It was one of the worst-kept yet longest-gestating secrets that Jimmy Kimmel would host the 2017 Oscars. Now it’s official, as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has selected the ABC late-night host to top the show.
The news will mark the first time ever that all four big awards shows in a row are hosted by the corresponding network’s late-night host as the shows serve as promotional tools for them. This year, Kimmel hosted the Emmys on ABC, Jimmy Fallon hosted the Golden Globes on NBC, James Corden will host the Grammys and now Kimmel the Oscars.
Kimmel has been something of an obvious choice, for several reasons: he hosted the Emmy Awards this year and did a good job; ABC, which has more of a say in the proceedings since the network renewed its deal to broadcast the Oscars through 2028, badly wanted its signature late-night host and would be comfortable seeing him become an Oscar fixture even though he does not have any kind of movie pedigree; the Academy got such a late start on its search that it was impossible to find anyone else. Sources had reported early overtures to the likes of Ellen DeGeneres and Tina Fey. They didn’t pan out. Kimmel is a safe choice, particularly with less than a dozen weeks to go before the Oscarcast. Big star talent is usually booked nine months to a year in advance, and preparing for the global glare of an Oscar broadcast is an all-consuming task.
https://deadline.com/2016/12/jimmy-kimmel-oscars-host-academy-awards-2017-1201864485/