American television host, producer, writer, and comedian Jimmy Kimmel has been confirmed as the host of the 89th Academy Awards, which will take place on February 26th 2017.
Kimmel is best known for his role as the on-screen host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! which has been airing on TV since January 2003, and has notably hosted the Primetime Emmy Awards on two occasions, in 2012 and 2016. This will be his first time hosting the Oscars.
Taking to Twitter, Kimmel confirmed the news saying that: “Yes, I am hosting the Oscars. This is not a prank. And if it is, my revenge on @TheAcademy will be terrible & sweet. Thx to @alsformalwear”.
The upcoming ceremony will likely be watched with much curiosity and pressure, after the famous #OscarsSoWhite controversy of this past year, which saw the Academy nominate only white actors, actresses and directors in said categories. The viewing figures for last year’s event consequently slumped to an eight year low.
Check out Jimmy Kimmel’s opening monologue from this year’s Primetime Emmys below:
