Jimmy Kimmel has been tapped to host the Oscars on Feb. 26, according to Variety and the Hollywood Reporter, marking the late-night host’s first time ever hosting the prestigious Academy Awards. The decision makes a lot of sense: Not only was Kimmel’s turn at hosting the Emmys in September a success, but the announcement comes on the back of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ new deal with ABC (which just so happens to be the home of Jimmy Kimmel Live!) allowing the network more creative input in the ceremony.
Last year’s Oscars were hosted by none other than Chris Rock, during a ceremony that was marked by a conspicuous lack of diversity, something Rock called out again and again. The Academy has announced plans to diversify and avoid the embarrassment of #OscarsSoWhite since then by including more women and people of color as voting members, and this year’s pool of nominees is already looking much more promising. That said, I’m not sure what message the academy is sending by sticking yet another white dude in the spotlight at a time when they are supposed to be committed to inclusion. Why not give the job to Leslie Jones? Melissa McCarthy? Mindy Kaling? Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele would make a great team. Plus, isn’t Wanda Sykes long overdue? At the very least, if Kimmel’s Emmys gig is any indicator, he should lob a few jokes at his own expense.
That is, when he isn’t lobbing them at Matt Damon. Kimmel has already mocked longtime nemesis Damon for passing on the role in Manchester by the Sea that has made Casey Affleck a Best Actor front-runner, so that’s pretty much a certainty. Just do us one favor, Jimmy: Don’t hand out any food to the audience. We’re begging you.
