."
Warner Bros.
The big victory for "Mad Max" also made it the most decorated Australian film in Oscar history, doubling the three Oscars won in 1993 by the previous record holder, "The Piano."
Warner Bros.
There was no way "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" wasn't going to have a presence at this show. C-3PO and R2-D2 came onstage with their new droid brother BB-8 to honor John Williams for his 50th Oscar nomination. He has the most nominations of any living person in any category. Walt Disney holds the all-time record with 59.
One pleasant surprise was the Best VFX win for "Ex Machina." With a budget of $15 million, it's the cheapest film to win in this category since "Alien" in 1979. It also beat out three Best Picture nominees, something that hasn't happened in this category since "Tora! Tora! Tora!" beat Best Picture winner "Patton" in 1971.
A24
"Bear Story" is now the toast of Chile after becoming the first film from that country to win an Oscar with its Best Animated Short victory. Director Gabriel Osorio and producer Pato Escala Pierart join "Life of Pi" cinematographer Claudio Miranda as the only Chilean-born Oscar winners.
Parties were thrown in Mexico City for "The Revenant" and the Oscar wins for Alejandro G. Inarritu and Emmanuel Lubezki. Inarritu now has four Oscars and is the first back-to-back Best Director winner in 65 years, joining John Ford and Joseph Mankiewicz. Lubezki, meanwhile, has an Oscar dynasty with three straight cinematography awards.
Actors take note: if you want an Oscar, consider working on a Tom Hooper film. Alicia Vikander's win makes "The Danish Girl" the third straight Hooper film to get an acting Oscar, joining Anne Hathaway for "Les Miserables" and Colin Firth for "The King's Speech."
It's strange to say it considering he is such a legendary film music composer, but "The Hateful Eight" is Ennio Morricone's first Oscar win. He was given a lifetime achievement award by the Academy in 2007, but this is his first Oscar win in competition after six nominations, having previously been nominated for classics like "Days of Heaven" and "The Mission." At 87, he is the oldest Oscar winner of all time.
Kevin Winter/Getty Images
No, Sam Smith was not the first openly gay Oscar winner ever. He wasn't even the first in his category. That goes to late composer Howard Ashman, who won for co-writing "Under the Sea" from "The Little Mermaid" and the theme from "Beauty and the Beast." Other gay winners include Elton John, Pedro Almodovar and Joel Grey.
Getty Images