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US comedian Jimmy Kimmel to host Academy Awards

December 6, 2016

The Oscars have found their host for this year's prestigious awards ceremony: comedian and talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel.

https://p.dw.com/p/2TnzJ
Emmy Awards 2016 Vorbereitungen Jimmy Kimmel
Image: Reuters/M. Anzuoni

It took more time than usual to reveal the name of the host for the Academy Awards ceremony. Finally, the comedian who'll be heading the event on February 26 revealed the news himself on Twitter on Monday:

Talk-show star Jimmy Kimmel, who hosts "Late Night with Jimmy Kimmel," will be emceeing the prestigious ceremony, as the Academy of Motion Pictures confirmed a few hours later:

Last year, the show was hosted by comedian Chris Rock. He couldn't change much to the fact that the event was dominated by backlash over its second straight year of all-white acting nominees. Pressure to increase viewership after an 11-year low might have lengthened the search for a popular host.

It remains to be seen whether Kimmel can spark a comeback. The 49-year-old comedian has previously hosted the Emmy Awards (top picture) twice, but drew fewer viewers than usual for those broadcasts.

The top contenders at the Oscars this year were not huge blockbusters either: "Moonlight," ''La La Land" and "Manchester by the Sea" obtained altogether less than $15 million at the box office.

eg/ct (Reuter, AP)