Jimmy Kimmel to host the 2017 Oscars

Jimmy Kimmel

by James White |
Published on

The Oscars ceremony, scheduled as usual at the end of February next year, would already seem to be a bit of a scramble, with producers Michael DeLuca and Jennifer Todd only announced last month. But at least we finally know who will be hosting the next ceremony: US talkshow host Jimmy Kimmel.

Despite not having the film credentials of other recent hosts (not that that has been any guarantee of success), Kimmel combines and ease of interacting with Hollywoods types from his show and some recent, well-received hosting duties on this year's Emmy Awards.

He's not a particularly controversial political host (which might have been expected given the climate), but he has become more outspoken in recent months. Mostly, however, we're waiting to see how much of a role Matt Damon will have in the show, given his long-standing (and often very funny) fake rivalry with the host.

The trophy show will happen on 26 February next year, and Kimmel will face the wrath of audiences and critics. Will he be a Chris Rock-style success or panned as with Seth MacFarlane? We'll see...

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