The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have announced that comic Jon Stewart will be hosting this year’s Academy Awards. This marks Stewart’s second time fronting the show, having first hosted back in 2006.
Frankly, I think this is great news. Sure, Ellen DeGeneres’ turn this past year as host scored 1 million viewers more than Stewart’s first time at the mic the previous year. But out of all the comics who have hosted over the past two decades – and that list includes Billy Crystal, Chris Rock, Steve Martin and Whoopi Goldberg – Stewart is the one who was consistently funny with both prepared and ad-libbed material. But then again I thought David Letterman’s turn as host in 1995 was hysterical too. Uma… Oprah.
The Academy Awards will be presented on February 24, 2008.
