All eyes are on the 2023 Oscars after the slap became the show’s biggest controversy of 2022, and beyond. Now we know who will be the master of ceremonies for the big event.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Monday that this year’s host will be a familiar face: Jimmy Kimmel, who previously hosted the Oscars in 2017 and 2018. The 95th Academy Awards will air live on ABC on Sunday. March 12.
“Being invited to host the Oscars for the third time is either a great honor or a trap,” the late-night talk show host joked in a press release. “Either way, I’m grateful to the Academy for asking me so quickly after all the good guys said no.”
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Craig Erwich, president of ABC Entertainment, Hulu and Disney Branded Television Streaming Originals, called Kimmel’s return “a dream come true” in a statement.
“As we see every night on his own show, Jimmy can handle anything with heart and humor, and we know he will deliver the laughs and moments of celebration that define the Oscars,” added Erwich.
The news from Kimmel’s host comes a few months after Chris Rock claimed during his Arizona Financial Theater show in August that he was asked to host the 2023 Oscars but declined the invitation.
The Oscars broadcast took a hit in March after Will Smith slapped Chris Rock while presenting a best documentary award to Questlove for “Summer of Soul.”
During the 2022 ceremony, Rock made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, and her shaved head. Rock suggested that she went bald for a movie role and joked, “GI Jane 2? I can’t wait to see it.” Apparently he was unaware that Pinkett Smith has alopecia, which causes her sudden hair loss.
Smith, who was sitting by the stage, walked up to Rock and slapped him across the face, then went back to his seat and yelled at Rock not to say his wife’s name.
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A month later, the Academy announced a 10-year suspension of Smith from the Oscars.
In late July, Smith posted a video apology to Rock. “My behavior was unacceptable and I’m here when you’re ready to talk,” Smith said in the video.
Kimmel is no stranger to a tumultuous Oscar ceremony. In 2017, chaos ensued when the producers of “La La Land” informed the audience that they hadn’t won the best picture award that they were on stage to accept after noticing a mix-up: the real winner was ” Moonlight”.
While stunned, Kimmel immediately riffed. “Personally, I blame Steve Harvey for this,” he said, referring to the time Harvey infamously crowned the wrong Miss Universe. “Why can’t we give a bunch of them?”
Kimmel will also get extra eyes on him at the Oscars after his much-criticized stunt at the Emmys in September interrupted “Abbott Elementary” creator Quinta Brunson’s acceptance speech.
Will Arnett dragged Kimmel across the stage to present Outstanding Comedy at the Emmys. Arnett joked that Kimmel was drunk after losing again in the variety/talk category to John Oliver’s HBO series “Last Week Tonight.”
Brunson took the stage lockdown in stride, joking, “Jimmy, wake up. I won.” But Twitter exploded, criticizing Kimmel for catching the eye of the creator of “Abbott Elementary” and the star’s first Emmy win.
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Days later, Brunson appeared on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and the host apologized to the “Abbott Elementary” star. “That was a goofy comedy that we thought would be funny: I lost, I drank too much, and they had to drag me off the stage. And then people got upset. They said I stole your moment, and maybe I’m really sorry if I did that.” , said. “I’m sorry I did that, actually. Besides, the last thing I want to do is upset you because I think about you a lot, and I think you know that. I hope you do.”
Brunson thanked Kimmel for the “gracious” apology.
“Honestly, I was in a moment where I was having a good time, like I won my first Emmy! I was just there happy and in the moment,” she said.
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Before his second Oscar performance in 2018, “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” The host told USA TODAY that the hardest part is paring “thousands” of jokes from his writers without being able to test them in front of an audience.
“Some of the hosts who are comedians will go to comedy clubs, but I’m too paranoid that someone has a video camera and records them and ruins the whole thing. I’d rather just roll the dice.” ,” he said.
Contributors: Bryan Alexander, Gary Levin, Marco della Cava, USA TODAY; Richard Ruelas, Republic of Arizona
