The Oscars in 2023 will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel. In 2022, the Oscars saw the return of hosts after going three years without one. Wanda Sykes, Amy Schumer, and Regina Hall each hosted one hour of the three-hour ceremony. In contrast to the 93rd Academy Awards, which had the lowest audience in the show’s history, the hosts helped the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts, and Sciences, which had a 60% rise in viewers.
The 95th Academy Awards host has been a subject of intense discussion. Following an incident in which Will Smith punched comedian Chris Rock in the face, which caused the event to go viral in all the wrong ways, ABC’s President of Entertainment, Craig Erwich, was receptive to the idea of having Chris Rock return as host. Smith was consequently expelled for 10 years from Academy-affiliated activities and resigned from the Academy’s board of directors. However, if any of the actor’s next movies receive Oscar nominations, he could still be included.
The Academy has already revealed that Kimmel will return to host the 95th Oscars ceremony for a third time via Variety. Previously, in 2017 and 2018, the well-known late-night talk show host presided over the 90th and 91st Academy Awards. Kimmel joked that he is appreciative to the Academy for asking him again “great honor or a trap,” joking that he is grateful to the Academy for having asked him again “after everyone good said no.
The 94th Academy Awards experienced an increase in live viewership compared to the previous year, even though it was still the second-lowest-rated ceremony ever after three hostless Oscars, which witnessed a major decrease in ratings. Despite the controversy, the fact that many historically significant nominees won Academy Awards that night may have renewed interest in the hosts’ ability to draw a live audience. The Academy’s decision to have Kimmel host the Oscars once more appears to be a safe one given that he is popular with most viewers and just renewed his contract with ABC to broadcast Jimmy Kimmel Live! for at least three more years.