Jimmy Kimmel To Return As Oscars Host: "It Is Either A Great Honour Or A Trap"

Jimmy Kimmel has been named as the host of next year’s Oscars.

The talk show host, 54, will front the 95th Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on March 12, 2023 (or early morning on March 13 in Singapore). He previously hosted the show in 2017 and 2018. 

Kimmel said in a statement on Monday (Nov 7): “Being invited to host the Oscars for a third tim

“Either way, I am grateful to the Academy for asking me so quickly after everyone good said no.”

Executive producers and showrunners Glenn Weiss and Ricky Kirshner said they were “thrilled” to have the presenter onboard, adding: “We’re super thrilled to have Jimmy score his hat trick on this global stage. We know he will be funny and ready for anything!”

By "anything", they were probably referring to the 2017 ceremony where Kimmel oversaw the chaotic moment in which La La Land was mistakenly announced as Best Picture instead of Moonlight.

Kimmel's Oscars return comes as the host recently signed a contract extension with ABC for at least three more years, through the 23rd season of his show. His previous deal with the network was set to expire next year. 

Kimmel will now join other three-time Oscars emcees Jerry Lewis, Steve Martin, Conrad Nagel and David Diven. Bob Hope still holds the record with 11, followed by Billy Crystal (9), Johnny Carson (5), and Whoopie Goldberg and Jack Lemmon (4).

Reports surfaced in August that Chris Rock, a previous host (2005 and 2016) who was slapped during this year's telecast by Will Smith, declined an offer to host the Oscars. 

Will Kimmel poke fun at Slapgate at next year's Oscars-cast? (He had already done so on his own show.) late Academy CEO Bill Kramer said in August (via Hollywood Reporter) that the incident will not be a topic of discussion or jokes at the ceremony. 

He said, "We want to move forward and to have an Oscars that celebrates cinema. That's our focus right now." 

Let's see if Kimmel sticks to the plan. — BANG SHOWBIZ