Jimmy Kimmel will return to host the 2024 Academy Awards, his fourth time hosting the show.
The late-night talk show host is now tied with Whoopi Goldberg and Jack Lemmon, who have also emceed the Oscars four times. Celebrities who hosted more times than Kimmel include Johnny Carson (5 times), Billy Crystal (9 times) and Bob Hope (11 times).
“I always dreamed of hosting the Oscars exactly four times,” the 56-year-old comedian said in a statement.
Kimmel previously hosted in 2017, 2018, and 2023.
“We are thrilled about Jimmy returning to host and Molly [McNearney] returning as executive producer for the Oscars,” Academy CEO and President Bill Kramer added. “They share our love of movies and our commitment to producing a dynamic and entertaining show for our global audience. We are deeply grateful to Jimmy, Molly and their teams for their incredible creativity and partnership and for going on this ride with us again.”
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President of ABC Entertainment, Hulu and Disney Branded Television Streaming Originals, Craig Erwich, also sang the host’s praises. “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,” he said. “He is such a valuable member of our Disney family, and we could not be more appreciative of him and his entire team.”
Industry insiders predict that the two hottest movies of the summer, “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer,” will both be contenders for the highly coveted “Best Picture” role, among other nominations. Other titles getting some Oscars buzz include “American Fiction,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Maestro,” and “Poor Things,” the outlet noted.
The 2023 Oscars, hosted by Kimmel, boasted a boost in viewership with 18.7 million total households tuning in, the most since before the pandemic in 2020. It was notably the first show after the infamous incident at the 2022 ceremony when Will Smith stormed onto the stage and slapped Chris Rock.
The 96th Oscars are scheduled to be held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on Sunday, March 10, 2024.