Jimmy Kimmel, ABC Late Night Show 'Jimmy Kimmel' Live Host To Host 2017 Oscars; What Happens If Matt Damon Gets Nominated?

By Abe Narra - 06 Dec '16 05:00AM

After hosting this year's Emmy Awards, Jimmy Kimmel will have to tickle the bones of his next audience: the stars nominated at next year's Academy Awards. It's official: Kimmel would host the 2017 Academy Awards.

Academy CEO Dawn Hudson said in her statement that the Oscars would be in great hands with the host of the late-night talk show at ABC. She added that Kimmel is razor sharp funny and unpredictable who has already proven himself to be a master of live event television.

This will mark as the first time ever that all four big award shows are hosting by late-night talk show hosts: Kimmel both for Emmys and the Oscars, Jimmy Fallon for Golden Globes on NBC, and James Corden for the Tony's. Official outlets like ABC and the Academy had been silent about the official announcement of the host. Kimmel made the announcement via tweet.

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

— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) 5 December 2016

Kimmel is a great choice for several reasons. For one, he hosted the Emmy Awards this year and received applause from audiences and critics. Two, ABC badly wanted its late-night host to see him on the stage and become an Oscar fixture despite not having a large movie background experience.

Plus, the Academy is kind of late on its search as the host and it was impossible to find anyone else funny like Kimmel. Sources said that Ellen DeGeneres and Tina Fey were contacted but it did not pan out. Usually, It takes nine months to a year in advance to book for a host and prepare for the global glare of an Oscar broadcast since it is all-consuming task.

The 2017 Oscars is set for February 26, on ABC again. Last year, Chris Rock hosted the ceremony and made the audience laugh despite the awards ceremony having a controversy regarding lack of colored nominees. It would be a bad time for him though if Matt Damon will be among the nominees. Kimmel could suck on that one.