Jimmy Kimmel is set to host the 96th Academy Awards, marking his fourth time as the ceremony’s host. His previous stints were in 2017, 2018, and 2023, with the 2017 ceremony being particularly memorable for the “La La Land” and “Moonlight” best picture mix-up. Kimmel, renowned for his late-night talk show “Jimmy Kimmel Live”, has become a recognizable face at the Oscars, joining the ranks of four-time hosts like Whoopi Goldberg and Jack Lemmon. Only Johnny Carson, Billy Crystal, and Bob Hope have hosted more Oscars ceremonies than Kimmel.
The decision to bring Kimmel back follows the 2023 Oscars, which saw a significant increase in viewership, attracting an average audience of 18.8 million viewers, a 13% rise from previous figures. This viewership notably outperformed other major awards shows like the Grammys and Emmys in 2023. The Oscars ceremony itself earned a 4.0 rating in the adults 18-49 key demographic, achieving three-year highs in both total viewers and this demographic, up 5% since 2020.
Kimmel’s return to the Oscars stage is accompanied by his wife, Molly McNearney, who serves as the executive producer of the show. McNearney, an 11-time Emmy nominee for her work on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, expressed her honor in being part of the Oscars team, especially as the industry looks forward to gathering and celebrating together again.
Bill Kramer and Janet Yang, Academy chief executive and president respectively, expressed their excitement about Kimmel’s return and McNearney’s role as executive producer. They highlighted their shared commitment to producing a dynamic and entertaining show for the global audience. Meanwhile, Oscars executive producer and showrunner Raj Kapoor and executive producer Katy Mullan praised Kimmel for his blend of humanity and humor, marking him as one of the all-time great Oscars hosts.
The 96th Academy Awards, scheduled for March 10, 2024, will be held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles and aired live on ABC. The event’s executive production team includes Raj Kapoor, Katy Mullan, and Hamish Hamilton, with Kapoor also serving as the showrunner. The creative team features Kenny Gravillis as the creative director, Misty Buckley and Alana Billingsley as production designers, David Chamberlin as the red carpet show executive producer, and Lisa Love and Raúl Àvila as red carpet creative consultants.
Kimmel’s return as the Oscars host and his significant contributions to the television industry are evident from his 20 career Emmy nominations, including one for the 95th Oscars ceremony in the category of outstanding variety special (live), and another for his late-night talk show in the talk series category
