Late-night comedian Jimmy Kimmel is set to host the Oscars for the fourth time, organizers announced on Wednesday.
Kimmel will once again take the helm of Hollywood’s most prominent awards show, marking his second consecutive year as the host. This decision comes following the positive reception and improved television ratings from last year’s well-reviewed ceremony.
“I always dreamed of hosting the Oscars exactly four times,” joked Jimmy Kimmel, in a statement issued by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and broadcaster ABC.”
Oscars executive producers Raj Kapoor and Katy Mullan hailed Kimmel as “one of the all-time great Oscars hosts,” praising his “perfect blend of humanity and humor.”
The 96th Oscars are scheduled to take place on March 10 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.
Having previously hosted in 2017 and 2018, including the infamous mix-up that mistakenly awarded “La La Land” as best picture, Jimmy Kimmel is set to return for the 2023 edition.
Kimmel, known for being a reliable and experienced host, was brought back, particularly following the previous year’s controversial moment when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on stage in response to a joke about his wife.
In March, the ceremony commenced with Kimmel descending onto the stage as two US Navy jets soared over the theater. At one point, the host was even accompanied to the podium by a miniature emotional support donkey.
The Oscars experienced a boost in television ratings for the second consecutive year, attracting 18.7 million viewers who tuned in to witness the sci-fi hit “Everything Everywhere All at Once” dominate the event.
This increase in viewership provides a much-needed boost for live awards shows, which have been grappling with declining viewership amid competition with streaming services and social media highlight clips.
This year, Hollywood is striving to recover from the first dual strikes by actors and writers in 60 years, which brought the industry to a near-standstill for months.