Monday, March 18, 2024

Academy Insider: “NO” to Jimmy Kimmel as Oscar Host

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Jimmy Kimmel as Oscar host? An emphatic “no” has come from a top Academy insider who really looked horrified when I mentioned the name recently. There was a strong case being made for Kimmel based on a lot of things– his show on ABC by March 2nd, 2014 will be under siege from Jimmy Fallon’s move to the Tonight show at 11:35pm.

ABC really wants Kimmel for the Oscars, I am told. And he’s turned into a friend of many younger Hollywood types. If Kimmel were to host the show, he could just go across the street and do his own show, live, extending Oscar night. It does make sense. But unless something really changes, the chances of Kimmel hosting the next Academy Awards is nil.

Of course, you never know. The Academy gets a new president this summer when Hawk Koch’s term is up. The new guy or gal will have ideas of their own. And then returning show producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan will have input. But Seth MacFarlane has already said no to a return. Billy Crystal is done. Neil Patrick Harris could score a hat trick by hosting the Tonys, Emmys and Oscars, but I doubt it. Hugh Jackman is always a possibility.

And you know: whoever does it will be panned the next day for minute reasons. No one leaves the Oscar host job unscathed.

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.
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