Oscars 2024: Jimmy Kimmel to host 96th Academy Awards for the fourth time, comedian reacts

The 96th Academy Awards is set to witness the return of late-night talk show star Jimmy Kimmel as the host, marking his fourth stint at the prestigious Oscars. Kimmel's return was confirmed by the Academy, generating anticipation for an entertaining show. Expressing his excitement, Kimmel shared his dream of hosting the Oscars precisely four times and signaled at his eagerness to helm the upcoming event.

Jimmy Kimmel's reaction on hosting Oscars

Jimmy Kimmel is quite excited to host Oscars for the fourth time. "I always dreamed of hosting the Oscars exactly four times," Kimmel said in a statement. McNearney added that she’s "especially honoured to be part of the Oscars team this year."

Moreover, Kimmel's wife, Molly McNearney, a co-head writer on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, joins as an executive producer. Her previous work on the 2023 event garnered an Emmy nomination, adding to the anticipation for next year's broadcast.

What was Academy's response after the big announcement?

The Academy's CEO, Bill Kramer, and President, Janet Yang, expressed their delight in welcoming back Kimmel and McNearney. Highlighting their shared passion for films and dedication to delivering an engaging show, they expressed gratitude for the duo's creativity and collaboration.

"We are thrilled about Jimmy returning to host and Molly returning as executive producer for the Oscars. They share our love of movies and our commitment to producing a dynamic and entertaining show for our global audience," said Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy President Janet Yang.

Jimmy Kimmel's Oscars legacy

This marks Kimmel's fourth hosting appearance, following his successful stint last year, reported as the most-watched awards show in three years, attracting 18.7 million viewers, as per PEOPLE. Previously, Kimmel hosted the ceremonies in 2017 and 2018, with the Oscars going host-less from 2019 to 2021.

Meanwhile, the upcoming Primetime Emmy Awards hold promise for the 95th Oscars and Kimmel, with nominations in outstanding variety special (live) and talk series categories, respectively. Kimmel's career tally of nominations stands at an impressive 20.

Scheduled for Sunday, March 10, 2024, the 96th Oscars will grace the iconic Dolby Theatre in Ovation Hollywood.